This was my first experience volunteering overseas and it was challenging, rewarding, frustrating, satisfying, scary and joyful all at the same time! I don't think there is any way to understand what it is like and what it does for you other than to experience it first-hand. You will learn a lot about the daily realities of life in a developing country, learn even more about yourself and what you are made of, and most of all understand how even the smallest gestures of good-will and service go very far to help others in need.
My Favorite Memory: Meeting the 20+ youth at the Tabata Youth Center where Youth in Action does much of its work. I spent 2+ hours in a Q&A session talking to the youth about teen issues such as HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, religion, politics, and dating. I was their first visitor and they were so excited to perform one of their educational plays for me.
I was surprised that....
Resources are so incredibly scarce for local organizations; it seems to be the biggest limiting factor for getting things done and making progress. The organizations themselves struggle to stay in operation on a daily basis, and have virtually no support from within their own country.
The most difficult thing I experienced was....
Tourists and "mzungu" are rarely seen in the sections of town where I was, and it was hard to feel so conspicuous and stared at. People call out "mzungu" as you walk by, and you constantly feel eyes watching you. The "personal space" is also a much shorter distance, so people would come up pretty close to take a good look. It took several days to get comfortable with it. I can't say I ever got comfortable with it, but over time I was less uncomfortable!
My best received lesson...
Face each day with an open mind and a healthy dose of humor. There will be many times when you will ask yourself "what am I doing" or "why am I doing this" but if you put aside the critical thoughts and embrace the experience, you will be surprised how things always seem to work themselves out in the end.
Thank you A Broader View Team
http://www.abroaderview.org
A Broader View Volunteers Corp
We arrange short-term international mission trips and long term volunteer projects in South America, Africa and Asia. Designed with flexibility and customized attention with volunteer options in African orphanages, teaching English, medical and dental volunteering, HIV awareness projects, conservation in national parks, animal welfare, environmental and community development.
I am a senior at Colorado College, and I was in Ghana (in the Volta region) this past summer. I had the most amazing experience in Ghana. The ABV project director Edem in Kpando is an amazing person! He is 29 I think, and incredibly active with the UN youth, and is actually a member of the royal family in Kpando. He is really really smart, and also very used to westerners. He will be very respectful towards you and your cultural background. Additionally, he made me feel extremely safe when I was there (first time is Ghana...especially Accra, can be a bit terrifying). Edem is one of the main reasons I had such a great experience, and hope that I can get back to Kpando very soon!
ABV is wonderful. For a new organization they are well organized. When I was there, I heard somewhat of horror stories about some other programs not really keeping in contact to make sure that the volunteers were safe. With ABV, Edem had to call Sarah in the US office the minute we got to our hotel when I arrived in Ghana. He would check in with her periodically to let her know I was doing fine, and when I got back, Sarah was great about checking in with me to see how my trip was. ABV is not perfect, but they are pretty damn close for sure!
Overall, I found my time in Kpando to be one of the most arth-shatteringly-perspective-changing experiences of my life. I learned so much from the kids at orphanage, from Edem, and from the kids at the school I worked at. There is no way to summarize what my trip was like or how much it meant to me in one short email, but all I can tell you is that, the most important thing to be prepared for is to be prepared for the fact that you cannot really be prepared for what will happen to you while you are there. Everyone has a very different experience....some face home sickness, others stomach sickness, some face enlightenment, others simply find joy and humility. Overall, this ABV program was an amazing opportunity for me!
