Mondo's volunteers in Ghana

After 4 months of waiting, things are finally moving. It has been almost 5 months since I arrived in Ghana for my volunteering mission. I came with some anxiety about work, as I have no academic background in the humanitarian or development fields, but also with hope, expectations, and a strong willingness to learn. Through this mission, in addition to immersing myself in a new culture, I wanted to discover a field that I might be interested in pursuing professionally, and potentially consider going back to my studies if that turned out to be the case. Thus, I have to admit that I felt quite disappointed during those first four months, as I was not really included or involved in my host organization’s activities. The days felt long and were filled with self-questioning. The fact that one of the four of us was even planning a premature departure for this reason was also mentally challenging. Fortunately, everything changed after an unexpected field visit. I was invited by my local me...

 When I look back today, Ghana is not a “project country” for me; it is a turning point. What I experienced there did not stay only in that time. In every step I took after, the sounds, colors, and faces from Ghana stayed with me. I think this is the most real outcome of volunteering: an experience you cannot put on a CV, but also cannot erase from yourself. For this experience to be meaningful, expectations matter. If you come to Ghana to “change the world,” the responsibility can feel very heavy. But if you come to understand a small part of the world, this experience can change you in deeper and more lasting ways. Of course, the reality in the field is not only about the place. Like any team, the structure here is not homogeneous. You may meet different personalities, different working styles, and sometimes challenging communication. This should be seen as part of the volunteering experience. What matters is protecting your personal boundaries and understanding these moments as ...

  Hello again, Living in Ghana is not something you fully understand by reading about it. You feel it in the heat, in the colors, in the traffic, in the music, and in the way people smile at you for no reason. Every day brings a new surprise. Sometimes you learn something the easy way, sometimes the hard way. This guide is a small collection of things I learned while living and volunteering here. Some are practical, some are funny, some are confusing, and some changed the way I see life.  Welcome to Ghana. It will challenge you, surprise you and teach you. Here we go . . . 1. Water is everything here Water is not just water in Ghana. It keeps your energy up, protects you from the heat, and saves you from feeling dizzy. If you don’t carry a bottle with you, even the city gets tired before you do. Drinking water is not a choice here — it is basic survival. 2. People dress in bright colors and always smile Colors are part of daily life in Ghana. People smile at you even when th...

   Hello everyone, Everyone in my life said the same thing "Are you crazy?".This journey began with the questions.  Yes, I guess so. My assignment period is a bit short, 3 months. But it doesn't matter. Here I am in Ghana. On my first day, my volunteer friends Louis and Oceane picked me up from the airport. After a short tour around Tamale, we bought something to eat and went to the volunteer house.Since I arrived on Friday, I had three free days at the beginning. I spent the first day resting, and again my volunteer friends took me to do some grocery shopping. On the second day, I was just waiting for my soul to catch up with me. Whenever I take a long trip (especially by plane), I always feel like I travel too fast and leave my soul behind. When I arrive at my destination, I wait for a while until my soul arrives too. It’s actually a small ritual that helps me adjust to the new place emotionally.Maybe that’s why I love slow mornings and quiet moments ...

 Today I want to quickly share with you one of the most frightening experiences of my life (and I harda car accident already sooooo). I was going to the field on a motorbike with my mentor. In the beginning it was pretty funny and honestly I just loved it! It's a whole different vibe to get into the Savana with a motorbike rather than a car believe me! You feel so close to the nature and to the spirit of the place. At the same time, the risks are way higher. The roads are in very bad conditions and there is absolutely no traffic regulation. Anyway, I was enjoyining the ride when suddenly I spot a group of Zebus running in the Savana and I think "Oh wow amazing let me take a video of this!". As we procede I quickly realize that the Zebus are invading the road and they are running savagely. We don't stop. We go on trying to dodge them. I stop breathing as the Zebus are running a few centimetes away from me. I though "Please please please plaseeeee don't hit me...

  A Journey of Growth, Culture, and Connection It is hard to believe that nine weeks have already passed since I began my humanitarian mission in Ghana, in the small village of Kongo. My deployment as a volunteer gender advocate and women’s empowerment specialist is now drawing to a close, and as I look back on this experience, I am filled with gratitude, humility, and admiration for the people and culture that have surrounded me. Time has flown by remarkably quickly. These past weeks have been filled with a whirlwind of experiences — moments of discovery, challenges, culture shocks, and countless opportunities for personal and professional growth. I have witnessed both the joys and the hardships of daily life here, and each day has taught me something new about resilience, community, and humanity. From the very beginning, I made it my goal to truly integrate into the local community. I have worked to learn the language, built friendships with residents, visited schools, and collab...