Ghana: Children of Africa

I went to Ghana this summer on the children of Africa program. I was there for three weeks. Those three weeks couldn't have been any better. The cost is completely worth it, the things you see and things you get to do are a priceless experience. I have traveled a lot but no trip has stuck to me like this one. It has opened my eyes so much to what I can do and has really helped me in deciding my future.

I was a part of the Children of Africa program in Ghana with GLA this past summer, and I can honestly say this program was exactly what I was looking for. Both the local and international staff made our well-being their top priority, and were incredibly caring to every student. We were broken up into personalized "mentor groups" to process our experience, undergoing many reflective leadership and teambuilding activities to supplement our service projects in primary schools and the local clinic. Mentors became our friends, our role models, and our educators, and their guidance through this eye opening experience is something I can't write enough praise about. This was not the typical "high school travel" program; everyone came with a purpose, and we were able to come together to work towards a beautiful goal as a family. We were able to live WITH the people in the middle of a community, rather than just being ambiguous American volunteers detached from the local people. I never once felt unsafe or worried while in Ghana; GLA made sure all of the students felt comfortable when embarking on this off the map experience in a developing country. I can't say enough about how much I fell in love with Ghana and our little community in Anloga. Going on this journey is something every teenager should do if they have the chance to. While these types of teen service experiences are offered by many programs, GLA Ghana shows excellence in responsible voluntourism for high schoolers, working with the community to make a difference in some small way by educating students in development work and Ghanaian culture. This program is incredible, and GLA helps you every step of the way. I could say so much more about the program and my unforgettable memories, but every single student will take away something different and indescribably special from this experience on their own. If anyone has any questions, check out the GLA Ghana Facebook page to get in touch with alumni like me and see all the wonderful resources GLA makes available. Thank you!

I loved my trip to Ghana. I have been on three Global Leadership Adventure trips and I feel they are amazing. When I went to Ghana we stayed in a small hostel by ourselves in the middle of a small village near the beach. The food was amazing and I always felt extremely safe. Kids would come into the yard and play all the time. The service was extremely rewarding. I helped build a library with cement blocks and helped teach a 1st grade class at a local school. The bonds built through service and the memories I made there are something I will take with me for the rest of my life. In addition to service GLA does a lot of cultural immersion activities. These include language class, cooking class, host families, an island tour, visiting a slave fort, seeing one of the largest waterfalls in Africa, and even going to a monkey forest. The excursion trips always kept us busy. Additionally every night we would have discussions, guest speakers, or lessons that would serve to make us think and teach us about issues in Ghana and around the world. We were always exhausted and in bed by 9 ready for a new exciting day come next morning. GLA Ghana was incredible and helped teach me what I want in life and what I will do in my future.

My daughter went on this trip in 2013 and had a wonderful time! She is still in touch with many of the kids and leaders in the group! She misses the people in Ghana every day and because of this experience she has decided to study abroad in Ghana. The accomodations were nice, no hot water but that is everywhere in Ghana. Side trips were also life changing experiences. She loved the food and spent a lot of time with the kids, which was her main purpose that she went on the trip. She went on with a different organization this summer to Fiji and had a horrible time so my advice is that you stay with this company. If you decide to go with a different company please ask about accomodations, how much they will need to walk/hike daily, foods, adult-supervision, etc.

GLA is a perfect organization for high school students who want to volunteer abroad. Everything is set up in a way that parents can be assured their child is safe while logistics and scheduling run smoothly in the program country. I heard only positive feedback from almost everybody in my group, and I know I will be referring people to GLA in the future. Global Leadership Adventures delivers an experience that matches all three aspects of GLA's name: participants are exposed to beautiful cultures and introduced to the concept of a global citizen, they are given plenty of opportunities to refine their leadership skills, and their taste for adventure is satisfied through a meaningful service project and powerful day trips. I have never seen so many earnest people together in one setting; returning home from such an amazing experience was difficult for all of us!

Not many high schoolers have the chance to have a life changing experience like this. GLA isn't the cliche abroad trip. In its perfect blend of challenge and comfort and beauty, the essence of Ghana through the guidance of GLA was perfect.

GLA Ghana most definitely had to be one of the greatest gifts that I have ever received in my life. I was blessed to have the opportunity to travel to a beautiful country, and be accepted by a beautiful community. It was the best gift to be given the privilege to help, and being trusted enough to teach classes, and make bricks for the school. It was a gift to be surrounded around a group of people that cared about each other, and cared about the world. But most of all, I really think the greatest gift was the connections I have been able to make. I really believe that in Ghana, I learned how to be aware, and how to LIVE WITH PURPOSE. Having the skills to do that in itself is essentially, a gift, because many people do not have the opportunity to do so. I met the most wonderful people: the staff, other GLA students, and the Ghanaian people, and adorable life-changing little kids The whole GLA experience was a gift because I learned, through helping others, how to become an effective leader with vision, how to cultivate my voice, and how to use that voice to inflict change, and empower others to inflict change! I can’t think of a better gift. After my trip, I have been inspired to continue doing work at home and have motivated a lot of people to look beyond the comfort of their homes and even country, and strive to understand the world on a global level!

And on top of that: you're safe the whole time, the food is AWESOME, and you get to go on awe-inspiring trips as you venture through the vibrance of ghana in the good hands of GLA! Would recommend this to anyone!

Global Leadership Adventures offers a great life changing experience that opens students up to the world outside of their every day life. The Ghanian culture is amazing and the people are so friendly and welcoming! GLA offers The Children of Africa program along with the Building Healthy Villages program where both offer the chance to help the local community in such a big way! The Building Health Villages home base is located at The Meet Me There hostel and it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I would highly encourage you to choose Ghana for your country if you choose to go abroad with GLA!

GLA offers scholarships, financial aid, fundraising tips, and so much more to help you get started with the program. It was very safe, comfortable and the staff are incredible people; this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I would suggest Global Leadership Adventures to anyone out there looking for a life changing experience!

The highlight of my trip was visiting Fathers House. Fathers House is a house that houses 8 rescued child slaves off of Lake Volta. The "Great 8" are my favorite boys in the whole world. The fun and love they brought to my life was so inspiring. I am going back to Ghana, I'm going back, first and foremost, to see those boys.