Summer 2011

We have just run another successful trip to Ghana, with 14 volunteers joining us for Summer camp and a trip to Cape Coast. Their testimonies are below:

Silvia Mendes, 23, Volunteer Summer 2011

I went to Ghana a traveller, seeking adventure and the chance to tell a story. I came back a volunteer, inspired by not only the children but the volunteers who made the experience all that worth while. You can never prepare yourself for something like Raising Hope Foundation. Being a city girl, it is clear to see, by being on a bus alone, that many of us Brits pride ourselves on giving children the latest ipod, or nintendo ds. Never truely realising that reading a book of just 5 pages can make a child more happier and thankful. I formed a close bond to Yao, 7 years old. One morning I read to Yao 6 times, in the space of 30 minutes, and I am still not sure who was more grateful. Him or me. Summer School was by far the most memorable of the 2 weeks. And I will always remember Fred. A 15 year old Autism sufferer who can not read, write or speak. His family, though together, are poor and Fred is made to work on their home farm. Unable to learn and have one to one tuition, I beyond words when he learnt how to write his name and say the word "Fred". Though with my guidance, he was extremely happy. And later went to show me that he liked eating (by rubbing his tummy) and showed me where he lived (by pointing to his house). I will continue to tell Fred's story, in hope that more and more people will see the importance of the work of Siter Kinza and Raising Hope Foundation. Arriving in Santro, I believed that I had made the worst decision of my life. Creepy crawlies, gekos, mosi bites and the lack of food was not what life had prepared me for. But after only 2 days of arriving home, I wanted nothing more but to be with the children, the volunteers and under the famously named "Saw Shower". A group of 14 adults, youngest aged 20 and the eldest 26, within 3 weeks made a huge difference to the lives of over 100 children. And I was one of those 14 people. You could be too. 

Zoe Cosens, Returning Volunteer, 2011

After spending a month with the children in August 2010, I spent the next 12 months working and saving to go back in 2011 – I missed that beautiful country and the children so much and was determined to return. And I did!  For 6 weeks this time! This summer has been the best summer of my life, even beating last year’s experience, which was a tough tough thing to do, but it did. I have fallen in love all over again. I didn’t think it was possible but I managed to love the children even more this year, coming back and building upon the relationships forged a year ago definitely brings you closer together. I was overwhelmed by how much they’d grown; how they’d changed so much but there was also a clear sense that things had stayed the same. There’s still so much more to be done for these children.  Seeing familiar faces at summer school was brilliant, it made me think that last year’s camp was a success if they’d come back again a year later! I really threw myself into teaching this year, hindsight is a wonderful thing and it was so much less daunting knowing what worked and didn’t work with our class (things I’d gained from last year’s experience).  Working one on one with the kids that will be in the orphanage when it’s completed makes it all so much more real.  Two boys came to me for help in the mornings before class because they couldn’t read. They have such a hunger to learn, its refreshing. Working with these children isn’t a walk in the park. It’s a big challenge, and you can never give up on them.  And no matter how difficult it becomes there’s always a moment in every day where the stress/homesickness/exhaustion/mosquito-bite-itch fog clears and everything you’ve been upset or frustrated about doesn’t matter any more because the children are so truly wonderful despite their awful harrowing starts to life. Despite it all, they still have that spark inside them. Seeing them laughing, playing, singing with excitement for Jollof at dinner, feeding bananas to monkeys at the sanctuary, sleeping contentedly on your lap on a bumpy tro-tro ride; it really fills you with hope.  The Raising Hope Foundation is doing what it’s name says it does, and I am honoured to be a part of that process.  

Glenn Davis, 24, Volunteer Summer 2011..... We bumped into Glenn after he got a little lost on the way to St Tropez, being a charitable organisation we took him in...

Being a world-wide globe trotter and general male roll model to millions, it was a great honour for the kids to be in the company of me! They got the chance to witness first hand how a male super model, footballer, actor, dancer, super star ribbon twirler, generally awesome guy behaves and acts, this will give them a great foundations to build upon during life. I have no doubts that the hundreds of people that i have met on this visit felt very special. Although they are unable to... i feel that given the opportunity they would want to thank me for my contribution, but like i said to them, i havent got an ego, i dont do this for the fame and the appreciation, i do it for the kids.

Helena Coyne, Volunteer Summer 2011

I’d been looking to go on a volunteering trip for a while and then I heard about the Raising Hope Foundation through a friend at university, and going to Ghana with them was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I’ve met some brilliant people and had the chance to help some lovely kids who are so sweet you will almost forget about the times that they are very mischievous! The summer school was much more challenging than I thought it would be, but so rewarding and it makes it worthwhile when you see kids who really want to be there and learn. I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to see a different culture and be welcomed into by such friendly people. I’ve had so many new experiences - from touching a croc, to going under waterfall! I feel really lucky and would love to go back again to such a great country and to see the kids again. Thank you for such a memorable and amazing experience!

Sean Chaffe

"As my girlfriend was already a volunteer with RHF and had been before I felt that I had a good idea of what to expect from what she had told me. I had seen all her photos and I couldn't wait to get over there and do what I could to help. I was especially looking forward to playing sports with the kids and I knew they didn't get many male volunteers over there so I thought I could offer something different. However, nothing prepared me for what I was confronted with when I arrived...little Kwame flung himself at me to get some kind of flying hug! Luckily I managed to react quickly enough to catch him. I'm sure he would've bounced straight back up if I didn't anyway. But this was how the kids were...friendly, energetic, enthusiastic and great fun. And seemingly unbreakable. I had such a fantastic time and meeting them was a real eye-opener. They could make anything fun no matter how simple, let alone the things we take for granted. The country itself is equally beautiful; I saw some awesome places during my time there and met some really top people. All in all, I can't wait to go back. It's time to start saving for next year!"

Dani Wardle, Volunteer Summer 2011

Having never been to Ghana before I had little idea of what to expect,especially as the only 'Yavoo' on the plane . However, the people which I met will leave an affectional imprint on my mind, due to the kindness which they so willingly gave to me at first as a stranger. The children embody an all consuming energy and to experience this as a volunteer is heartening inside and outside the summer school. I met some inspiring people who were also volunteering and hope to see them again very soon!

 

Claire Harwood, Volunteer 2011 I'm not really sure where to start with this. I'm not sure what I was expecting from myself on this trip. I'm not even really sure what I was expecting from my Ghana experience. I've never done anything like it before, so goodness knows what was going through my head as I made the snap decision to come along and went ahead and booked my flight. I'd been introduced to The Raising Hope foundation via a previous volunteer, Zoe. We'd done some fund-raising at our workplace for the charity and although I'd already been interested in the trip I think it was at that point I'd decided that actually, I'd love to be part of something so amazing. I remember discussing it with my closest friend and deciding I'd be very silly not to join the other volunteers out there. Whatever was going through my head at that exact point who knows, but I can honestly say that it really truly has changed me. I LOVED Ghana. I have never been to a friendlier place, been made to feel so welcome. I'd not travelled that far alone before, so as well as that being a new experience for me, I then had to work out how to behave in somewhere with a totally different culture and set of beliefs. But WOW. What a place. Apart from the beautiful scenery and amazing people, the Kids. Now we all know we're there for the children, but no-one can quite prepare you for the never ending urination times, the meal times, the games-times, the laughing-times and the fun-times.  The children are all incredible. Some of them have been through things you and I couldn't even ever imagine, but they retain dignity, hope, a willingness to learn.  There were so many children at first that I thought I'd never learn their names. But you soon catch up, and by the start of day 2 I had them all tucked safely in my head. The volunteers were another matter entirely, I still owe Sister Bethan and Sister Danni apologies for keep calling them the wrong names :D The other volunteers were all AMAZING. Sister Kinza was the person who set up Raising Hope, and the children have so much love and adoration for her. It's catching. Sisters Bethan, Danni, Helen and Zoe had all been to Ghana with the RHF and The Living Faith School before, so they were a wealth of information when the rest of us slightly unsure newbies arrived. I cannot thank them enough for their time, patience and knowledge. The others who joined us (Sisters Silv, Dani, Helly, Cat; and Brothers Johnny and Glenn): you are all incredible people who I am fortunate to have both met and been able to share this experience with. I tend to waffle so I'll sign off now, but to sum up the RHF experience? Wonderful. You feel like you're making a difference. The Children are incredible beings who just want to learn and be loved, and thanks to the other amazing people i was with in Ghana, this was possible.  Am I going back? Most certainly.

Volunteer Testimonials

Helen Peacock - Volunteer Summer 2010, 2011

Having been to Ghana before, I knew what an amazing place it was and could not wait to go back! As soon as we arrived at the airport, the fun began and the whole experience was totally incredible. I have some wonderful memories that will stay with me forever. I am so glad that I discovered the Raising Hope Foundation and that I was a part of the trip this summer. The summer camp went really well and we definitely made a difference to a lot of children in Santrokofi. Every day, there were smiling faces and a great feeling of excitement- not just amongst the children but the volunteers too. I have met people who I hope to be friends with for life and I definitely hope to go back to Ghana next year. Thank you Kinza for this awesome opportunity and well done on everything you have achieved!

Joe Mason - Volunteer Summer 2010, 2011

Going to Ghana was a bit of a shock to the system, in a good way, it’s like nowhere I’ve ever been. The boys there especially appreciate having male volunteers, people to play football with, take them for rides on the bikes, teach them to swim etc. It was great to be able to spend a day helping to build the orphanage. As a country it’s a phenomenal place, the people are very friendly (although be prepared to haggle), we travelled from a heaving city to a beach, to a national park, to lake Volta, to mountains and a waterfall. Not bad for two weeks... I’d highly recommend it, and I’m sure I’ll go back. The beer's not bad either!

Sabrina Laborda - Volunteer Summer 2010

The time that I spent in Ghana was amazing and I have returned with some of the fondest memories. Looking after the our children was extremely rewarding
and watching them learn and grow as people in such a small amount of time is something I will never forget.
Although we were not there for long I felt we made an impact on a number of people's lives, whether it be with the children from the orphanage or
the children we taught at the summer school, we have begun to make a difference to their lives and I hope we can carry this on next summer and for many
years to come!!
I want to thank Kinza and Agnes for the experience they gave me, the epic memories and the very special friends that I made on my trip.

Danni Willshaw - Volunteer Summer 2009/2010/ 2011 , Longstanding Ambassador Award 2011

Bethan Borrett - Volunteer Summer 2009/2010/ 2011 (Trustee)

I feel honoured to have played a intergrate part in Raising Hope Foundation from the beginning. It is a cause I am really passionate about, and I feel so alive when I am in Ghana. This year I spent the majority of my time at the school building relationships with the new children who had come into Agnes' care since last summer and reconnecting with the children I met last year. They have so much love to offer and you quickly get very attached to them. I also went up to the orphanage site, it was quite emotional for me to see the foundations and the bricks after fundraising so much over the last year to actually see the project become a reality it overwhelming. Leaving Ghana is the hardest thing ever because I didn't want to leave the children behind, I feel like part of me is left in Ghana and cannot wait to return.

Zoe Cosens - Volunteer Summer 2010 /2011

Going to Ghana has changed my life. I've met some incredible people and had an experience that I will never forget. Meeting the children and running the summer camp in Santrokofi is one of the most rewarding things I'll probably ever have the pleasure of being involved in. The kids are so loving and happy - their laughter is contagious! - and thinking about what they have gone through so early on in their lives, and how little they have in comparison to us really moved me. Being there and seeing the walls of the orphanage home go up made me understand the what the Raising Hope Foundation is doing is truly going to change the lives of these children in a massive way, and teaching the kids and seeing them progress over just two weeks just reinforced how much help they still need. I love Ghana, it's such an incredible place, the people are friendly and open and warm and I miss it every day! I'm determined to go back next summer, and want to thank Kinza for this amazing opportunity, you're a real inspiration :).

Hannah Borrett - Volunteer 2009/2010

Ghana has been an amazing experience and totally changed my outlook on life. Before I went out in 2009 I was a little apprehensive as it was a huge step outside my comfort zone but within days I was loving every part of Ghanain life. Meeting children who have nothing yet are so happy is unbelievable and its amazing to see what a difference our love and care does to these kids lives. Ghana isnt just an experience I have had but truly a part of my life. After I returned in 2009 I knew I had to go back in 2010. Returning in 2010 was like going back to family. Seeing work progressing on the orphanage is so so exciting.  I never knew I would love and miss the children I would meet so much! I am so glad I had the opportunity to be part of setting up the Raising Hope Foundation and have been able to visit twice. I want to return every year for the rest of my life and would highly recommend volunteering to anyone who wants to make a difference!

Edit Nagy - International Volunteer Summer 2010 (Hungary)

This was my very first time in Africa, and I have to admit it was amazing! Getting to
know these kids and developing such deep relationships with them was more than I’ve dreamt of. By the end, it felt like having children of my own. I really hope to be able to go back there one day! Also the team was fantastic; we had so much fun together! At times teaching was challenging, but it was also rewarding to see how they remembered the things we taught them! Anyone who is looking for an „active holiday”, I can recommend to go out there, because you can truly make a difference!