I loved meeting the children and this was defo one of the highlights for me as someone who has studied child psychology! The ways of living in both the community and orphanage is something that will stay with me.

I feel this experience has enabled me to develop my interpersonal skills with people with different cultural backgrounds, furthermore, it has given me a wider perspective of the challenges faced with mental health care in other countries. I feel I have also been able to separate my emotions from professional environments.

I loved Ghana so much. We were all welcomed massively and everyone was so kind and loving when we arrived. We all got along with the children almost straight away.

Working at the psychiatric hospital in Ghana I did counselling with patients from the male and female wards, we worked as a group, with a counsellor, or independently. It was amazing and such a good experience for my university degree. I got to experience counselling for the first time as well as working at a hospital, supporting children, and helping at a local school. This placement has helped me so much with my future career.

The local clinics were also a really interesting experience because Alex the head of the mental health unit talked us through his job and we discussed psychology and mental health issues with him. We got to meet patients and understand some of the challenges with mental health care at a local level. We also did a presentation to a school on mental health, it was terrifying but so rewarding. I feel like I made an impact on the projects.

In my time in Ghana, I did a lot of clinic work, mural painting, and art therapy with the children in the community, and I had the opportunity to lead a therapy session at the psychiatric hospital. I loved working with the children and bonding with the amazing teams at the home and hospitals.

This experience helped me get my art therapy registration! I would definitely recommend it; this was a life-changing experience. It was absolutely amazing, thank you!

In terms of preparation, I must express my appreciation for the exceptional support provided by Vocational Impact. I felt calm and well-prepared for the journey, thanks to the comprehensive information and guidance I received. Every step of the way, my questions were answered, and I felt supported throughout the process. Overall, I believe the organization did an outstanding job in preparing volunteers for their placements. It’s challenging to think of any areas that require improvement, as the support and information provided were exceptional, contributing to a smooth and enriching volunteering experience.

The most educational and profoundly life-changing aspect of my volunteering experience was the time spent at the psychiatric hospital. Sitting in counselling sessions and witnessing the conditions and atmosphere within the wards gave me a true, unfiltered reflection of Ghana’s mental health landscape. The educational value of this experience cannot be overstated; it provided me with valuable insights into the mental health challenges faced by the local population. It deepened my understanding of the intricacies of mental health in Ghana and the urgent need for improved mental health services and support. On a personal level, this experience was truly life-changing. It broadened my perspective, instilled a deep sense of empathy, and ignited a passion within me to contribute to mental health initiatives and advocacy. It was an experience that will stay with me, shaping my outlook and future endeavours in a profound way.

I strongly believe that my placement in Ghana will significantly benefit my ongoing studies and career progression. As I pursue my studies and career, I can draw upon the cultural competence and awareness I’ve developed during my time in Ghana. It will enable me to provide more effective, culturally sensitive care and support to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

We had the opportunity to do some one-to-one counselling with the children and learn more about their cases, this was a very interesting experience. It was great to be with the children; their simple joy and love was such a privilege to be around. I also sat in on counselling sessions at the Psychiatric Hospital, as well as meeting and helping patients at the local hospital and clinic.

Witnessing the way that the local systems are run (both healthcare and social), is really so different from everything I have experienced before. Having this experience and exposure has helped me widen my perspective, which will help me in my career and education. I hope to be able to be involved in supporting these projects again in the future.