Hey! I’m Sofie. Africa has always been my dream. Volunteer Worldwide, the organisation that made my dreams come true. Ghana - the land of a thousand and one dreams.
In 2013, I chose to do my graduation project for my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in Ghana. From day 1 to day 106, it was an amazing experience! That’s why I decided to go back in the summer of 2014 to work on the Kidz Active School summer project. I can’t tell you about all the adventures I had there, but here’s a little summary!
You meet hundreds of Ghanaians there who, so sweetly, keep asking if you want to be their friend.
You become part of a family and share all their joys and sorrows. Hilarity everywhere when young and old try to rub colour onto you, smear it on themselves, sniff it, or even taste it. You go swimming with your little brothers and sisters and see the look in their eyes meant just for you. You meet up with other volunteers in town, surrounded by potential marriage candidates – each presenting an even better proposal than the last! At the end of your volunteering, one of your students gives you a note saying how much they’ll miss you and that you’re their role model. The jokes from Bash, Sylvester, and Priscilla have you in stitches, even if later you forget why. And the lifelong friendships you form with Ghanaians, Dutch, and Belgians make it all unforgettable.
The taxi rides where you have to get out with the other passengers to push it forward. Complaining with fellow volunteers when the food isn’t quite as good as the day before. The joy of discovering a ‘wooden bakery’ selling real Belgian or Dutch baguettes. The incredible excursions where you learn even more about Ghana and its way of life. The love, happiness, fun, and tears you share with the children at school. The word ‘salaminga’, sometimes the sweetest, sometimes the most annoying, but you can’t help waving back with your biggest smile. Every day brings new smells, new food, new friends. Finding joy in the little things and letting it grow into a happiness that warms your heart.
But be warned, once that warmth fills your heart, it never leaves, you carry it with you forever!
I’d say, just go for it!
And if you do, do it with Volunteer Worldwide. The guidance and support they give you in Ghana and in the lead up to going away gives you a sense of safety, security, trust, and warmth.
~ Sofie Bruggeman ~
Age: 21
Studies: Primary school teaching
