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Before
joining Raleigh International I was involved with the Youth Enquiry
Service, doing different activities and residential courses across
Dartmoor, abseiling etc.
After
doing this I realised I wanted to explore a range of options. Then
I got to hear about Raleigh International and got signed up with
them, and went on to do a introductory weekend to find out more
about the expedition and what Raleigh was about.
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| Village
life in Ghana |
On
this weekend there were people from around the U.K. We got to know
each other and mixed with people we wouldn’t usually mix with -
problem solving, group work, and out door activities.
After
completing the weekend we went on to do the development week were
we did more group activities. We then got allocated our country
and filled out all the forms necessary.
Between
finishing the weekend and development week and going on expedition
I had to fundraise for my kit and medical. I did a raffle draw and
car washing and received a development award from the princes trust.
Before
I knew it I was going to my country which was Ghana, West Africa.
Amazing is what I would call it. The first week of getting their
we had to do a lot of training about first aid and how to deal with
a snake bites and scorpions etc.
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| Shirley
and friends in the Village |
Then
we had to get to know our groups - who we would be with for three
weeks - and adjust to the climate and the heat. My first project
was in a place called Belie a little village in the upper west of
Ghana.
We
built a rangers hut out of mud bricks and straw, so the rangers
and their families could live together and the rangers go out to
work and the wife and children can be at home not separated.
My
second project was in a place called Doncorkrom. We were there working
alongside a school and the village in this project. We would do
different things e.g. living with the families building latrines
and organise a sports day for the whole village and kids.
When
we finished the latrines, the school attendance rose 90% the achievement
was amazing to all of us involved.
My
third and final project was in a refugee camp with people from Sierra
Leone, Liberia, Togo and other places. Being in the camp and talking
and spending lots of time with these people and hearing there life
stories gave me a totally different view on life.
We
also painted the camp clinic inside and out and replaced the mozzie
nets.
The
end of expedition came and I had learnt a lot about the Ghana culture
and accepted life a lot more. I've come back ready to work and help
other young people to get onto the project.
There's more to life than crime and drugs and alcohol.
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