Comments on: Working in an African orphanage

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:10:22 +0000

Cheers Matt! Add me on Facebook if you have it “Glenn Westwood” im the 1 with a blue shirt on LoL and I will regulary be updating my status on my experience! I do hope it’s NO early morning starts an like half 8ish starts *fingers Crossed*!!!

Regards GW

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:52:43 +0000

@Glenn you won’t be eating Macdonalds on a regular basis I’ll tell you that! You might find one in Kumasi or Accra – but I didn’t see any.

Fufu is OK – I’m not a fan, but some people are! Enjoy :)

Matt

By: Glenn

Glenn — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:49:46 +0000

Thanks Matt, here in Britain I live of fast food is there Mcdonalds over there? Lol and is there lots of rats roaming the streets? I will definitely update you on my experience on my return :) and also is the fufu nice as it looks actually disgusting??

Thanks again

Glenn

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:19:42 +0000

Hi Glenn

It’s natural to be nervous – I was, but it turned to be one of the best things I have done in my life. It feels strange being in such a different environment at first, but after a couple of days you’ll feel at home.

In response to your questions:

The locals are *very* friendly – I didn’t run into a single spot of trouble and everyone wants to shake hands and say hello the the Bruni (white person).

The country is very cheap, but you won’t find the range of products you see here!

Will you lose weight – it’s hard to say! I ate very well whilst out there, only the type of food is very different. Very, very basic, fish, pup, kenke, rice balls, yam balls that kind of stuff. You don’t have to eat rat if you don’t want to (but it does taste nice!)

Have a fantastic time and if you get time when you’re back – let me know how you got on!

Good luck :)

Matt

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:36:58 +0000

Hi, I’m going to Ho in Ghana next Saturday for 5 weeks and are going to work in an orphanage I am going alone! Are the locals freindly, is the country cheap? And will I lose weight? As I don’t really fancy eating a rat LOl

Please Help as I am rather Nervous

By: Matt Matheson

Matt Matheson — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:54:21 +0000

Wow Lauren – I’ve just taken a look at your blog – that’s an amazing diary and so cool to see another blog about the same orphenage – you’ve put my blogging efforts to shame ;-)

Drop me a mail direct and I’ll be happy to share more photos with you of the children – they’re all a little older and bigger than in you’re pictures now.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:42:54 +0000

Hello! I came across your website and was astonished to see you’d been to the same orphanage I visited in Ghana. It’s great to read about another person’s experience in Sekyere and see pictures of the kids I got to know so well! Thanks for sharing!

By: Al Stevens

Al Stevens — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:52:53 +0000

Thanks for sharing that. If everyone made that small difference, together we could make a big difference indeed! I am currently trying to work out the best way to make a difference to small localised charities. Considering volunteering, and also fiancial support too. Not sure how to best start off the relationship and find the right charity/people. Al

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:22:25 +0000

Hi Emma

Thanks for responding! Sounds like you have the travel bug!

There are plenty of ways you can go about volunteering, through a number of different organisations. Some questions I’d recommend asking yourself could be:

How long do you want to go for
Do you have a preferred location
Do you have a budget in mind to cover costs
Do you want to work, and travel, or just work (or just travel)

Once you’ve thought about those I’d suggest starting to look around online at volunteer organisations that send placements from America.

There are the usual major suspects, like VSO, which operate from the US, but there will be many hundreds of smaller charities and NFP’s that you can apply to as well. Just do a quick google for ‘volunteering overseas’.

Good luck!

Matt

By: Emma Rachel

Emma Rachel — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:27:56 +0000

I want to volunteer abroad. I have this burning desire to travel the world, as well as help those in need.
I feel as an American we take everything for granted and I feel it would be very enlightening for me to do some work for others. I don’t have any special skills or training, as I was a legal assistant for a few years and before that worked as an office manager in a retirement facility. It seems all the websites I come across require a degree. I am willing to do anything. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty. I am 25 and in good physical shape. Can you make any suggestions? Surely there has got to be something I could be doing??? I know that I would have to come up with money for flight. That is fine. I just need to fulfill my life purpose, which I believe is helping others. I would love any suggestions that you may have. Thank you for your time.

By: Tom Nixon

Tom Nixon — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:22:56 +0000

Awesome write-up Matt. Thanks for sharing.