experiences: tafo

Katie Anne Towner from North Carolina, USA volunteered at Tafo from 31 May to 24 July 2005:

I have found no other way to describe my time in Tafo other than that it was amazing. I had never been out of the US for more than a week and never by myself, yet I was able to find a second home there and settled into Ghanaian life very quickly. Everyone I met was so friendly and willing to teach me about their culture that it made the transition almost seamless. There were hardly any times when I felt alone or homesick because everyone there was so anxious for me to make Tafo my home.

I’ve worked with dozens of non-profits in the States, and none of them have been as accommodating as GIMAT Volunteer Network (the NGO in charge of the Cultural Center and the Tintinto Boys’ Village/Academy). Every need or desire that I had was satisfied thoroughly, including my dietary needs. I am a vegetarian, and I definitely never went hungry! Mama Anna, my host mother, made sure that I always ate plenty at meals, and she made sure I always had an extra snack of fruit in my room. In fact, there were plenty of times when I had to call on someone else to help me eat all of the food so it wouldn’t waste.

The only thing that I wish I had done differently to prepare for my time in Tafo is raising funds and donations. Luckily I was able to bring a few medical supplies to donate to the clinic, but I didn’t realize how much more I could have brought. At the Cultural Center, I was able to put on a play with a group of kids, but it would have been so much easier if I had had the resources to give to them. The flexibility within the project really great, if you have an idea that you want to try out, Christian and Eric, who run the Cultural Center, are more than happy to help you get it going.

This organization does an amazing job of helping volunteers bring their own culture to Ghana, as well as introducing them to typical Ghanaian life. I feel like I learned so much more from volunteering than I ever could have if I had just gone somewhere for leisure travel. By providing a service, I was able to relate to the people in Tafo on a whole new level, and I built connections there that are lasting. I’ve been back in the US for almost two months now and not a day has gone by when I haven’t thought of my time in Ghana in at least some aspect.