Volunteer Benefits/ Stories

 

Volunteer Benefits

Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on your community. But did you know that it can have many benefits for you too? Here are some reasons to volunteer:
*you will gain valuable experience
*you will live in one place for a while, giving you time to embrace the local cultures and heritage
*you will learn new skills, languages, maybe even dance moves
*you will make many new friends
*you will become a broader minded person and learn about other people
*you will be making a real difference to a less prosperous community.

Learn Or Develop A New Skill

Volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill/As Mahatma Gandhi said,’’ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.’’ It is never too late to learn new skills and no reason why you should stop adding to our knowledge just because you are in employment or have finished school.

BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY

No man or woman is an island. We sometimes take for granted the community that we live in. People and societies co-depend on each other for survival but growth of such things as commercialism are seeing traditional values being disregarded. Communities are suffering due to the growth of secular societies but at the same time we can really bridge that expanding gap through volunteering. Volunteering  is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on people’s welling. What better way is there to connect with your community and give a little back? As a volunteer, you certainly return to society some of the benefits that society gives you.

 

MOTIVATION AND SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT

Fundamentally, volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. Unlike many things in life there is a choice involve in volunteering. As a volunteer you have made a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure to act from others. Volunteers predominantly express a sense of achievement and motivation, and this is ultimately generated from your desire and enthusiasm to help. Sometimes volunteers are regarded as do-gooders and those that hold the view also assume that the person can never make a difference. It may be true that no one can solve all the world’s problems, but what you can do is make that little corner of the world where you live just little bit better.
These are just few of the benefits of joining a volunteer work, volunteer job or work experience opportunity abroad but you will get out of your time away as much as you put in! .

 

Volunteer stories

Name: Alexandria
Period: 2 months
Country: Colorado, USA
Hello my name is Alexandria, my friend Tiffany and I traveled to  Ghana May 2006 to volunteer for Prime Care Network. There were many volunteer options we had contemplated however, after corresponding  with Michael (director), we had decided Prime Care Network was  exactly what we were looking for. Upon arriving in Ghana we were met  at the airport by Michael and Godfred where we received a warm  welcome. For the first few days we stayed with a host "mama" in Accra city. She was very kind and made us feel very comfortable in  her home. We were both very surprised at the size of Accra. Despite the large city atmosphere people were incredibly friendly. We always found ourselves in good company and found Michael and Fred to be  very good tour guides. There were so many amazing sites in the city  its hard to translate my experience into words. In short it was amazing! We soon left the city for a hospital in a small city three  hours east of Accra. The cab ride was filled will incredible scenery. Once we arrived we were taken care of by our host Bukari who worked at the hospital. We stayed one night in town where we met many local people who were very eager to have their  photos taken. I actually got taken house to house for 30 minutes so  I could photograph all the families. I would then show them my digital screen and they would laugh. It was really touching how  quickly people accepted you and how willing they were to care for  you. The hospital was run by a Father superior and the reverend brothers. The accommodations were really nice as well as the staff.  Tiffany and I had to leave early due to a family emergency; we are hoping to continue our volunteer services at another time. I was very satisfied with my choice of Prime Care Network. They provided a unique volunteer experinece in that we were not dragged around with  a group of people sight seeing. I feel that I really got to experience Ghana on a more personal level. I only hope that others will have the chance to visit this beautiful country. Bye Alexandria.

Name: Shona
Period: 3 months
Country: Australia
Alex my friend once volunteered there. He introduced the PCN to me  and since then I started communication with the co-ordinator about volunteering options  and other arrangements such as my visa, shots, what to bring etc.
 I helped in a street children school in Bodjuase village, where we goes to homes of the kids and bring them to school and some times organized extra-lessons for them under a big tree. Before my coming to the project I intended volunteering for a month but after 3 weeks I found that the demand for teachers to help at the street-kids school is highly needed so I finally volunteered for 12 solid weeks. During my stay in Ghana I was able to see few places because I also participated in PCN‘s sight seeing project. We paid $ 150 each for two days touring and all was wonderful for visiting the Cape coast castle (where the slaves were kept in dungeons during the colonial times and histories about the local people and the governors from Britain, Dutch and Portugal),the Afjato mount.Wli water fall (the highest water fall in Ghana), relaxation at the beaches, the night market at Osu town in Accra the city etc.

Ghanaians are friendly  and ready to share what they have with you and to help you with the assistances you required. According to a book I read ,Ghana is one of the safer country one can visit in Africa and I really enjoyed my visit, the lovely children wherever you go they call you OBRONI meaning WHITE PERSON .
After my volunteering I realized how meaningful my trip was and what have really made me truly achieved what I have been crying to go to Africa to do.
 My time there has truly contributed in shaping the life’s of the unfortunate ones and have made me have an insight into African cultures.
What to add is that future volunteers must be committed to their project and seek advise from their project managers before doing any other thing. I am ready to share my experience with future volunteers who want to go to Ghana with the PCN.
Shona

Name: Jennifer
Period: 2months
Country: England
I left Ghana 3rd July 2009.My placement with Primecare was putted into two –three categories because I chose to do all for eight weeks and paid $1400.I received a certificate after my work, accommodation and meals was provided to me during my time and other assistances.
On arrival I was pick-up at the airport by three representatives, with my name written on a paper and their ID cards showing to me as exactly being told by email. I stayed overnight in Accra city because I arrived in the evening and we cannot travel in the night to the village for safety reasons until the next day I was taken to few places in Accra city before we left in the afternoon to Bodjuase village where I was introduced to the host family and other few people I worked with. Richard the farmer I worked with in the farm. Caring for local animal and crops. At the farm I make sure crops are properly on roles, remove the yellowish or the dried ones from crops, cultivate the soil and  make seed beds and transplanting of seedlings. Vegetables such tomato, pepper, garden eggs etc are ready for harvesting every 4-5days.I enjoyed working at the farm in the village.
I was transferred to orphanage home in Aboadi village, it’s about 7-8 minutes walk from the orphanage to the beach and that was another wonderful experience. The orphanage consist of 32 -36 orphans .I worked hand in hand with other local people and volunteers from different countries, we bathed them, cooked for them, clothing them, baking breads for them, helping in washing their dirty clothing’s, take them to school and helping them to do their home work.
It’s difficult to translate all of my experience in to words. For short I recommend Primecare  to any volunteer who is ready to go to Ghana. I thank my stars for making me achieved all I want to do in Africa. Future friends must be ready to take up the challenge whilst they are there than other things.Jeniff