Woolley Fellowship Recipient’s Summer Internship

Working as an education volunteer in Ghana was a great experience that helped me get a new perspective on life in developing countries and better realize myself as a part of the global community. During the program, I surveyed three Apostolic schools in different districts of Accra: Apostolic Church Academy, Apostolic Hope School in Nima, and Rev. Lartey Adotey Memorial School. By interviewing over 600 students and members of teaching staff I collected a database of students’ information and created the schools’ portfolios. With these portfolios I was able to analyze students’ family background and academic interests, and determine their preferences, future goals, and objectives. I observed how economic situation affects the standards of education and how children gain access to academic resources.

I was truly fascinated by the richness and uniqueness of the local culture, which has preserved the old traditions and values of Ghanaian society. It was also very interesting to see what a significant role religion plays in people’s everyday life and how it affects social norms and relations. Through interaction with local population I learned more about people’s beliefs and got to know more about the present and past of the country.

An important part of my program was also working as a teacher of Creative Writing. Though English is an official language in Ghana, most people are using local dialects: Ga, Twi, and Ewe. That’s why many children find it challenging to communicate their thoughts in English, especially in writing assignments. I tried to improve students’ writing skills and motivate their creativity through essay writing, group work, and drawing assignments. The results were really impressive as every work revealed personal thoughts and interests of the child.

Overall, the experience in Ghana gave me a new picture of the world as a whole and made me reconsider my own values. My recommendation for those who are interested in studying abroad is to choose an unusual place of destination, which they could discover, explore, and learn something new. I would recommend a place of challenges, which will make them reconsider many things and eventually revolutionize their perspectives on life.

-Polina Kyriushko