IVHQ GHANA- the best time of my life!

Where to start- my experience with IVHQ was nothing short of incredible and I would HIGHLY reccomend to anyone thinking about the experience. I have noticed that there is a negative post on this site, and I simply cannot believe that anyone would have anything bad to say about this volunteer group.

The staff are wonderful, inspiring, honest, and approachable people who will do anything and everything to ensure you feel comfortable and safe. There were several people in my orientation group who had special diets (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free) and they were able to accomodate all, which I can ensure you is not any easy thing to do in rural Africa. These people really do bend over backwards to ensure that you feel safe and can focus on what you are there to do- volunteer and make an impact. There was not one moment in my two months in Ghana that I did not feel cared for.

I was placed in the Turquoise program, located in the central region of Ghana. Myself and several other volunteers lived in one room with three bunk beds (6 beds total), and we had a ceiling fan and electricity in our room. There was a washroom indoors, which was nice, but you still had to take bucket showers with well water. It is rural Africa, after all. However the well water was clean and provided to us whenever needed.

I worked in the medical program, so I had the opportunity to volunteer in both the orphanage and the local clinic. At the clinic, I treated patients primarily with malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, wounds from machetes, and delivered babies/ provided pre and post-natal care. I work as a registered nurse in the U.S. and can say that this has been a truly eye opening experience. The staff at the clinic were absolutely wonderful and willing to teach everything. I was also able to participate in government-run vaccination clinics for the local children of our town.

Not all malarial medications are 100% effective, and myself and another volunteer contracted malaria while there. The IVHQ staff took great care of us and we stayed in Accra at the volunteer house with wonderful accomodations until we were well enough to return to our placement. They were very sympathetic and helpful.

Working at the orphanage was even more rewarding than the clinic. There were about 50 orphaned children at our placement. Daily duties included doing laundry, cooking meals, helping them bathe and brush teeth, and teaching in the local school. The children are truly wonderful, and the family that runs the orphanage are absolutely inspiring. The IVHQ staff came by every week to see if we were faring well, which was nice but not necessary as everything was incredible.

Yes, it is rural Africa. You will be hot, sweaty, tired, and probably not used to the food. You will be emotional because of the poverty you will experience and your want to make a bigger impact than you can. You will have the best moments of your life, you will meet new people, and you will never be the same. You just need to have an open mind and and open heart.

Thank you, IVHQ, for giving me the greatest experience of my life. I cannot wait to go back again.