Cross-Cultural Solutions: High School Volunteer Abroad in Ghana

From mid-June to late-July I spent a month volunteering with CCS in Ghana. It was the best experience, and trip of my life. I taught kindergarten-1 at a local school and orphanage in Hohoe, and I gained so much perspective and knowledge from the children about their culture, customs, and lives. Besides teaching at the school, I also was able to climb the tallest mountain in Ghana, learn how to weave Kente Cloth, visit the capitol of Ghana, Accra, and so much more.
One thing I would have to say is that I wasn't informed about teaching at the local school and orphanage until a couple days before I left. Some of the other volunteers during my stay didn't have the same intentions and values as the rest of the volunteers and I for the duration of our time in Ghana. Overall, the program is absolutely life changing and I hope to visit the children that I became close with, and also the ones who I gave an impact to.

This summer I volunteered at Hohoe, Ghana, with the CCS teen program. It was a life changing experience. I was the last of my group to arrive and when I finally got my luggage I was greeted by a tired, if smiling person holding a CCS sign. His name was Julius, and he was great! Then there was a six hour drive to the home base from Accra. I was quite terrified in the van because we kept on driving on the other side of the road to avoid potholes, but I soon got used to it after realizing that everyone does it. When we arrived, I was greeted by the program supervisors, who insisted on staying up for us even though it was 3:30 in the morning.
Placement is Monday~Friday, and we worked at Happy Kids Orphanage. I wish I had know beforehand that it is a school as well, because we were all very unprepared when we found out we had to teach. I think if we could arrive on a Thursday then spend Friday and the weekend making lesson plans it would be better. I was also not expecting to be able to wear shorts, but it was mostly fine, especially around the home base, as long as it isn't spandex or booty shorts.
I am very happy that I met some fellow volunteers who share my values, although not everyone in the group did, I have become very close to the few who did. This experience has left me with perspective, and I've gotten the rare opportunity to learn about a culture very different to my own. I wish I had stayed three weeks!