Olivia Grainger - Ghana 2019

Volunteering in Ghana this summer with BVDA was a very rewarding and life changing experience.

My view on what it means to volunteer in an impactful and sustainable way has completely changed, as well as my view on volunteering as a whole.

Before the project I initially believed that the only way to make an impact whilst volunteering abroad was exclusively through construction projects or teaching, however the skills I have gained during the workshops in Ghana, as well as the impact on the local women benefiting, has been immense.

Not only were the workshops beneficial to our own personal development as volunteers, in terms of gaining confidence through presenting, the women demonstrated the benefits through the growth of their businesses and also through the development of their financial independence.

I will never forget the relationships I formed with the locals during my time in Ghana, nor will I forget the skills I gained which have enabled my own personal development.