Six weeks volunteering in Ghana, assisting on the childcare, teaching and medical programmes.
I signed up solo to spend six weeks volunteering in the schools in Ghana in between my second and third year of university, and had the most special summer!
"I would urge anyone thinking about volunteering with TMR Ghana to go for it - you will not regret it!"
I spent my time volunteering in the public and private schools in Busua which both had amazing staff and children who welcomed all volunteers with open arms. I taught a few lessons which was very out of my comfort zone but was a great way to bond with the children and help them learn, but mainly helped with their work during lessons taught by the teacher.
I spent plenty of time on the beautiful beach getting to know the other volunteers, who are now friends I will have for life. Every evening the volunteers would get together and play cards, have quiz nights and karaoke nights at the beach bar, we got to celebrate plenty of birthdays and graduations which was so fun, I did a couple of cooking lessons where we learnt to make and eat traditional Ghanaian dishes and took part in yoga and surfing lessons! Every Wednesday we had the opportunity to go to the market among other excursions the TMR team ran so we were never bored ! I went on the cape coast weekend trip where I got to touch a crocodile, visit el mina castle and learn about the history of slave trade in Ghana.
The TMR handbook had everything I needed to know in it and any questions I had were answered in the Facebook group. When I got to Ghana, Dinah and the TMR staff were extremely welcoming, supportive and friendly helping us sort out SIM cards at the airport and exchange currencies.
As well as the TMR staff I also developed great bonds with some of the locals who made the volunteers feel like a real part of the community. I arrived with a big group of volunteers who they managed to accommodate perfectly. Despite doing the childcare program they were very flexible so I was allowed to volunteer a few times at the hospital looking after babies in the NICU and even witnessing a C-section.
There wasn’t a dull moment, I can definitely see myself returning, and I would urge anyone thinking about volunteering with TMR Ghana to go for it - you will not regret it!
