Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with YCI in Ghana?
Pamy: Honestly, I have to give Google part credit for my experience with YCI. I had just finished up at uni and I was having a panic on what I was going to do now that I was finished with school. So, one day I sat in front of my computer and googled "Volunteering Overseas," clicked on the first link I saw, filled out the application, and the next thing I knew I was on a plane to Ghana! However, I did look at what YCI had to offer before I filled out the application and what I really liked about the program was that it gave an inexperienced volunteer like myself, the chance to help and build skills to help me jump shoot a career in the non-profit sector.
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer:
Pamy: The days we had to work and get ourselves ready for upcoming workshops and/or events looked different than the two days off we had a week. So, I'll will give you a run down of both of these days...
Working Day:
- Get up around 7am (the sun always woke us up early).
- One room was the always designated as the meals preparation room so we'd all congregate there and have our corn flakes, instant coffee and our Laughing Cow's cream cheese that we'd spread over our untoasted bread.
- After breakfast we'd all get to our assigned tasks for the week. For example, if it's Monday and we have a workshop on youth employability on Friday, we'd map out what we would need for that workshop down to the littlest detail, divide up the tasks and off we went for the week. To keep things efficient, each person was assigned a workshop that they were in charge of. We all still did our share, but the assigned person for the particular workshop would act as a coordinator; making sure goals for the day were reached, ensure we were not falling behind etc.
- During the day we'd meet up for lunch. We had a couple of cell phones between the 6 of us and we made sure each group, when we're out and about, had one. We'd usually end up at a place that served meat and rice and sodas :)
- At the end of our work day, we'd have some time to walk around the markets and have some free time before we all had dinner. Depending on where we were staying, dinner was always different. There was one place in Korforidua that we stayed at, a woman ( the most amazing woman!) would bring a different traditional home cooked meals to us every night!
- After dinner, we always played cards :-) Some would head to town (if it was still early) to explore and talk to the local community.
That was a typical day. Every day was different but that was the gist of it :) On our two days off we'd all go away to a different area to explore. Over the course of the week we would have spoken to many locals getting the best ideas where of to go. Those days were spent getting up early, to get as much in as possible, but still relaxing. These days included: hikes, waterfalls, hut resorts, islands, canoeing (with a guide), shopping, dining and much more!
What made this volunteer abroad experience unique and special?
Pamy: It was special because it was the first independent trip I had taken without family and close friends. I came out of this trip a more confident and independent traveler. It was both special and unique because it re-affirmed my passion for the non-profit sector and gave me a starting point. This experience opened doorways for me to start my career in the charity sector.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Pamy: This trip has affected my life dramatically both personally and professionally. On a personal level, it let me see first hand how many young and bright individuals there are in a part of the world where they lack so much opportunity. This keeps me motivated in all my volunteering endeavors. It also made me realize that the best thing we can do is train and equip those youth who are capable to change the life of the community they live in.
Professionally, it has led me to volunteer with many charities, take on part-time & full-time contracts and gain experience in social impact assessment.