Mondo's volunteers in Ghana

Here I am. In Upper East Ghana during this special time when countries are in lockdown and Covid-19 is felt even here in this little village with population around 6000. It was just few months ago when I had call about possible deployment to Ghana from my NGO Mondo, and I decided spontaneously ‘'why not’’ to use this opportunity and go to Kongo village, to support local communities during this special pandemic time. Cold estonian temperature of -15-20C with big ‘’fat’’ snow has been now replaced with hot and dry climate, average daily temperature 39-40C. The climate of Ghana is tropical and there are two main seasons: the wet and the dry seasons. The harmattan, a dry desert wind lowers the humidity and causes hotter days, cooler nights. My journey to Ghana went smoothly. The women and all the villagers have been really welcoming,   helpful, friendly, always smile and ask ''how your day has been’’, or ‘’ how is your family’’', having good discussion is ‘' a must’’ in...

Finally, we left. Finally, we are in Ghana, and it is still hard to believe . I left home, Madrid, during this uncertain time, after (during?) Covid19 era. I have left my co-workers nurses at the hospital facing the second and third waves of this pandemic, and I still asking myself if it was a fair decision. I have switched from Covid19 rapid tests to Malaria rapid tests in less than a week. I have changed the snow for the amazing sunsets and the dust, and the gray and black for thousand of colors. And I feel alive. New place, new house, new family, new job, new challenges. Let's begin! Our first weeks can be described with one word: MEETINGS . Meetings all the time. We were introduced to a lot of people that it felt so difficult to remember all their names and their titles. Day-to-day situation: “Hello, I am Marina, I am a nurse” and my colleague “Hello, I am Maria, I am a midwife” and after this really confused faces looking at us. Is it the same name? What is the difference? Ar...