Volunteers' Reviews - Ghana

Dear Volunteer,

Please kindly evaluate the volunteer program of RCDP Volunteers and assist us to further improve our services and program.

Your name: Kathrin Ostler
Your address: Parkstrasse 37, 40477 Düsseldorf, Germany

Please grade the quality of the RCDP volunteer program:

Please review/evaluate your overall experience of volunteering with RCDP

My time at the King Jesus Charity Home (Orphanage) in Kumasi has been a wonderful lifetime experience for me. I have been very warmly welcomed by the kids and the staff and they all made me feel home. The work with the kids was more than rewarding and inspiring. Beside assisting the teacher for the smaller kids, I also had the opportunity to tutor the junior and senior high school students. Reverend Kofi Owuso, the manager of the place, is a wonderful man who is highly dedicated to give those kids and need not only shelter but also a future.

During my entire stay, I have been perfectly supported by the local in country-coordinators and felt very safe all times.

I would highly recommend the RCDP International Volunteer program to future candidates.

Thank you !

Do you recommend RCDP International volunteer program to your friends/families?
Yes No

Can we forward your email address to our future volunteers? If yes, please write your e-mail: kathrinostler@hotmail.com

Dear Volunteer,

Please kindly evaluate the volunteer program of RCDP Volunteers and assist us to further improve our services and program.

Your name: Kristen Brandon
Your address: 9131 Periwinkle Lp NE Lacey, WA U.S.A, 98516

Please grade the quality of the RCDP volunteer program:

Please review/evaluate your overall experience of volunteering with RCDP

My experience in Ghana was amazing, rewarding, and humbling. The arrival and pick up went so smoothly. Franklin and Richard welcomed me at the airport. They were warm and patient even under the circumstance of my flight arriving an hour behind schedule. Katherine and I were taken to my hostess’ (Mavis) home where we were greeted with smiles and the offer of a warm delicious meal.

Franklin and Richard were exceptional. The following day Franklin took the time to help me become familiarized with the area by means of the standard transportation system, which was a very effective method of assisted cultural submersion. Franklin made himself very available at all times and made me feel comfortable knowing I could contact him with any questions or concerns I could possibly have. He took the time to introduce me to the staff at Korle-Bu prior to my beginning volunteer work. Richard was accommodating enough to escort me to the Cape Coast area over the first weekend and the Arts Center the following week. It was a fabulous way to see some of the other areas. Both Franklin and Richard were overall very thoughtful, kind, and accommodating; offering to escort me to the airport for my departure flight, and even going as far to purchase lunch for me one day. I felt very supported during the entire trip. Communication prior to the trip was good if I needed anything. The response time was quick. I would have liked to known a little more about the host family I was staying with prior to my departure and have been provided with their address when I received my placement sheet, (or as soon as it became available) so obtaining a visa would have been a little easier.

Mavis, my hostess, was just equally spectacular. She also took the time to show me the area and the Trotro system. Her and her family’s hospitality was completely selfless. She opened her home to me and made me feel as though I was at home. I was truly impressed. She prepared delicious local dishes daily for each meal, which I greatly appreciated. She even took the time to show me how to prepare a local dish, Banku, and took me to the local market and shopping mall. She was engaging, patient, thoughtful, and so accommodating. Her genuine personality and laid back demeanor makes her a perfect fit as hostess. Her family members were equally charming and considerate. I would not change my experience with staying with a host family, such as Mavis’, for anything. It was a wonderful and true Ghanaian cultural experience.

My time at Korle-Bu was humbling. It was a valuable educational experience from which I took lessons of humility, empathy, personalization, professionalism, and cultural variances. Which leads me to the one and only issue with my volunteering experience. The language barrier within the Korle-Bu Fevers Clinic is significant, to the point where English was spoken so infrequently by clients it became virtually impossible to educate or counsel most individuals. Granted I was aware I would be assisting with administrative tasks such as weighing, measuring, and scheduling appointments for clients. But I was also under the impression I would indeed be educating and counseling individuals regarding HIV and AIDS. I sat in on many counseling sessions and learned a great deal regarding counseling methods and standards that exist at Korle-Bu. However, I can honestly say I did not get to truly fulfill my volunteer desire to educate or counsel. As a counselor I had issues with informing a client of their HIV status, however I know it is a common practice for the clinic. I could not inform a client of their HIV status based on my ethical guidelines, which I honor regardless of culture. I also thought the program was boasting educating opportunities that were preventative, not reactive. Knowing what I do now, I would love to have another opportunity to work with clients at Korle-Bu, or with another unit in the hospital, in the capacity of HIV prevention education as well as group therapy and counseling for reactive patients. However the language barrier is something that truly needs to be reassessed and determined whether or not it can be overcome or managed for any future volunteer. If is deemed too difficult a barrier to overcome my recommendation is to eliminate the education and counseling piece of the volunteering option as to avoid any future confusion or possible frustration. The time I did spend there was so educational and I would not exchange those experiences for a thing. It is through those experiences that I have been able to open my mind to alternate possibilities for HIV education and counseling, within the US, as well as future opportunities in Ghana.

My teaching experience at St. Monica’s was wonderful. Franklin was so open to working with my background as an art educator. I brought art supplies with me, which I was able to use with the children, and taught them the fundamentals and principles of art. The children were so excited, eager to learn, highly motivated, and well mannered. It was a truly enriching experience where I felt as though I “made a difference” even in the short time I was there. I would undoubtedly return with the hopes of staying for a longer period of time and in addition to art would love to teach English.

This volunteer opportunity through RCDP has been an experience of a lifetime, which has opened my eyes to so much, and impassioned me to pursue future volunteer trips. I would most definitely (and already have) recommend RCDP to fellow co-workers, peers, friends, and family. The interest has risen amongst my peers! Saying “Thank you” for organizing this opportunity is really not enough. I appreciate all of the work everyone has put into making this trip happen for me!

Thank you!

Do you recommend RCDP International volunteer program to your friends/families?
Yes No

Can we forward your email address to our future volunteers? If yes, please write your e-mail: kristen.b.brandon@gmail.com