Obstetrics and farm work in Ghana

Two volunteers talk about their experiences so far

Laura and Rahel were in Rainbow Garden Village in Ghana. Among other things, they were involved in projects on our farm in Axim. In their interim report, they tell how they like it and what they have already experienced.

My farm work in Axim

When I first arrived here I thought I was dreaming, but soon I realized that this place should be my home for the next few months: beach, palm trees, sea, heat, sun and a village where you can live with the Resort staff lives next door.

Horticultural project

Doing physical work outside in these climates can be quite sweaty. Work never really stops in the large garden across the street from the resort. There is always some weed to pull, plants to water, transplant, sow or harvest. Some of what is harvested, eg tomatoes, herbs, aubergines, cauliflower and lettuce, is then processed into delicious dishes directly in the restaurant kitchen.

Free time in and around Axim

After work we often go swimming or to one of the nearby towns of Axim or Essiama. We shop there, bring fabrics to the seamstress or have a bit of a party at the weekend. There are good opportunities here to go a little further afield for the weekend. It is only an hour's drive to Takoradi and from there buses go in all directions. For me it's a super nice feeling when I come back after a trip like this and I see all the people with whom I spend my free time here every day.

Conclusion on my previous stay

I will definitely miss it a lot when I travel through Ghana in the next three weeks and even more when I'm back in Germany.

Experience report from Laura W, 28.02.16

Experience in obstetrics in Ghana

Arriving in Accra on October 6th, I was welcomed by a power and water cut and the typical Ghanaian welcome gesture – being handed water. At the beginning there was an orientation week in which we did a city tour of Accra, drummed, cooked and got an insight into the Ghanaian culture.

My internship as a midwife in Accra

From my second week in Ghana I was in the community hospital for an internship as a midwife. The first month was a little tough because I just sat on a bed in the Labor Ward from 8am to 00pm and just watched the midwives attend to the pregnant women who were in labour . The only exciting moments that month were witnessing the births - and the moments were really impressive!

In the second month I was in the "Antenatal", where women have regular check-ups during pregnancy, get vaccinated against tetanus and receive malaria prophylaxis. That was much more exciting because the head midwife works there and she explained a lot more to you than the midwives in the "labor ward". I was also allowed to do more there, for example measuring the stomach and listening to the pulse of the fetus. The time in Accra was exciting, but two months was enough for me because Accra is a very noisy and hectic city and you deal more with volunteers than with locals. But after Accra my journey continued and I was able to see many more places in Ghana and experience a lot.

Tour around Ghana

After the hospital time, my parents came to visit me and I traveled all over Ghana with them for a month (Kumasi, Mole National Park, Volta Region, Cape Coast, Busua). It was exciting because thirty years ago my mother was also in Ghana for a year, so it was interesting to hear how the country had changed.

My volunteering in the horticultural project

At the end of my parents' stay we drove to Axim together where I did my volunteer work in the Gartenbeu project. There was another volunteer from Berlin in the garden, which made the work more fun. There's always something to do in the garden - sowing, pulling weeds, watering, transplanting... I was also allowed to do research and write reports on the computer.

40 hours a week is worked here. At the moment bamboo charcoal is produced and bamboo vinegar is produced as a by-product. The charcoal and vinegar are then used in the garden; the charcoal to enrich the soil and the vinegar to control plant parasites. It was all very exciting because it is not used at all in Europe, although it would appear to be an ecological and sustainable product that is very efficient.

Life in Axim 

Local life is very nice as you can swim and enjoy the beach every day. It's a nice experience living in the village with the local staff - being woken up by the sound of the fufu pounder and Ghanaian high life music is always fun. For my last month, I'm going to travel with three other volunteers.

Conclusion on my time in Ghana so far

I will miss my time in Ghana very much, especially my stay at the beach resort, where you worked and lived with the locals from morning to night.

Experience report from Rahel B., 28.02.16

Obstetrics and farm work in Ghana Experience report by Rahel and Laura 2016