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NAME: Charles Fowler
AGE: 20
PLACEMENT: Teaching
COUNTRY: Ghana

Being in Ghana is fantastic, there's no other word for it. There may be some initial homesickness once the novelty of being abroad has worn off, but then you realise that you're miles away from home, you're here for three months and you might as well pull your socks up and make the most out of your placement.

As for the country itself - what can I say? It really is one of the most wonderfully diverse places I've ever experienced. The people, the climate, the schools, the sights and smells all contribute to create a friendly atmosphere in which you feel very secure and very welcome from the moment you arrive. The instant you step off the 'plane into the dust and the heat, you can see at a glance that the next three months in Ghana are going to be like nothing you've seen or done before, but that only adds to the excitement and the pleasure you get out of it.

The family are all very nice too. Naturally the first night was quite a nervous time. I arrived quite late in the evening expecting to find the whole family in bed, but instead I walked into the house to find about a dozen (I was expecting five or six at most) people clustered around the television (you're quite right about Ghanaian television too - it's worse than appalling!) and I had to pretend to understand their names and what they were saying whilst taking in all these new surroundings that were to be my home for the next three months.

School too was strange at first but now is really good fun. The first time we arrived it was quite daunting; all these new names and faces, and the thought that I was to be responsible for part of their education. I was taken aback by the fact that I was teaching Art (a subject in which I show about as much talent as I do at speaking Greek) as well as English, French, PE and Music, but it really wasn't a problem at all, and now I enjoy the school very much. The headmaster and teachers are all very nice and so far there haven't been any problems whatever to note.

In terms of all the other volunteers, I don't think we could get on any better. We all seemed to have settled in very well with each other and many a lasting friendship has been made. Right, my time is fast running out so I must dash. Sorry again at taking so long to reply and do tell me if there's anything else you need to know.

Thanks for making all this possible.

NAME: Tim Myles
AGE: 22
PLACEMENT: Teaching IT
COUNTRY: Ghana

First Impressions: Hi Aoife! Thanks for your email - yes managed to get here ok, and all my luggage as well, which is a nice bonus! So, first impressions! Everything at this end has been brilliant. The organisation has been first class - from the arrangements to meet at the airport through to showing us a large number of sites around the city we have been extremely well taken care of.

The family that I'm staying with are extremely nice, and the food is good (although sometimes a little strange - rice pudding for breakfast?!!!!). Everyone has made me feel extremely welcome and I'm just looking forward to being able to get stuck into the teaching now.

The teaching itself has not started yet - mainly because Dome has been without power since yesterday! It's hard to teach people IT without a computer, so that hasn't started yet. We are only teaching adults at the moment anyway, the kids come next week, so it's been just a lot of sitting around talking - which has been quite fun. I'm getting a really good impression of how the English are perceived and the differences in culture - very enlightening!

Anyway, you said you wanted a short first impressions and I've already started dragging on, so I will finish now! Hope this all helps! Tim

At the end of his placement: What experience do you feel you gained? The most important thing for me has been experiencing a completely different culture. I have taught kids before, so that aspect wasn't entirely new, but I have never been to Africa before, so that has been an amazing experience. You have to completely adjust to a new way of living and just basically accept everything - if you don't like something it's tough!

What was the best thing about your placement? The reaction of the older kids to my lessons. When I tried to end one lesson a couple of minutes early they actually refused to leave and made me try to teach them something else quickly. That was such an amazing feeling - to know that I really am making a difference to these kids, and hopefully giving them some real skills that are going to help them progress in the future. Other highlights so far include Kokrobite, Aburi and generally doing things at the weekend - it's really liberating to get away and do things for yourself. A bit scary, but very fulfilling when you get there and know that it was all you!

Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Definitely. I think everyone should do a placement of some sort - there is no real reason not to nowadays. Employers look on them as beneficial, not a holiday, and the way it can set you up for the next part of your life (whether, like me, that is a career, or for the others, university). The skills that you learn, and the experiences you gain, will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. Even if your placement doesn't work out exactly how you hoped it will be an amazing experience.

What type of person do you think this placement would suit?
You have to be confident, outgoing, willing to "muck in", friendly (v. important) and just very open-minded!

Can you describe a typical day? (e.g Start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties.... ) I get up around 7 each morning, except Tuesday when I have to be in early so I roll out of bed at 6! Quick bucket shower before some brekkie and I'm out the house. I often walk the 20 minutes to Atomic Junction, otherwise I'd never do any exercise, then catch a Tro-tro to the school. Lessons tend to start at 8.30. Everyday except Tuesday I have adult classes in the mornings, this tends to be one-to-one lessons as they are all at different levels. I also try to make sure all the machines are in good condition.

Lunch at 12 each day, sometimes some beans and fried plaintain, sometimes some fried rice, then at 1 we have the kids classes in (sometimes there are kids classes 10:30-12 too). School finishes between 2-2:30, and I might stick around if there are some adults who want to do some more work.
On the way home I might pop into the Internet cafe, check my mails and, more importantly, the football results, then carry on home. I play with the kids and read/write my journal in the afternoon, sometimes a bit of football, then dinner normally around 6 as the house starts to fill up (although Joe's house is never exactly empty!). Then Joe and the guys often take me out for a few drinks, watch some TV, listen to some music, then off to bed!
Thanks!!
Tim

NAME: Jennie Elliott (Jennie is on her third placement with Travellers and plans to do a fourth!)
AGE: 22
PLACEMENT: Teaching
COUNTRY: Ghana

Hi Stephanie, thanks for the email - I'm having the most amazing time here so far, I LOVE Ghana!!!!! My host family are great and do everything in their power to make us feel comfortable and keep us happy. Everyone here is so friendly and happy and so far I've felt completely safe everywhere I’ve been which is amazing! Everyone sings and dances all the time everywhere you go - there was even a DJ playing High Life (apparently that's what the Ghanaian music is called) and Reggae in the middle of the market when I went with Lizzie to but fruit the other day! And the beer is good and also cheap which is always a good sign!!  : )

Aloysius has been great too - he's really worked hard to make us feel at home and took us on an induction yesterday to introduce us to the area and the culture here. He's been really helpful in explaining the local transport too and is helping us to arrange trips and activities for the weekends and evenings whenever we ask for his help!

We start teaching tomorrow and I can't wait - we visited the school today to meet the teachers and observe the classes and it look amazing. The schools seem to be much more organised than those in Sri Lanka (so far anyway!) which will make the teaching more productive I hope. The kids are great too - so enthusiastic and cheerful the teaching should be really good fun!

Already witnessed the corporal punishment and humiliation that they use though which wasn't easy to watch but I'm confident that the children will also respond well to a more positive approach and I've noticed that some teachers already try to do this themselves, which is brilliant! The standard of English over her is already quite high too, so hopefully the teaching will be more straight forward than on my last placement  : )

Anyway, I'll email you again when I've started teaching. Helen is also having a great time. As she hasn't travelled before I think she was a little nervous but she's really enjoying the new environment and is excited about the teaching tomorrow, and her confidence to explore and travel around is growing every day  : ) I'll say hi to her when I get 'home'.

Hope everyone at travellers is well and enjoying the summer if it isn't over already?? Talk to you soon, Best wishes, Jennie Elliott xx

An account by Jenny Elliott of her experiences in Ghana!

When I first arrived home from Ghana and my friends and family excitedly asked “so, what was Ghana like?” I was literally lost for words. The best way I could find at the time to describe my experiences was to say that they were indescribable, and after a few months of contemplation I’m still not sure that I can explain my time there in any better way. The sights, sounds and people (and definitely the tastes) of Ghana are not something that can be easily explained – Ghana is a country that has to be seen to be believed!

My first real experience of Ghana was the day after I arrived, when Ma Lizzie – the mother of the family who put me up for my 2 months in Ghana – took me with her to the local market to help buy the food. I was bundled into the back of a minibus (called a tro-tro- this is the main form of transport in Ghana and an experience in itself!) along with about 25 other people and taken to a huge outdoor market in the scorching sun. There were literally thousands of stalls crammed side-by-side and selling everything from underwear to pigs’ feet to the most delicious fresh fruit I’ve ever tasted. Just as I’d been promised everyone there was running on ‘Ghana time’ and in no rush to get anywhere- instead they were all dancing and singing their way through the stalls, stopping every now and then to laugh with an old friend or just as likely a complete stranger. One of my favourite things about the Ghanaian people is their absolute dedication to having fun – there was even a DJ in the centre of this enormous market surrounded by speakers blaring out the local ‘High-Life’ music to keep people dancing and singing throughout the day – something that I still remember with a huge smile every time I’m standing in an endless queue of glum faces at the local supermarket!

Most of my time in Ghana was spent teaching at the local schools and helping to run a Summer Camp for the children during the school holidays. The project was organised by Travellers Worldwide and was a huge success! The co-ordinator from Travellers Worldwide and the head-teacher of the school worked with us throughout our time there to make sure that we had everything we needed and had as much fun as possible while we worked! The different approach to teaching and classroom management in Ghana sometimes made the work challenging but Aloysious, our co-ordinator, was always on hand to make sure that we were still having fun and to offer support if we needed it. Aloysious and Travellers Worldwide had also arranged my accommodation in Ghana with a local family, which made sure I was fully immersed in the culture and learned a lot about the Ghanaian way of life during my stay; they also helped me to plan and arrange trips during my free time so that I could travel and see more of the country when I got the chance. This valuable help and local knowledge meant that I could travel with confidence to places all over Ghana and experience many of the amazing things the country has to offer.

At weekends my fellow volunteers and I would travel to as many places as possible and when we returned on Monday morning we were quite literally bowled over by a sea of faces running towards us from the school, fighting to get the first hug or to be allowed to carry our bags for us. The children would listen with amazement as we told them about the places we’d been and would soon launch into a barrage of questions about our travels, about England or about anything they could think of – the time I spent with the children was magical and I think I probably learned as much or probably more from them as they did from me!

On many occasions the travelling itself was exhausting as there are huge areas of bumpy dirt road to be covered to reach the various towns and cities. Travelling through the north of the country was especially challenging but also hugely rewarding as the people and their lifestyles seemed much less affected by western culture. The roads and public transport in the north are less developed, but I found the people to be just as friendly and helpful as anywhere else in Ghana and I was always met with smiles by people who would do their best to help me in any way they could.

As I’ve tried to explain to my friends and family on numerous occasions it is almost impossible to sum up my experiences of travelling through Ghana in just a few short sentences- how can I describe how it feels to stand a few feet away from a wild elephant in Mole National Park? Or to sleep overnight in a rural village in a mud-built hut in the stifling heat of the north, and visit the home of a traditional Lobi tribe family to see how they live and worship their gods? Or to see the king of the Ashanti tribe at the Adae festival? Or how totally surreal it felt to be honoured with front row seats to see the festival next to the Ashanti Chiefs- just for the promise of sending copies of the photo of them in their robes that they had marvelled at on the screen of my digital camera!! These are experiences that can never be fully explained without seeing and feeling the country for yourself – something I would encourage anyone to do if they want a taste of ‘real’ Africa.

Like I said when I first got home….. Ghana is indescribable, and also impossible to forget!

NAME: Lyndsay Warner
AGE: 19
PLACEMENT: Teaching English
COUNTRY: Ghana

What experience do you feel you gained? So much! I don't know where to start..... How to handle a class, how to communicate to children and adults alike who’s first language isn’t English, how to plan lessons and how to make them effective, how to handle people in the street, how to speak Twi! (a bit!) And then out of the classroom - how to plan trips away, things like that.....I feel like I've learnt so much and I'll go home like a new person.

What was the best thing about your placement? My students...definitely. I love them so much. I'm going to miss them a lot.

Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Yes

What type of person do you think this placement would suit? I think it helps if you are fairly outgoing and very confident......I wasn't that confident before Ghana, but I think I've gained a lot more confidence since being here.

Can you describe a typical day? (e.g Start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties…. ) I usually arrive at Uniqueen school at 8.30am and help out with the morning lessons usually in maths and language work. Usually I teach whatever the teacher has prepared for the class. Break time is 10am-10.30am. I leave at 12 noon and take a short tro tro ride to St Matthews school where I take either class 3, 4 or 6 for a double English lesson in comprehension, grammar or creative writing. I finish around 3pm. I almost always prepare my own lessons and also spend time in the evenings marking their homework and writing lesson plans. It's tiring but so much fun and very rewarding.

NAME: Anna Cotton
AGE: 20
PLACEMENT: Teaching
COUNTRY: Ghana

Arrived late on Sunday night after what felt like forever, yesterday was a really enjoyable day we went to the beach (Lebon - I think!!) with some of the other volunteers then last night went out to a Ghanaian bar which was really good - lots of dancing!

Jen [another Travellers volunteer] is doing well, she has been soooo good in helping me settle in and explaining the tro-tro system to me. It is really nice to have so many other volunteers here.

We will be reregistering at the commission tomorrow and I will be going to the school the day after that, really looking forward to it but a little bit apprehensive about what to expect. I have found everyone to be so friendly, Angie was a particularly friendly face to meet at the airport!! although sometimes the attention you attract is a little bit overwhelming.

It feels as though I have been here for 2 years and not just 2 days.

NAME: Jessica McAlpine
AGE: 20
PLACEMENT: Teaching at Techy Kidz
COUNTRY: Ghana

“Char (a new volunteer) is settling in nicely.  We get on well, which is cool, but it's a bit weird having a new routine. Techy Kidz teaching is also going well and I am now thinking of teaching as a possible career - whatcha think?

Had a wicked weekend - went to Cape Coast and stayed at a really nice hotel that's in the guide book - Hans Cottage Hotel - which had crocodiles surrounding it! The beach wasn't nice but the Kakum Park was amazing!! Ruth cried her eyes out on the beach coz she's scared of heights. We are planning to go back there for a night time guide.

It's Omar's birthday tonight so hopefully it will be a good night. We're going to the Arts Centre on Sunday and then Cocoa Bete - nice beach.

To any volunteers: Ghana is nothing like what you will expect and there is no way of describing it without experiencing it. Don't have any doubts about
coming because it is great. The people you meet are all the friendliest and I'm sure you will make friends for life. Teaching is a hard but a very worthwhile experience. The homesickness soon fades, especially when you travel on the weekends - we saw crocodiles on Saturday. One piece of advice - bring as much Deet as you can possibly fit in your bag coz malaria is not fun!"

NAME: Kate Sanger
AGE: 19
PLACEMENT: Teaching
COUNTRY: Ghana

What experience do you feel you gained? I've learnt to be a lot more patient! And although it sounds pretty cliché I've come to value what I have more than I did before. It was also an amazing insight into another very different culture.

What was the best thing about your placement? The family is great and I enjoyed staying with them, but the best thing was the school itself, the head teacher and her family, most of the teachers in the school were so nice, I got on really well with the head teacher especially, they were so welcoming and generally fun to be with. The children in the school were great fun too (as well as hard work).

Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Yes, but not if you want to feel that you are teaching the children a lot, I felt more as if I benefited the school more by being an extra general teacher and just an extra pair of hands. Not much lesson planning, if any, is involved, as the children are so young most between 2 and 6 that they have a lot of singing and chanting and the lessons themselves are very basic.

What type of person do you think this placement would suit? It worked really well for me as although it wasn’t what I expected, I enjoyed it and do feel that the school has benefited from me in some ways. I think future volunteers need to know that it is a kindergarten and not to expect to be teaching predominantly English.

Was their anything that you weren't told before you went away that you think future volunteers should know? Generally what to expect from the children and not to worry about preparing much before you leave as most of it won't be used!

Can you describe a typical day? (e.g. Start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties.... ) Got to school for 8:30, as assembly is starting, which I just watched. Lessons don't start till nine so the children just chant shapes or number until then. Usually maths first with KG2 which was my class, either I or Eunice would introduce the topic and give out the books then just marking and supervising till break time at 10.00 – 10.30.
10.30 – 11.00 ish more chanting, then English or something like forming sentences with certain words, talking about a picture then the children writing. Lunch at 12, we usually had what the children got, then straight back to work usually more chanting for a while, then about 1 a lesson like science, moral education, health and safety introduced by myself or Eunice, usually involving the children copying a picture and writing 2 sentences whatever the subject.
If they finished before close they would chant more. School closes at 2.00 when we can leave with the majority of the children but many don’t get picked up till about 4.00/5.00 so I often stayed after which was literally babysitting as they had no lessons. Sometimes I would help with the nursery which was helping them write letters or numbers on chalk boards. But if I wanted to do anything different it was always welcome.

It was a wicked experience and I'm really glad I choose to do it, of course there have been a minimal number of bad bits, it is hard living with another family for example, but all the good times outweigh the bad easily. Overall it was great!

NAME: Philip Banyard
AGE: 29
PLACEMENT: Teaching cricket
COUNTRY: Ghana

What experience do you feel you gained? Experiencing life in a totally different environment has been brilliant and I've learnt plenty about the lifestyle and culture of people in Ghana. Mastering the public transport was daunting initially but once you get the hang of it and asking people for help, it boosted my confidence considerably. You can't help but be friendly and cheerful towards people here most of the time, which is a useful attitude to take back to England!

What was the best thing about your placement? The Opoku family who I stayed with, they went out of their way to help me. Also meeting the other volunteers and spending time travelling with them around the country was a great experience.

What type of person do you think this placement would suit? Someone who can stand physical exertion in extreme heat!

Can you describe a typical day? (e.g Start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties.... )
I don't have a typical day, as the hours vary, as do the length of lessons I teach. Most days, I start at about 8.30, have a couple of 45 minute lessons, then have a few hours free before an hour long lesson at another school.
Joe who I stay with has been absolutely amazing and has shown me around.

NAME: Oliver Blackwell
AGE: 28
PLACEMENT: Teaching IT
COUNTRY: Ghana

Hi Stephanie, hope tricks are all good, thanks for your email, everything is awesome out here and had no problems at all adjusting to the life out here (i.e slowing down the pace a few thousand notches!)

The host family (Jo especially - a certified dude!) are great, although have not quite worked out who is who and who is where as everyone (like 30 people!) seems to be a brother or sister!, and already had some great nights out with them! The other obrunis ("white boys" spelt wrong!) are all great too and nice to have some fellow brits to occasionally (like now!) slip out for a cheeky chicken and chips, as for myself have definitely not acclimatised to the Ghana grub yet! - but confident it will happen soon....

Have yet to get stuck into the teaching as bang in the middle of exams and Maria looks like she has everything totally under control, but from tomorrow onwards its all looking good in this department. Aloysius certainly falls into the same category as Jo, had a great induction/tour and hopefully was able to do some culture exchange as we bought him his first tequila slammer! Will drop you an email at the end of the trip to give you a full round up! Many thanks again for all your help in setting it up, take it easy, Oli

NAME: David Gray
AGE: 22
PLACEMENT: Teaching English
COUNTRY: Ghana

What experience do you feel you are gaining? It has to be learning about the different cultures both at home with the family and also at the different schools. Ghana is so different from England and I thought it would take a long time to adjust but everyone has made me feel so welcome that it didn’t take long at all and once I had been here for a few days, I felt like I had been here a few months.

So far what is the best thing about your placement? I’m working in two schools, one is very organised with lesson plans etc. and the other have let me get on with it and teach the children what I think is needed.  This has allowed me to get a view of two very different schools, offering very different experiences.  Having the time at weekends to see Ghana and do a bit of travelling with the rest of the volunteers is great fun also.

Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Yes, everyone.

Can you describe a typical day? I usually wake up between 6-6.30am because of the noise and light.  I start school at about 8.30am but it varies day to day.  A bucket shower is the best way to wake me up then some porridge from the host family.  I have about 4-5 lessons a day, if it is at the organised school, I must catch a tro-tro there and meet the teacher a few minutes before to get the lesson plan.  If it’s at the other school I already have a lesson plan and I can walk to the school so I just set off for either, running the obrunie gauntlet on the way. I find it difficult to have lunch and dinner so I don’t usually have too much to eat then so I either chat with the teachers or have a walk around.  Afternoon classes finish around 3.30pm so I’m back for about 4ish. Some nights we will go out for a drink at one of the many spots or bars, other nights we will stay in and play cards etc.

I love Ghana and I can’t believe I’m going home in 2 weeks!  I wish I could stay longer but unfortunately I can’t.  It’s been the best time of my life so far!

A letter from Sambel Academy, one of the institutions that Travellers Volunteers assist in Ghana.

Sambel Academy is an educational institution situated in Accra. Our school is privileged to be part of Travellers Worldwide programme. We have had the opportunity of receiving volunteers of different backgrounds. The activities of the persons sent to us fell within various sports disciplines and of course academic activities.

In fact our young but very dynamic institution has gained immensely from the activities of the various persons sent to us since our relationship with your esteem organization began in 2003.

In fact for the first time we were introduced to the game of cricket. A newly developing sport in our part of the country. I would like to outline the immense contribution gained from the volunteers who came to teach and handle activities such as English language, music and dance, French, story telling etc. Some of our students had learning difficulties but the volunteers isolated them and gave them tutorials.

One volunteer also donated about eight hundred dollars towards our development when he came to our school. In fact his contribution has been very helpful to us.

With the remarks given I want to emphasize our preparedness in receiving volunteers any time they are available in the country. I further wish this commendation could be published on your website.

Thanks so much. With time I may send a picture of the school and the activities of the volunteers.

Samuel Kenney-Hastens, Managing proprietor, Sambel Academy.

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