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Building a library in Ghana, Maisie and Lena 24/25
News Story: Building a library in Ghana, Maisie and Lena 24/25
During our year in Ghana, we wanted to leave something lasting behind for the school: a library. While teaching at A. A. Fia Basic School, we quickly noticed a gap in students’ learning: although many were fairly confident in spoken English, they struggled with reading and writing. As lifelong bookworms ourselves, we believed that access to books could make a real difference in bridging that gap.
Our plan began months in advance, but as so often happens, time slipped away and obstacles appeared. Suddenly, with just over a week left, we still had no library. Determined not to give up, we threw ourselves into fundraising, and thanks to the generosity of family and friends from all over the world, we quickly raised £800 for books.
That weekend, we travelled to Accra, the capital of Ghana, where we spent one long day book shopping. With limited funds, we aimed for variety, choosing books for every age group, from KG1 to JHS3. We also made a deliberate choice to focus on storybooks rather than syllabus texts. At the school, we had seen that classrooms lacked storybooks entirely, and we wanted children to have the chance to read for pleasure, not just for exams. It was also important to us that they could see themselves in the characters of the books, so we made sure to buy as many as possible set in Ghana, written by Ghanaian authors.
After a hectic day in Accra and a long four-hour journey back home with a suitcase full of books, we had done it. Payment had gone through, books were acquired, and we were ready to begin converting an abandoned classroom into a library. Although we managed to buy slightly fewer books than we had hoped, we were able to combine them with the school’s smaller existing collection to create a respectable bookshelf full of them.
The next morning, the real work began. The classroom we hoped to use had been empty for some time, but it still had a large bookshelf that could be repurposed. We were joined by a group of our students who, having just finished their exams, were eager to help. Together, we cleared out the room, cleaned and dusted, sorted through stacks of old books (including one set from 1960!), and organized the new ones from beginner level through to more advanced. Maisie painted a mural to brighten up the space, and by the end of two very full days, the dusty classroom had been transformed into something that truly looked like a library.
The best part of the process wasn’t the finished room but seeing how quickly the children took to it. Even as we were still unpacking, some of the students who usually found English lessons boring were already sitting down with books, completely absorbed. At the end of each day, we read together, and it was amazing to see them learn and use new words almost immediately. It showed just how much potential there was once books were simply available.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who supported our fundraising, and to the Headmaster, Sir Isaac Sallah, for giving permission to use the classroom. Our hope is that the library will keep growing and continue to give students the chance to read, explore, and learn for many years to come. Go Back
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Kicking Back Stronger: Callum’s Journey of Growth and Resilience
For Callum, football has always been more than just a game, it’s been a compass, guiding him through the twists and turns of life. Now volunteering in Ghana with Project Trust, his story is one of resilience, rediscovery, and the profound impact a year of volunteering can have on rebuilding confidence and restoring lost passions.
Callum’s love for football was born in the back garden, playing with his two older brothers. After moving to Scotland in 2010, he joined a club to learn the basics, and by age six, he was proudly standing between the posts as a goalkeeper. For seven years, he dedicated himself to his first team, where football was both a passion and a source of stability.
A pivotal moment came when he was scouted by a more competitive team after impressing a coach during a school match. Callum made the leap, encouraged by supportive coaches and his proven skills on the pitch. This transition marked his first lesson in stepping out of his comfort zone, a theme that would echo throughout his journey.
In 2021, Callum faced a period of instability, moving between two teams in just six months. The uncertainty led him to question his future in football. However, a teammate introduced him to refereeing, and in October 2022, Callum officiated his first match. Instantly, he was hooked. Refereeing not only kept him connected to the sport he loved but also provided a newfound sense of purpose and ability to earn a wage from what he loved.
Yet, football had more trials in store. In 2023, after struggling with limited playtime in a new under-20s team, Callum faced an even greater setback, he dislocated his shoulder just 10 minutes into the match. The injury left him feeling helpless, unable to play or referee, the very activities that had kept his passion for the sport alive. Callum was told that if he didn’t have surgery to stabilise his shoulder he would never play football again.
The road to recovery was both physical and mental. Surgery was inevitable, and Callum approached it with determination, knowing it was the key to reclaiming his passion. Though the recovery sidelined him from refereeing temporarily, his resilience never wavered.
Arriving in Ghana marked a turning point. Eager to reconnect with football, Callum quickly found a new home with the Kickers, a local team that welcomed him with open arms. Back on the pitch, he rediscovered not just his skills but also his strength and confidence in the sport. A fun fact about his new team, Kickers FC, is that one of their former players, Terry Yegbe, was born in their town Akatsi, represented the Kickers in his youth, and is now playing internationally for Ghana.
The friendships he’s formed and the mentorship from his Coach Alex, fondly known as ‘The Don’ have been instrumental in his journey.
Below: (Left) Callum with his country group
(Right) and with Coach Alex on the left.
Callum’s story is more than just a tale of sports and setbacks. It’s a testament to the transformative power of volunteering with Project Trust. Through his year in Ghana so far, he’s not only rebuilt his relationship with football but also rediscovered parts of himself he thought were lost. His journey shows that sometimes, stepping away from the familiar and immersing yourself in a new environment can be the most profound path to personal growth and empowerment.
Find our more about Volunteering in Ghana here
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The First Journey to Ethiopia- Chris Schenk
My journey to Ethiopia followed the rules of ‘Race across the World’: I had no credit card, there were no smartphones, and I got to Ethiopia (though not to Addis Ababa) without flying.
Project sent me there to teach in the Abba Hanna Jimma School, run under the auspices of Prince Iskinder Desta, Haile Sellassie’s oldest grandson, who I think had been at school with Captain Bristol, as he was when I was recruited. I was given passage on the Lion of Judah, an Ethiopian cargo ship, and boarded it in the East India Docks in London in July 1967. I was one of only two passengers and we had our meals with the Dutch officers. The first part of the voyage was full of interest, with stops in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Genoa, but then, instead of going through the Suez Canal, which was still closed after the Six-Day War, we embarked on a four-week journey around the Cape of Good Hope, with only one stop of three hours to refuel in Dakar, Senegal. For the most part, it was extremely boring. We only saw land as we passed South Africa, and were visited by a variety of sea-birds including a wandering albatross. In desperation, I asked the Captain for a job and he gave me the task of typing out the ship’s manifest on a jumbo typewriter. I had my eighteenth birthday on the 25th August, which I celebrated by presenting the officers with a bottle of port to drink after dinner. I remember that it cost me seven shillings and six pence – properly duty free!
Soon afterwards, we arrived in Assab, now in Eritrea, but then in Ethiopia. Eritrea had been annexed by Ethiopia in 1962, giving Ethiopia a coast-line and allowing it to develop a navy. Prince Iskinder Desta had been appointed the head of the navy, and his rank went up as the navy acquired new ships. When I knew him, he was a Commodore. Staff at the Navy base in Assab had been primed to look after me, and I was taken, on the evening I arrived, to a beach party to celebrate Ethiopian New Year. The Ethiopian calendar is some seven years behind the Gregorian, so it was the beginning of 1960.
A few days later, I was put on a plane to Addis Ababa. I had never flown before and it was a magical experience, in a small plane flying low over the Danakil Desert and then up into the mountains, to arrive in Addis, some eight thousand feet above sea-level, and still in the rainy season, so it was cold and wet. Later, in the dry season, I reflected that in 24 hours in Addis, you experienced the same range of temperatures as in a whole year at home. By night it was chilly enough to need a coat, but in the afternoon it was a little warmer than a British summer’s day.
My fellow Project Volunteer, Michael Coke, arrived by plane, shortly before term started and we were found a house within five minutes walk of the school, which we shared with Tim Beatty, whose father, Captain Beatty, was employed by the Ethiopian Navy to train their personnel in a camp in the hills above Massawa, far to the North of Addis.
My only means of communicating with home was by letter, and when I arrived there were several waiting for me in the post restante at the main Post Office in Addis. It took about ten days for letters to arrive, so nearly three weeks for an exchange of correspondence. Only once, during my time in Ethiopia, did I speak to my family on the phone. It was a laborious and costly experience. I booked a three minute call shortly before Christmas, and was put through at the main Post Office, with the pips going very soon after I began to speak!
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A Year in Ghana – A Parent’s Perspective
As we close one chapter of our Volunteer year and eagerly begin the next, we’re reminded of the profound impact that volunteering with Project Trust can have, not just on the Volunteers themselves, but also on their families. Eddy and Caroline Pearce, parents of Martha, who volunteered in Ghana during 2023/24, offer a heartfelt reflection from a parent’s perspective, highlighting the transformative journey their daughter embarked upon and the lasting influence it had on their family.
“Martha Recently returned from 11 months teaching in Ghana with Project Trust. Her life has given me two emotional highlights. Her birth 19 years ago and then just a few weeks ago, when I was happy that she was sad.
It was her final week in Ghana, saying her goodbyes to the people, places, habits and emotions which had made it a home. Once left, it would never be the same. The bricks, mortar, tin roof, dusty yard, shady trees, and so many friends will still be there if (when!) she returns.
Her sadness lay in the thought of losing that intangible magic which makes a place home. True sadness can only exist once we have known true joy, and loss is so often a place from which growth begins. What Martha left behind in Ghana is not lost. It is a web of memories, of moments, of joy, now embedded in her as she continues to grow.
Having seen her there allowed me to be happy when I knew she was so sad, and to love that she had found a place which was home to her, but not to us. The most primal parental instinct is to protect their child, yet the strongest need of a child is to grow and develop the skills and resilience required to survive without the parental protection. Somewhere, sometime, somehow us parents need to learn to let go.
Whilst in Ghana, Eddy took portraits of the young people at the School. Martha then printed these out and one was given to each participant, many of whom had never had a printed photo of themselves.
Letting go is so hard, but indefinitely easier when there is a safety net. From day 1 we had the utmost trust in Project Trust to provide essential support but hadn’t anticipated how that solid foundation might nurture multiple safety nets. Lucy and Romilly, Martha’s project partners, have been soul mates beyond extraordinaire, and the wider group of Ghana PT Volunteers have been a fantastic and supportive network of friends, travel companions and social media commentators, keeping us connect to a home which isn’t ours. Our gratitude to that big gang, to those nets which enabled us to give the hardest gift and to let go, is endless!”
Ghana Volunteers at Heathrow upon their return to the UK in August 2024 (left) and at departure in 2023 (right).
Find out more about Volunteering in Ghana here.
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Exploring Gap Year Learning in Malawi
Ethan Humphreys- Umunthu Foundation, Malawi (2022/23)
What has been your biggest learning over the past 12 months?
It is quite hard to think of just one, but above all I had to learn to become more independent and mature. That’s not to say this happened overnight, as it didn’t. It was something I learnt as the year went on, to be able to take complete care of myself without relying on anyone else to help me with my day-to-day tasks. As well as this, I also learnt to stand up for myself. During my year I was put in lots of situations where this was tested, but with the right mindset. I learnt to stand up for what I believe in and developed confidence in the decisions I made without second guessing myself.
Who inspired you the most during your placement?
My host, David, is such an impressive and inspiring person. He started up the HIV NGO: the Umunthu Foundation and has been running it for the past 20 years, providing free testing and medication, along with spreading awareness to thousands of people in surrounding communities. During recent years following Covid-19, Umunthu’s external funding has declined massively. David has taken it upon himself to balance running the Umunthu Foundation with providing the NGO with his own personal funding.
I find him very inspiring as not only does he have the most dedicated work ethic I’ve probably ever seen, but he also always has a smile on his face. No matter how difficult the situation is, David is constantly optimistic about the future, despite many newfound hardships for the Foundation and Malawi in general. Whenever I think about David, all these amazing attributes come to mind. I aim to introduce his optimism and drive into my life, to make me an even better and more dedicated person in whatever direction I choose to take.
What was the best thing at Debriefing?
Debriefing was something I had been looking forward to for months before it took place, as just the thought of being back with everyone on Coll really excited me. When it got to Coll, seeing all the Volunteers from the other country groups after a year and reuniting with my group was everything I hoped it would be. It gave us the time to share stories and have a really good laugh with (and sometimes at) each other.
There’s nothing quite like being able to share 3 days with 30 other people who know exactly what you’ve just been through and understand the experiences you’ve had. The chance to finish the most incredible year in Malawi with the other 2022/23 Volunteers and the Project Trust team is all I could have asked for. I know I’ll never have a weekend quite like that again, making it all the more special. Those memories are the ones I’ll truly nourish and treasure for the rest of my life.
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Exploring Gap Year Learning in Ghana
Barney Mills- Seva Basic School, Ghana (2022/23)
What has been your biggest learning over the past 12 months?
My biggest learning was to not rely on anyone else or bigger longer-term goals for my happiness and to instead take things more slowly, making the most of living day to day and celebrating the smaller successes. While trying not to worry about the problems in the future to which I currently had no available solution. The Ghanaian idea of ‘small-small’ means you are getting a tiny bit better each time, and I think this idea is very helpful, and important to not focus on negatives or things that are uncertain about the future.
Who inspired you the most during your placement?
Sir Issac was my biggest inspiration. Despite being the second oldest teacher (probably around 39), he advocated vehemently the reforming and modernisation of the curriculum and the traditional school activities. He was the main coordinator and quizmaster for the exciting initiative of an intellectual quiz competition, which encouraged younger and gifted children to learn and be rewarded (for which I was the assistant quizmaster). All the children he teaches greatly respect him, alongside his colleagues.
What was the best thing at Debriefing?
I found debriefing important and cathartic for helping me process what had happened. The most important if not purely enjoyable activity was carefully listening to a mixed group of Volunteers talking about their perceived impact and the way their experiences had impacted them. Then I took my turn to stand up in front of everyone and reflect on my experience.
It was cathartic and positive as it felt as if all of us could relate to and at least partially understand each other’s challenges- hence it made me feel better and a lot less isolated in what you went through. Also, the range of feedback given throughout debriefing, covering the entire gap year journey from selection and recruitment to returning, was vital for Project Trust. It also shows how much the current Volunteers genuinely care about the experience that future Volunteers get and who hopefully will be taking this same journey.
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Abbie Brown, Ghana
Hi, I’m Abbie and I am currently living with Eliza, my project partner, in Anyako Kpota, Ghana.
Even though my time volunteering is slowly coming to an end, I want to share the amazing experiences I have had over the past 7 months.
Anyako Kpota is a very small town which is located in the Volta Region of Ghana. Anyako (the main town) is located on the island which is in the Keta Lagoon. We are based only a 15 minute walk away from Anyako and a few minutes walk away from the lagoon (we get a lovely breeze so are not suffering too badly from the heat!). Our school is only a 2 minute walk from the house and compared to other schools, it looks very big. We have the Basic School (which contains Kindergarten, Primary and JHS – Junior High School) and then we also have the Senior High School (equivalent to Sixth Form or College). I teach JHS 1 which contains 24 students with ages ranging from 12 to 20. I also teach JHS 2 which contains over 50 students and are between the ages of 13 and 22!
The subject I teach is Career Technology and it is certainly a challenging subject to teach. Career technology is a mix of life skills, science, home economics and business (it certainly covers a wide variety of different topics).
Despite being very busy with teaching and writing exams, I have had a chance to explore many different regions in Ghana. Some of the places I have been lucky enough to experience is Accra (the Capital city), Ho (the capital of the Volta Region), Tamale, Kumasi, Mole and also all the way across the coast to Busua. Even though every different area of Ghana has its own attributes, I have noticed that Ghana as a whole is such a warm-hearted country. Everywhere I have been to, everyone has been so welcoming and helpful even when we do not know them! This is something I am definitely going to miss.
The last 7 months have definitely been an emotional rollercoaster but I have had the best experience of my life! The initial month in Ghana was such a culture shock but I was too excited about starting to teach and explore a different country. Personally, I found Christmas time the hardest as I had been in Ghana for a fair amount of time and was starting to miss home. However, home was only a phone call away and I was able to talk to the other volunteers if I needed to. This start of this year has flown by and it will not be long till I have finished my journey in Ghana.
Between all the teaching and travelling, I have also been able to help with netball at the school. We have a full sized netball/basketball course that is well used! I have been sharing my journey on both Instagram and Facebook so people who have supported me throughout my Project Trust journey and also people who are thinking of volunteering, can gain a deeper insight on my experience. Recently, I started up a blog where I am going to share more about my day-to-day life; it is going to take a lot of work as I have only a few posts but it is a start!
Keep up with Abbie’s adventures here: Abbies Volunteering Year in Ghana (site123.me)
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Q&A with Lily and Nell, Senegal 2022/23
Lily Barnett and Nell Andrews, who are currently halfway through their year in Joal, Senegal, talk to us about their daily life, their involvement with the local environmental organisation AGIRE, and how their Project Trust experience has had them thinking about the injustices surrounding Climate Change.
1. Could you tell us a bit about your experience so far? help us to imagine your day to day?
Day to day doesn’t really exist for our project. Out here in Joal, Senegal, we are always meeting new people every day and with that comes spontaneous new projects.
For example, teaching girls how to swim, painting someone’s restaurant, and joining a local environment organization. We found this to be one of the most rewarding, and yet most tiring, part of our project trust experience so far.
2. How did the environmental project come about?
One day, walking back from school we found a nicely decorated building. It had a beautiful mural on the outside and we could see plastic bottles built into its walls. Interested, we just sort of walked in to find a man, who we now know as Samba, spray painting a load of bins. We asked if we could help and spent the next couple of hours constructing and decorating these bins. This was the first project we got involved in with AGIRE, Joal’s local environmental organisation. They were making bins so that people had a place to throw their rubbish as opposed to just on the streets. We asked if we could volunteer there and now we find ourselves teaching the AGIRE team English once a week.
3. On the theme of Earth Day, how has your time living and working in Senegal impacted your views on Climate Change and the need to protect the Environment?
I think living and working in a country like Senegal has made us more greatly appreciate the complexity of the green transition for developing economies. Living in a developing country on a local wage, you get a greater appreciation for the luxury that it is to have the means to make green decisions. Here plastic is an inevitability, all vehicles run on petrol and most of our energy comes from fossil fuels.
Yet, simultaneously we find ourselves living much lower carbon lives. We live without running water, eat seasonal foods and use very limited electricity. This simultaneously hits home the injustice of climate change. Senegal produces a fraction of the emissions that the UK does yet faces huge consequences such as major sea level rise expected to be greater in West Africa than on average and a decrease in rainfall leading to drought and food insecurity. It’s realising that it’s ordinary people in our community who will have to deal with a lot of these problems that really hits home.
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Why I Volunteer – Lizzie Beach
Lizzie Beach, 20, Malawi Volunteer 22/23
Manchester University HCRI student
I am volunteering at the Yamikani Foundation, a project based in Limbe, Blantyre. Here at Yamikani, we have 20 children living full time, with ages ranging from 6-18 years.
Our role in the house consists of helping with homework, running tutoring sessions twice a week to help the kids with subjects they find difficult at school, and organising ‘Sunday Funday’. More generally, me and my project partner, Molly, are here as older sister roles. We focus on the social development of the children, as well as improving their English and being available for emotional support.
In addition to our responsibilities at Yamikani, we teach at a local primary school in the mornings. There, I lead English and Maths lessons for Standards 1 and 4, as well as teaching the odd session on Agriculture, Expressive Arts, or Life Skills. I also spend a few mornings in the nursery class (which has since been merged with the Reception class to create a very large, and very lively, bunch of learners).
I initially planned to complete my Project Trust placement back in 2020, but it was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, I undefferred my place at university and have now taken a year out between my second and third year of studies.
My original motivation for choosing Project Trust as a gap year was the fact I was able to live within one community for the whole year. I wanted to fully immerse myself in the culture and be able to establish long term connections with the people and place. This motivation stayed true in my decision to make Project Trust my placement year. In addition to this, knowing that Project Trust sustainably and ethically source their placements, in which they only send volunteers for 8 or 12 months, was a huge factor in my decision.
The volunteering aspect of Project Trust was another factor for why I chose it over other placement year options. For me, volunteering is something everyone should do. Understanding the importance of giving time and energy into a role, where there is no monetary profit, makes you value all the other experiences you gain. The soft skills and personal growth that I have developed so far in my placement, are far more valuable and worthwhile than any kind of pay check.
I am just about to hit the 3 month mark of my time here in Malawi, and being only a quarter of the way through, I have already learnt so much. So far i have gained and developed skills in communication, problem solving, adaptability and resourcefulness, to name but a few. Making a big effort to learn the Chichewa language, which has gone pretty well, and the positive response I get from people in the community motivates me to learn even more. By the end of the year, my goal is to be able to hold a long conversation with the Aunties here at Yamikani (one that does not center around asking for charcoal or turning the garden tap on).
After my year in Malawi, I am heading back to Manchester to complete my 3rd and final year of my degree where I study International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response. After graduation, I have extremely broad plans to pursue a career in either disaster risk reduction, or conflict analysis and peace building. I know for certain, however, that my career and life will be based within the continent of Africa, with this time in Malawi only cementing this idea further.
My placement here has given me the opportunity to create a number of contacts in the Malawian humanitarian aid sector, ones I hope to utilise in both the remainder of my time here, and my future career. It has also allowed me to develop my understanding of local issues, providing inspiration for both my dissertation topic when I return to university, and for my future work. One such issue is the scale of the informal sector here in Malawi, and unemployment rates. Throughout my time here, I want to learn more about these issues, and how the informal sector can be better protected in times of crises and disaster.
As I mentioned before, I chose a Project Trust placement because of the opportunity it gives to immerse yourself in the community for a whole year. This is something I have strived to do and will continue to develop throughout my time here. The friends I have made through being out in town, frequenting the market and local shops, and through our teaching roles at school, have truly proved the saying that Malawi is the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’. Everyone I have met is so friendly, constantly telling me, ‘takulandilani (you are welcome in Chichewa) and that I should ‘be free’ here in Malawi.
The biggest show of community that I have experienced so far was when we were invited to the wedding of one of the nursery teachers at school. In Malawian weddings, there is of course lots of music and dancing, as well as an MC who calls forward different groups of people to throw money at the bride and groom. Me and Molly were part of the group of teachers from our school, and were welcomed with such enthusiasm from everyone there.
I think one of the most important ways to integrate yourself into the community is to understand the hardships and struggles in which people go through. Here in Malawi, access to clean running water is not universal, and with no running water at our project, we have but a small taste of some of these issues.
I would say appreciation of water has been my biggest learning curve so far on my placement. Understanding the chore of drawing water from the well, while at the same time knowing it is also a big privilege to have such a water source, has changed my approach to water usage. My water habits and the appreciation I have for a running tap is something that will carry on past my time here in Malawi.
For anyone determined to become a driver for social change, but doesn’t know where to start, I’d say what stands out most to me is the effort and importance of understanding issues on a community level. Educating yourself by speaking to people involved and learning from their experiences and those of your own, is so important. It is also important to understand your own privilege, recognising how this may skew your approach and how to use it as a tool for positive change.
Finally, I would advocate self-reflection. Considering your past actions, and understanding how they can be better suited for social change is a key way to enacting such change. Here on my Project Trust placement, I am constantly reflecting on how I can better utilise my time here to ensure I have a positive impact on both the people and place.
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Why I Volunteer – Billie Kilburn
Senegal Volunteer 22/23
Billie Kilburn
When I decided to take a gap year before university, I knew that I wanted to apply to Project Trust, having been regaled with many incredible stories about my dad’s year in Indonesia. My dad is a Returned Volunteer with Project Trust – Indonesia 83/84 – and speaks about it as a transformative experience for him.
And I already feel as though it is the same for me. I’m 2 months into my 12-month placement as a teacher at the Diapalante Community Centre in Kaolack. I’m learning every day: language (French and the more widely-spoken Wolof), teaching skills, local customs and the way of life. I’ve learnt to go with the flow (the Senegalese way of life) both with hurdles in day-to-day life, and in teaching.
My project is a drop-in Community Centre, making it impossible to predict the size and skill level of a class. We’ve quickly learnt the importance of thinking on our feet to adapt our lesson plan to the class sitting in front of us, and always bringing energy – even if I’m feeling exhausted.
I have also learnt Senegalese Teranga – the welcoming and sharing spirit. We’ve been welcomed with wide open arms, open houses, and a lot of love (even if this often manifests itself as marriage proposals).I feel like I’ve been welcomed to a big family, and I have very quickly felt at home here, which I think has been the most surprising aspect of my time here so far.
I think that talking with people is the best way to make friends and learn more about Kaolack and Senegal, and is also a fantastic way to learn more Wolof. The Centre provides a great opportunity to do this, with an extended family of lovely members of all ages. Evie (my project partner) and I also cook with our host family every week, but with my lack of onion-chopping skills I think I slow down the process somewhat. I’m hoping to join the local girls’ football team, too, although I’m hoping that they train after sundown…
Learning some Senegalese dancing (which I have yet to master), listening to and playing music, and getting beautiful traditional clothing made are other ways in which we’ve begun to integrate ourselves into the community. These all come with the many ceremonies and festivals, as does getting glammed up; I ventured into Senegalese makeup for a special naming ceremony last week – I’m not sure that my eyebrows will ever recover.
Speaking with people also provides the chance to listen to people speaking about local issues, and to better understand cultural differences. I’ve become interested in the role of women in Senegalese society, and the way the environment is considered. One of our best friends, and a fellow teacher at our Centre, is involved in an environmental organisation, so speaking with him has given me some interesting insights into Senegalese attitudes. As my Wolof improves, I hope to be able to have respectful conversations with locals and learn more about these issues.
Volunteering is important for many reasons, and this year is a unique opportunity for a mutual exchange of knowledge, love, and culture. I am here as a teacher, but I am constantly learning, and I know that this year will have a profound impact on me. I think that living in a different country, and in a very different way, will broaden my mind and will make me more considerate, open and aware. I feel that this will affect how I use my voice and privilege in the future, and probably my career choices too.
This placement with Project Trust is also a chance to contribute to the world, albeit a small contribution, and to use my privileges in a constructive way.
And this year is a chance to develop many of my own skills, such as confidence, perseverance, and communication (all three are regularly tested).
Living in Senegal is also a great opportunity to practice my French before next year, when I’ll be going to university to study Arabic and French. After that, I’d love to do charitable work (or maybe teaching – but we’ll see how I feel at the end of the year) in the Arabic/Francophone world. In the short term, I think that I’ll return to England as a more broad-minded university student, with a lot of gratitude and respect. I’m sure that this year will have a strong influence on the decisions I make further down the line, but I’m not yet sure exactly what form that will take, aside from the obvious: a holiday to Senegal every year.
I’m feeling very grateful to have the opportunity to work here for the next year, and I’m so excited for what’s to come. I know that I will continue learning every day, and I hope to return to England with a comprehensive Thieboudienne recipe, a lot of stories and pictures, and some beautiful Senegalese boubous (traditional outfits) in my bag.