Where did you volunteer? Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with GCS?
Rachel: I volunteered at the Drifting Angels Orphanage in Tsito, Ghana. I decided to volunteer with GCS after finding their website online. I contacted the organization and they put me in touch with past volunteers so I knew it was legitimate.
Do you feel like you made a significant impact on the local community? Why or why not?
Rachel: I feel like I did make an impact on the community, especially through teaching. There was a huge difference academically between the students who lived at the orphanage and those who lived in private homes but came to the school during the day. I think being exposed to English and having someone to engage with was really helpful for the kids at the orphanage.
Ten years from now, I'll definitely remember teaching the most. When I was at the orphanage, I volunteered as a caretaker, but I also taught Math and English during the days. It was such a wonderful experience playing games and figuring out ways to make classes engaging. It was so also very reassuring to see the kids progress.
What was the hardest or most challenging part of your experience?
Rachel: The hardest part for me was seeing the poverty that the children lived in. Over the course of my time volunteering with GCS I grew to really love each of the kids and it was hard to see them growing up without parents and in such poor conditions.