‘The African Bush‘ is the name I have given to my latest venture – volunteering and teacher training in Ghana.
In June 2014 I will be visiting Ghana in West Africa for 5 weeks, with a former colleague and dear friend. She and her son have set up a wonderful volunteer centre over there and I am going there for a few weeks.
Their charity organisation, Volunteer West Africa has 5 main project areas:
- Prevention of child exploitation
- Child health, hygiene, nutrition & sanitation
- Early-years education, childcare & teaching
- Enriching the lives of children
- Livelihoods & vocational training
One of the main reasons I am so excited to be getting involved in this project is that the overall approach is one of sustainability and working towards enabling the community help itself to improve the lives of the local people in a holistic way and it’s something I truly believe in.
Funds for the organisation are currently raised primarily through its sister organisation here in the UK – Partner West Africa, for which I have just been accepted as a trustee. Much of my time recently has been focused on getting involved in the fundraising side of things, as well as knitting items such as bags and pencil cases for the school children there.
I intend to help in any way that I can here in the UK, whether that takes the form of raising funds or promoting awareness of the good work being done in Ghana, however it is the opportunity to visit and experience first hand the real difference that can be made when people are empowered with knowledge that truly motivates me and I am very much looking forward to helping deliver teacher training in Ghana.
Whilst it may not be possible to solve all the problems in the world I believe it is possible to help facilitate small changes in the lives of some people. If the experience I have gained throughout my life and career will assist in some small way then I will do my best to provide this assistance. Education is the key to achieving a better future and I am lucky to have received a good education myself (a lot of it in the last 15 years).