Blog: A summer in Ghana

I’m Alicia, and I’m now in my fourth year studying BSc Economics. Earlier this year, I was in Washington D.C. on my year abroad, totally lost for what to do during my four-month long summer holiday. I wanted to keep travelling but also do something different and valuable with my time. Then, I heard of the Go Global Summer program that UoB offers.

Why Ghana?

When I went through the hundreds of summer programs that were available, I kept being drawn to their volunteer opportunities. As an economist who is interested in economic development, I landed on one country in particular. Ghana. A vibrant, developing country that was welcoming, with tons to explore, and a chance to make a difference teaching young children in the local schools. I applied to teach for one month with the company Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) and enthusiastically started my preparations.

Experiencing the culture

As soon as I got to Ghana, I was whisked away into such an inviting community of the local team and the other volunteers. We were all looked after like we were part of the family. The days were fulfilling, teaching children Maths, English, Science and Health education. We were even able to host a sports day for each of the classes, which brought so much joy and laughter. Then we would explore the city of Kumasi in our free time. There were huge markets, hikes, pools, lakes, the mall, clubs, bars and restaurants.

My friends and I had a particularly fun time walking around the city trying food stalls and the local cuisine, testing our knowledge on the local language, Twi. It was so much fun learning such a different language together. Finally, on some weekends, we visited Cape Coast Castle and learnt more about the Slave Trade where it actually happened. It was such an eye-opening experience. We even got to explore the Savannah, seeing elephants in the wild!

My takeaways from Ghana

It was an extraordinary time, and one I will never forget.

Going to another country on my own, meeting new people, and trying so many new things boosted my confidence and independence immensely and made me realise how amazing the world can be. The kids were always so bright eyed, wanting to learn anything and everything and I truly felt like I was helping to make a difference in their lives.

Saying goodbye and going home was definitely the hardest part about the experience and I wanted to stay much longer than my planned month. I have made friends for life who are from all over the world, like Germany, South Africa, Spain, and of course, Ghana. Working with such an array of cultures and backgrounds really develops your interpersonal skills and cultural awareness.

Back to university

Moving back to university, I am bringing along a variety of skills from Ghana that I hope will help me excel in my final year. I have enhanced my resilience and my adaptability, coming home with experience working on my own and in a team. I have boosted my eagerness to learn, and I want to make the most of the opportunities I am lucky to receive.

To anyone who is interested and has the opportunity to get involved with the summer volunteer programs, I say go for it! It will be an incredible chance to see the world in such a beautiful and authentic setting.

Medaase! (Thank you!)

Are you interested in the Go Global program? Visit the Go Global Fair on Friday 18 October from 9.30am-4pm, in the Great Hall, Aston Webb Building.