Rebecca volunteered with us recently on one of our Criminology and Law programmes in Ghana. Read more about how she got on below!
Arriving in Ghana: Settling in and Daily life
Before leaving I had few expectations of the placement and of Ghana. Vocational Impact provided me with enough information about the programme before leaving, I just knew I wanted to go into the trip with an open mind. Looking back, I think this was actually super helpful for me when adjusting to all the differences as I wasn’t relying on perceived ideals of the programme.
Initially arriving into Accra I think can be quite overwhelming – particularly as I had travelled from Australia alone. You have to be open minded as you are experiencing a completely new environment and meeting new people for the first time. Abigail and Jamila were extremely welcoming when I arrived at the airport and made me feel really comfortable on my first day.
The accommodation was great. I spent the first night alone but felt like I could easily settle in. The apartment was isolated from the rest of the apartments so allowed for some privacy. It also had a beautiful grass area with a hammock, and a rooftop area which was so nice. Birgit and Bright were great help if we ever needed anything as well.
The evenings were a great time to bond with the other volunteers, as well as maybe reflect on the work you did that day. Really taking time to unwind and maybe journalling is a great way to process the change in environment and new culture.
Criminology and law volunteering abroad
I was really impressed by all the work the partner project completed within their organisation. I was inspired by Ibrahim and his passion for not only criminal justice issues, but humanitarian issues as well including the breast cancer community outreach and village outreaches. I also found their culture at the office really welcoming for Yasiera (the other volunteer) and I, and I was super keen to involve myself in their work.
The programme consisted of office work for the organisation, including: editing prison interview videos; receiving lectures from staff; or writing crime news stories. The work that I really enjoyed were the off-site field visits and community outreach programs. Field visits that I underwent with the foundation included: court visits; a prison; the headquarters of a legal aid commission; law firms; and different police headquarters. What really stood out for me was an interview with the Chief Officer at the prison and an interview at the legal aid headquarters. I believe the most educational experience was definitely the visit to the prison. Speaking to the chief officer at the prison was super insightful into the workings of the criminal justice system and the poor prison conditions. The chief officer provided his interesting perspective on innocent prisoners, reform justice and rehabilitation of offenders. Any learning I did surrounding the Ghana criminal justice system directly related to my criminal justice university degree. Visiting the legal aid commission and law firms allowed me to expand my legal knowledge and relate it to Australia’s law system. All of the field visits allowed me to make a comparison between Ghana and Australia’s justice system. It broadened my perspective for me when studying crime and social justice issues in my university degree.
I really enjoyed my time at the organisation. I loved getting to know all of the staff and their differing roles at the office. Adjusting to the work lifestyle at the foundation was a challenge at first. Within Australia I feel as though we surround our life around our work, and often struggle to set that boundary. From my perspective of the project and of Ghana, the work lifestyle is significantly more laid back. However, it is clear lots of work is still completed and every staff member is super passionate. Yasiera and I had to change our mindset around fulfilling volunteer work given our contrasting work ethics back home. I took the Ghanaian laid back work ethic as an opportunity to bond with the staff and delve into their culture.
Working on community outreach projects
We did two community outreach programmes. One was with a breast cancer foundation which involved travelling to the central region in Cape Coast to a secondary school. We were raising awareness around breast cancer and conducting symptom screening. I really enjoyed this experience as I found it super rewarding. I was able to interact with lots of school girls which I also loved. We also went on a village outreach to donate money in the central region in a rural village. This was a great way to be immersed into a local community and experience their every-day life. Conducting screening tests at the rural secondary schools really stood out to me. For me, the most life-changing experience was without a doubt the visit to the central region rural village. We conducted interviews with a number of people within the community. I was able to enter their homes, hear their stories and really experience what their life was like. It was a huge culture shock seeing how they lives their life with the little they have.
The Team in Ghana
Abigail was mainly supporting Yasiera and I throughout the whole programme, including giving her time to us on the weekends. I felt it was very easy to communicate with her and she was super open minded and able to help us with any of our needs. We also discussed with her our challenge with adjusting to the work ethic, and she was accepting of our perspective. Ibrahim was a great support at the office, giving us lectures and updating the itinerary. Jamila was also great support – ensuring we were always catered for and checking in on our overall well-being. Salamat at the office was a great help as well. She always made sure we were entertained, accompanied us on any field visits, and explored with us on the weekends. She became a genuine friend for Yas and I, and also significantly helped out Abigail with the organisation aspect as Jamila was quite sick during my programme.
I spent my 4 weeks with Yasiera, and met Rachana on my last night in Ghana. I got on with Yasiera well as she was really passionate about learning about the law system. She asked great questions in interviews and really pushed me to be honest and real throughout the program. Yasiera was also from Amsterdam so I loved getting to know her and discussing the differences between our countries.
MAking Time for Adventure
I definitely got to experience the beauty of Ghana. We underwent trips to the Cape Coast, East Legon Botanical gardens, Labadi and Allora beaches, the Makola markets, Artist Centre, Osu Castle and Kwame National Park. I would highly recommend venturing to the Makola markets, you can find anything there and it allows you to experience the natural ‘hustle and bustle’ of the Accra city. On one of the weekends, we travelled to Cape Coast. This was super fun as we explored Cape Coast Castle and Kakum National Park. Also, if there is an opportunity to travel to the central region with the community outreach, I would definitely recommend it as it was super eye-opening and definitely broadened my perspective.
Don’t be afraid to get to know your programme leaders and the staff on the programme. I really bonded with all of them, so we often organised weekend trips and activities together. This was a great way to have a local show you around and immerse yourself in the Ghana culture.
Advice for Future Volunteers!
- I would recommend packing some snacks from your country. Trying all the different foods can be challenging, so it would be comforting to have some food from your home as you adjust.
- On weekends, we really explored Accra, including trips to the slave castles and national parks. I would recommend planning out your weekends in advance so you can maximise your time and ask your programme leader for advice.
- Thankfully I never felt uncomfortable about anything and never needed to talk to anyone from Vocational Impact – but I felt as though if something did happen, I would be comfortable speaking to the staff first. Be sure to get to know the team!
- Try your hardest to integrate yourself into the work at the office by taking time to get to know the staff, asking lots of questions and being super perceptive. Don’t be afraid to offer to help in any way, and always have an open mind when learning about the Ghanaian criminal justice system.
- I kept a journal throughout my placement, where I delved into my adventures on the weekends and my overall personal feelings. I also kept a notes page on my phone for everyday at the office or any key learnings for that week. I also posted on my Instagram story a fair bit, which actually received a lot of engagement from my friends and family back home.
Newfound PAssions and Making an impact
The main experience for me was realising I have a genuine passion for helping others, learning and travelling. I know I want to end up in any career that incorporates these aspects and makes me feel like I am making a difference in the world. The field visits to the central regions, immersing myself in the Ghana culture and bonding with the staff is a main takeaway I will never forget. I felt as though I definitely made an impact. Specifically, at the partner project, I really bonded with the staff and tried to help them out wherever I could. I felt like I supported their work whenever we did community outreach programmes. I definitely would recommend this placement, especially if you are wanting to broaden your world perspective and undertake a cultural exchange.
The experience I gained from this programme is extremely beneficial for any of my applications for future jobs. I gained strengths including the ability to quickly adapt and learn in a new working environment, deal with exposure to difficult criminal matters and converse with different stakeholders in important fields of work. Within my criminal justice degree, I loved learning about reform and rehabilitation, and advocating for prisoner human rights. I believe I would enjoy progressing into this area of work, whether it’s through studying a Master’s or joining organisations that focus on Indigenous Australian criminal justice rights in Australia.
