My volunteer work in the street children project in Accra

Arrival and arrival

I arrived in Accra on Wednesday. My outbound flight went according to plan, so I landed in Accra around 17 p.m. As soon as I got off the plane, the airport staff greeted me warmly and showed me the way. After my visa and vaccination card were checked, I found myself at the baggage carousel, where I really got a real sense of Ghana for the first time while waiting. The warm, thick air and the many people who obviously didn't know each other and still talked to each other. I felt welcome and comfortable in the country right from the start. I left the building with my luggage and waited about three quarters of an hour until two people who were also RGV volunteers approached me and picked me up. Another volunteer was with them, she happened to be on the same plane as me. The drive to the Student House was long because of the heavy traffic that day. We drove over the broken roads, detached from any traffic rules that one knows in Germany and listened to AfroBeats, which I learned to love during the four weeks in Ghana. When we arrived we were warmly welcomed by all the volunteers and shown to our rooms. I was very tired that day, so I went to bed relatively quickly.

My time in the project

The next day I was already in the project for the first time. After about an hour's ride on the Bolt, we reached Mama Mina's garden. The kids came running straight at me, pulling me in all directions. It was Thursday, so playday. That means the kids played all the time, on the trampoline, the swing or the slide. You've grown on me right away. If it wasn't a playday, then we did lessons. The children were divided into an older and a younger group. I was mostly with the younger ones. We taught them many basic things like counting, the alphabet and colors. The lessons and breaks each lasted one hour. At 12.30:13 p.m., lunch was served. If we wanted, we could eat with them. Afterwards we usually went back to the student house or to the market around XNUMX p.m., for lunch etc.

Accommodation: Student House

Volunteers from various projects lived in our house. I liked the atmosphere there from the start, we all enjoyed spending time together in our free time. For example, in the evenings we watched movies or played something or just talked. The Student House has several rooms, some with six and others with four beds. These are always bunk beds. When there was no power or water failure, life was good there. The water pressure wasn't the best and there is only one washing machine for all volunteers, but I didn't mind. It was just part of it. Theresa, who is part of the RGV team and also lives in our house, cooked dinner every day and there were always rolls and fruit for breakfast. We could always speak to Theresa if there were problems. She is a very nice person and was also partying with us from time to time.

leisure

On the weekends there are mostly trips to different places in Ghana. So I was once in the Mole National Park in the north of the country and another time in Cape Coast and Kakum. On these excursions you see completely different sides of Ghana. You grow together even more with the other volunteers and get to know a lot of people. In Accra itself, too, Ghanaians approach you several times a day. Especially when you're out and about at night, you get to know a lot of people and make new friends. I really miss the openness and friendliness of the people there, because you don't find that in Germany. It's incredibly good to be surrounded by people like that. You become calmer and live more in the moment.

Conclusion

The four weeks in Ghana were the best time of my life and I will definitely go back. I'm also glad that I chose RGV because I've met so many lovely people through it. I will also miss the children and the other people in the project incredibly. Ghana has become my second home in such a short time and a part of my heart will always be there. I recommend this trip to anyone who needs a change from their life and just wants to see something different. Ghana is incredible, but you can't describe it, you have to experience it yourself.

Field report by Yannika, volunteer in the street children project in Ghana, July & August 2023