In October 2024, we once again travelled to Ghana with a new group of young people. We aimed to continue the work we began in 2023 working within the schools, the orphanages and local communities.
To ensure this trip went ahead again this year we were fortunate to partner with RNN to apply for the Department of Education Turing Scheme Grant. This grant allowed us to offer the trip to all students by offering it a lower price. By offering the trip at a price so low, it means the trip was open to students who may usually avoid trips due to financial situations at home.
While in Ghana it was important that the students did not only carry out the community work we set out to do but the learn about the history the country and the people of Ghana went through to get to where they are now. We spent time visiting various places like; Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Independence Square and the local craft market. We had overnight trips to Cape Coast and Volta.
Cape Coast was a very eye opening trip for the students as we walked through the Cape Coast Slave Castle, learning about the history the building holds. We were guided round the castle by a guide who spoke to the students in depth about this history of the slave trade and what happened to those who pass through the castle. As well as the castle the students visited Kakum National Park where they got to take part in the Canopy Walk as well as visit the crocodile sanctuary and meet some of the crocodiles that are looked after by the locals.
The trip to Volta was an excellent experience where we hiked up to the tallest waterfall in West Africa as well as a lovely hike up one of the surrounding mountains to view the boarder of Ghana to the Togo. We also got to experience what rural Ghana was like and meet some of the locals. While in Volta we also got to meet some monkeys at the monkey sanctuary.
Our first visit to the local school was quite an emotional visit for the 2 staff who previously visited Ghana in 2023 as the students recognised them, which solidified the reason we do these trips as we saw first hand the lasting impression we had on these students after one visit. Those who visited Ghana for the first time wasted no time creating everlasting bonds with the children there. We spent our time in school delivering Maths and English lessons within the classroom as well as delivering sports outside the classroom, giving the students the opportunity to experience a variation in their education. Prior to the trip the staff put out an appeal to the local schools in Rotherham for any unwanted workbooks and reading books, where we were inundated with donations, which we took along to Ghana and donated to the local school for their students to now enjoy too.
As well as volunteering within a school our students spent time volunteering within a local orphanage. This was one of the hardest aspects of the trip for the students to face as reality hit home when realising these children they were working with only had each other and were still the happiest children you would see. Our students spent a few hours each evening with the children playing games, assisting with homework and school projects. Again building bonds that would last forever.
We spent quite a bit of time delivering football sessions to various areas of the community as well as playing in games with local teams. The sports students got the opportunity to pass their knowledge on to the young aspiring footballers in Ghana as well as develop their own football abilities by playing against the local teams. The students delivered around 10 football sessions throughout the duration of our trip.
A big reason we run the trip to Ghana is to continue the relationship we have built with the communities in Ghana as well as the schools and orphanage we work within. The experience this trip gives are students is next to none, they get to be present in making a big difference for those who need it most. It also allowed some students the chance to leave the country for the first time, which is a whole other experience for some.
