Review: Building in Ghana by Joel B.

Choosing Ghana

Joel and other building volunteers outside the completed classroom

Originally I was looking at volunteering in Tanzania because it was a Country that I had previously visited before and always liked the idea of one day returning. However after reading through some reviews on the website and conversations with Projects Abroad, I eventually decided Ghana would be the best place for me and because it was a place I'd never visited.

I have always liked the idea of working but also being able to see the world at the same time was my primary objective. Within a couple of days I couldn't have been happier with my choice. Ghana was the place for me.

I would highly recommend working as a volunteer for Projects Abroad to anyone looking to make a difference. As long as you continue to remain open minded your trip will continue to shine. Not once during my time here did I feel uncomfortable for seeking help or asking questions, to make sure your taking advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

My overall experience for my 6 weeks was more than I expected in terms of service and how welcoming everyone was for me even before I started my journey. From my airport arrival right up to my place of living with my welcoming host family, and then from then on the days just rolled into one getting better and better.

Project Work

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed actively building and helping out with the building project because you can actually see the work progress after each day. You can really feel a sense of achievement being made, which can be proudly reflected on.

I would recommend the building project to anybody looking for a career change or even if its something they want to continue in the future as long as you’re prepared to get stuck in and remain open minded your time will be one to remember.

One day I would very much like to continue my work with Projects Abroad and make many more fantastic memories.

Leisure time

The best part was being able to fluctuate my time between different projects once I had finished work for my day. My free time was soon filled with teaching, reading, and also a chance to start with football coaching earlier than my original start date.

This was a perfect way not only for me to socialise outside of my project but to also have the chance to experience and be part of other projects that are on offer for volunteers, all of which I enjoyed very much!

I had the opportunity to learn Twi and slowly learn how to master the Djembe - one day I may succeed. This was my personal highlight.

I was also very intrigued to be have an open mind about the different variations of food that they had to offer for meals. After a few weeks I required a Moorish taste for the meals, such as 'red red' which was my personal favorite, and then of course after many failed attempts at making 'fufu' I eventually mastered the pounding method and served myself with the perfect dish which was very rewarding and delicious.

Final thoughts

Unfortunately I did choose to leave slightly earlier for personal reasons, and did not fulfill my 9 weeks. However after completing my 6 weeks I discovered I had the opportunity to use my skills back in the UK for work, and made sure I completed the school classrooms as part of my building experience.

I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to have volunteered with such a great and successful company over the past weeks and would highly recommend the company and the people to anyone, and one day I would very much like to come back and volunteer again.

My host family Naomi and Erica were friendly and accommodating and never failed to make me feel any less than welcome. They were both extremely hard working and a credit to host Families and Projects Abroad.

I feel as if I've generally made friends for life and it's great because every week when you know you're expecting a new volunteer you are actually counting the days until you get to meet them so you can share the amazing experiences you've had so far. You also feel honoured to welcome them and get them all set and ready for their adventure!

This is a personal account of one volunteer’s experience on the project and is a snapshot in time. Your experience may be different, as our projects are constantly adapting to local needs and building on accomplishments. Seasonal weather changes can also have a big impact. To find out more about what you can expect from this project we encourage you to speak to one of our friendly staff.