Experiences

Hi, my name is Tim Skinner. I'm 23 and have recently returned from
volunteering in the Assin district in Ghana. I'm an Australian, but I live in Britain.
I was working in a job that I wasn't happy in and needed a change. Together with my girlfriend we searched on the internet to find an organisation that would suit our needs and the needs of people in other countries. We chose OCEP because it had the right attitude. Run in Ghana by Ghanaians. We wanted to interact with new people and new cultures.

After being placed in Assin Akonfudi as a football coach, I quickly got to task and started coaching that same day. I found the people of Akonfudi to be among the kindest, friendliest and warm people I have ever come across. Word soon got around town that an 'Obroni' (white man) had come to coach the football team! This soon meant that we had crowds of people watching our 6:30am training sessions! I was being hosted by the local Assembly man and his uncle who offered me anything I could need and want.

I loved living in this village, it was exactly what I wanted to do. It was exactly what OCEP claimed they would do. It was an Overseas Cultural Exchange. I would spend hours discussing Europe and the Rest of the World with my host father who was very intelligent.
Although I was only there to coach football, I was asked to help at the school and do some teaching. I did various things in the school, such as singing, playing sports and teaching some English and maths! This was very hard for me. The schooling system is very different from Australia and Britain. They rely heavily on the cane which I felt I couldn't use. This, of course, led to some discipline problems. But, overall it was a brilliant experience to teach in these classes.
Anybody who has been to a Ghanaian school will tell you that marching is very big in the schools. Whilst there, I did some route marching around the village to try and get some more children to attend school. I also visited some churches in Akonfudi to try and spread the word of Education, which was very important to my host father. In Akonfudi, there are over 20 churches in a very small village so I was very busy over 2 weeks with this.

I was very close to my girlfriend was based in Assin Fosu, with Mr. Alhaji Bala and Mr. M. Rahman. Both of these men we're very kind to both of us, and we still keep in contact regularly.

After doing some more travelling to other parts of West Africa, I returned to say goodbye to my friends in Akonfudi. They had organised a big farewell with the whole village invited. I was presented with very fine gifts. There was a band and dancing, it was very moving. I was very grateful to everybody.

Overall, my short time in Ghana, was the best experience in my life. I would recommend it to anybody and would be happy to talk to anybody considering going to Ghana. I think the best thing was being placed in a village and not in a city. I had to speak the local language a lot and therefore learnt quickly. It was more peaceful and not as hectic.

Go and experience life as it should be in Ghana, learn while you're there. You'll come back a better person and realise how much you really have. I'm going back next year. Maybe I'll see you there!

Tim Skinner

© OCEP Foundation