GVI Ghana - a parent's review

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you GVI Ghana! I can’t say I’m not looking forward to having Libby home next Saturday, after a month in your care, but we will be forever grateful to you for the wonderful experience she has had and for the friends and memories she had made, all of which will always be part of her. As a post A’level student on a gap year, this is the first extended period we have had apart from Libby and her first extended time away. We couldn’t have wished for her to be taken better care of. From the moment she arrived with you and we received our reassuring introductory email, to the birthday celebrations, banners, birthday breakfast, party and party games along with her favourite chocolate cake, all lovingly organised by the staff 2 days later (and of course, including us in a bonus FaceTime call as she blew her candles out!) we knew she was in wonderful hands. I know the idea is that volunteers come over to you to 'give back’ and I’m sure (or hope!) she has, but, it's clear from the phone calls we’ve had, that she is getting so much back herself and gaining so much personally from the experience. The varied activities with the groups of children and women have given her such rounded experiences along with a sense of autonomy and appropriate levels of independence and choice in leisure time. As she begins her last week with you, I hope she can savour every moment, take in every sight, sound and interaction to enable her to hold this special time close to her heart for a long time to come. To any parents out there considering this type of experience for their child, I can’t recommend GVI highly enough. Let them do it, you won’t regret it; staff members Will, Carly, Esther Libby and Matt are fantastic and will make sure your son or daughter has the best time, looking after them responsibly as they would their own families.