Emily Harrison
Although I had a relatively short stay in Ghana, only two weeks, I learned so much about myself from the kids at Ryvanz-Mia Orphanage and Delta Preparatory School. The strength that these kids have through all kinds of adversity is truly inspiring.
The children of the orphanage are respectful and grateful that volunteers take time out of their busy lives to come and spend some time with them in Kpando. It is very easy to get to know them and love them so you will build bonds very quickly, making it hard to leave no matter how long you stay. Everything I did with the children – walking to school, teaching, playing, reading, etc. – is a memory that I will cherish forever.
In addition, everyone who cares for the children and the upkeep of the orphanage on a regular basis is filled with a compassion and love that is rare to find. Without them, these kids would not have the food they eat, the clothes they wear, and the education they are getting. Mama Esi, Venus, Faustie, Sister Charity, and the many others who have built the orphanage from the ground up are very good people and it is a blessing to have met them.
As far as the town goes, I couldn’t have had a better experience with Kpando. Everyone is very friendly and very curious about you and your life in America. It is nice to be greeted on the streets no matter where you go. I like to exercise and I would run around Kpando by myself, never feeling threatened or scared, only welcomed by the families waving from their houses by the road.
Teaching at Delta Preparatory School was more of a challenge than I prepared myself for. I taught P1 (equivalent to first grade) and I now have more respect for teachers all over the world. These kids have teachers and volunteers changing on a regular basis so by the time you get to know each other, it is time to leave. If I could go back, I would stay longer so I could make more of a difference. Once the kids know you and trust you, teaching becomes much easier.
I highly recommend doing the excursions while you are in Ghana. There are so many things to see and do that I didn’t have time to fit them all in. I went to visit two slave castles in Cape Coast, walked across a canopy bridge in the rainforest, fed monkeys in the monkey sanctuary, saw the tallest waterfall in West Africa, and climbed in the highest mountain in Ghana. That is all in addition to exploring Kpando and neighboring towns with the other volunteers. Excursions that include the kids are also a blast. We took the younger boys to see the Heart of the Lions -Kpando (Ghana Premier League football team) at the stadium close to the orphanage, the older boys to meet Francis the Woodcarver and see all of his things, and the girls out to dinner at Roses, a local restaurant. Seeing the kids have fun will no doubt put a smile on your face.
I am definitely glad I chose to come and volunteer at Ryvanz-Mia. The experiences I had will last me a lifetime. If I could change anything it would just be to take more pictures and stay longer!
Emily Harrison
Morrisville, North Carolina,USA
Ryvanz-Mia Orphanage, Kpando, June 2009