Hear all about Joebelle's experience volunteering on our mental health and psychology programme in Busua, Ghana.
I had the privilege of spending three weeks volunteering in Ghana on the mental health/psychology programme. I met the most wonderful people during this unforgettable trip, receiving endless amounts of kindness and generosity from the local community, hospital staff, other volunteers and The Mighty Roar team in Busua. This opportunity offered me a collection of experiences and lessons that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
I am extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity to volunteer at the Community Mental Health unit at the Dixcove Government Hospital and I highly recommend signing up for this programme if you are passionate about mental health awareness.
The pre-departure support from TMR was fantastic - communication with the team we have not even met yet were excellent as all our questions were answered almost immediately. Everything was well explained in the handbook as well and if you were unsure about anything at all, a quick WhatsApp message or even an email would get you speedy responses.
"I will 100% have to visit Busua again because the views, the food, and the people especially, hold a special place in my heart."
Upon arrival, the TMR team were very friendly and accommodating. We were advised to purchase SIM cards, withdraw cash, etc. Again, most of the information was already included in the handbook but if we had any questions at all, the TMR team were quick to respond. All activities/itineraries were clearly explained to us, either through the handbook, verbally, or through contacting us through WhatsApp.
The mental health programme offers volunteers, like myself, to gain deeper insight as to how mental health is viewed in Ghana as well as how people struggling from mental health conditions are being supported. This was achieved through carrying out home-visits, shadowing mental health nurses, and directly reaching out to the wider community to educate people about mental health.
There were so many things to do in Busua, even after volunteering hours: we had the chance to learn how to surf; participate in cooking lessons and learnt how to cook Ghanaian dishes; play sports on the beach; sunbathe; explore the village; karaoke; hang out with the locals; attend mass (even if you do not believe, it is still worth visiting as the experience is unforgettable)! Not to mention the amazing weekend trips as well! I truly believe that in order to have a good time, you must make the most out of your experience. As long as you stay safe and take care, you will have a great time!
I was lucky enough to visit Ghana during the month of August and at that time, there are many other volunteers you get to meet and become great friends with. I still keep in touch with the girls in my group and we are even planning a little reunion next year! Volunteering abroad is an excellent opportunity to really branch out and rediscover parts of yourself- it is a journey you get to embark both by yourself and with the friends you get to meet along the way. Everyone joins these programmes holding similar goals and values so it’s important to remember that you will never be alone- even if you do find yourself struggling, there will always be people around who can support you.
The accommodation was very communal and I really liked how volunteers are encouraged to interact with one another through the space we got to share with each other- especially the dining area. This also allows volunteers to really embrace the collectivistic culture, which is a huge part of the experience when visiting Ghana or any other place! The food was lovely, especially how they were prepared by the wonderful TMR team (shoutout to Dinah, Abigail and Laura)- I do miss your delicious dishes!
Overall, my experience in Ghana with TMR was unforgettable and I will never stop talking about how much fun I had visiting such a beautiful country with the most wonderful people.
Volunteering itself is already fulfilling but I did not expect to learn and gain so much more than flying abroad to help other people. You will carry these memories with you for a very long time and I think it’s my duty now to encourage as many people as I can to add Ghana and TMR to their bucket list. I will 100% have to visit Busua again because the views, the food, and the people especially, hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you TMR for an experience I will treasure forever.
