I was nervous about travelling alone and working with strangers, but from the moment I arrived, the community made me feel completely at home. The staff were hardworking, caring, and determined to make the experience meaningful, and the volunteers supported each other every step of the way. During my placement, I helped support child victims of sexual abuse, worked on rebuilding trust through mentoring and grief counselling, and learned the psychology behind child offenders and how prevention can reduce future harm. I also delivered safe-sex education and child mental health mentoring, which showed me how important early education is in protecting children.

I attended the South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children conference, learned about South African sexual law, and worked with both victims and offenders through community programmes. I also earned certifications in child mental health coaching and grief counselling, which will support my future career in the police force. This placement helped me focus my studies, build confidence, and see the real impact of safeguarding work. I would 100% encourage others to take part — it truly changes your life.

Returning to South Africa felt like coming home, and the welcome at the homes was unlike anything I had ever experienced. The children, mums, and staff quickly made us feel part of the family, and we built strong bonds through everyday activities, games, swimming trips, movie nights, and a fundraiser we organised to support the home. Seeing older children now at university showed the real, long-term impact the home has on their lives. Alongside this, my placement with the law firm was incredibly powerful. I worked with around 45 clients on refugee and asylum cases, conducting client interviews, drafting submissions, preparing case files, and supporting successful appeals. I was trusted with real responsibility, which built my confidence and showed me the true human impact of legal work. Listening to clients’ stories taught me the importance of empathy, careful communication, and trust.

This placement combined meaningful community engagement with hands-on professional experience, and it has strongly shaped the kind of lawyer I hope to become. I would absolutely encourage other students to take part in this life-changing opportunity.

My placement in Ghana was an incredible learning experience and one of the highlights of my studies. At the Psychiatric Hospital, I had the opportunity to conduct Mental State Examinations, take patient histories, complete discharge assessments, and sit in on counselling sessions, followed by debriefs with psychologists. It was amazing to know that my notes were actually used in case formulation, which made the experience feel truly meaningful. I spent most of my time in the counselling unit and male inpatient wards, where I gained confidence working one-to-one with patients and learned far more by doing than just observing.

I also gained medical exposure at a Hospital, including time in NICU and observing a C-section, which helped me understand the close link between physical and mental health. The children’s home was equally memorable, and although emotionally demanding, the children were full of energy and kindness. The staff across all placements were incredibly supportive, and this experience greatly increased my confidence, cultural awareness, and passion for working in mental health.

Volunteering in Ghana was an unforgettable and deeply rewarding experience. From the warm welcome at the childrens Home, where the children greeted us with banners and endless enthusiasm, to the meaningful clinical exposure at the Psychiatric Hospital, every placement offered valuable learning. I worked mainly in the rehabilitation and counselling wards, where I observed psychotherapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and family therapy, helped assess clients, and contributed to treatment planning for cases including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and addiction. This hands-on experience strengthened my practical therapy skills and helped me adopt a more client-centred approach.

I also gained insight into medical care at a mother & child Hospital, including time in NICU and supporting a community blood donation, which highlighted the strong link between physical and mental health. The staff across all placements were supportive and passionate about their communities. Beyond the placements, the kindness of local people, cultural festivals, and shared experiences with other volunteers made this journey truly special. This placement confirmed my passion for mental health work and gave me skills and perspectives I’ll carry forward in my career.

Volunteering in South Africa was a meaningful cultural and community-focused experience that gave me insight into social development work. I took part in important activities such as the Annual Conference on Child Abuse and the Little Lions training, and I found it valuable to learn how organisations work within communities, including programmes for teen mothers and women’s empowerment. Interacting with the children was enjoyable, and I appreciated learning about the social work approaches used to support families and young people.

The experience helped me better understand cultural differences and the realities of community-based interventions. While the programme felt more aligned with social work than clinical psychology, it was still eye-opening to observe how grassroots support systems operate and how community programmes are structured. Participating in conferences and visiting community projects gave me broader awareness of child protection and empowerment initiatives. Alongside the placement, I also enjoyed exploring the country, including a safari and visiting Cape Town, which added to the overall experience and cultural immersion.

I joined the programme with mixed feelings, but my experience quickly became both fulfilling and eye-opening. The team were welcoming, motivated, and clearly proud of the work they do, and I worked really well with the other volunteers, which made the experience productive and enjoyable. I was involved in community outreach, gave presentations, interacted with children , taking part in awareness sessions with teenage boys with intellectual disabilities on sensitive topics like child pregnancy, responsibility, consent, and safe behaviour.

I used visual aids, real-life examples, and open discussions to communicate in a respectful and engaging way, and the boys were receptive and asked thoughtful questions. These experiences directly related to my psychology studies and helped me apply developmental psychology and communication strategies in real-world settings. I developed patience, empathy, active listening, and adaptability, and gained confidence working with people from different backgrounds.

Being part of a team committed to making a real difference showed me how even small actions can have a big impact and confirmed my interest in community mental health.

My psychology and mental health placement in Ghana was truly the best time of my life. I was able to sit in on multiple counselling sessions and actively participate, including cases involving depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction, which was incredible and so educational. At the hospital Nancy and Dr Ike were amazing, and I also learned a lot during meetings at the rehab centre. Interacting with psychiatric patients helped me gain a real understanding of their lived experience of mental health disorders, which confirmed that clinical psychology is the career path I want to pursue and gave me confidence in my abilities.

Working with the children at the home was life-changing — I built friendships with them, especially through playing football, and they were some of the kindest and happiest children I’ve ever met. The programme was well organised, I felt very safe, and everyone was welcoming. Even with some quieter weeks due to nursing strikes, the experience was surreal, meaningful, and unforgettable.

During my psychology and mental health placement in Ghana, I gained valuable hands-on experience working in hospitals and learning directly from real cases.

The opportunity to observe, engage, and understand how mental health care works in a different setting was incredibly meaningful and enhanced both my education and personal interests. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would absolutely encourage others to sign up — if not now, then when? These placements are such a great opportunity to travel the world while enhancing your education; it’s truly the best of both worlds.

I also loved journaling nearly every day and taking so many pictures to document everything I learned. I also think the 10% discount is a great incentive, especially for students who may feel burdened by the price, making this experience more accessible to more people.

Arriving in Ghana was an emotional and eye-opening experience, marked by initial nerves and culture shock that quickly turned into excitement and growth. Once welcomed by the team and settled into the accommodation, it became clear how special the experience would be. Visiting the orphanage was a highlight, with the children greeting us with open arms, love and appreciation, creating an instant sense of belonging and purpose.

The practical experience in hospitals was incredibly valuable. I observed counselling sessions at the first Hospital, participated in counselling and patient engagement at another location, as well as joining a Narcotics Anonymous meeting at a Psychiatric Hospital, working mainly across the rehab, OT and psychology wards. Sitting in on counselling sessions directly related to my studies, while community outreach for Mental Health Awareness Month allowed me to apply my learning in real-world settings.

Beyond clinical work, exploring Ghana and experiencing its strong sense of community was life-changing. This placement deepened my appreciation for different cultures, strengthened my personal growth, and provided meaningful, hands-on experience that I would absolutely recommend to others.