Campbell Hall & St. Michael’s University School Group, March 2010

We have now landed back safely in Canada, but all I can think about is Atorkor! I just wanted to write to the four of you (who were the real architects behind our incredible experience), and on behalf of our entire group say thank you. It is actually hard to adequately express my true gratitude and exactly what I want to say. Your organization and support made the whole trip invaluable for each and every one of us. We will each take away different things from our time in Ghana, but it is safe to say that all of us have been profoundly impacted by the whole experience, and that we will never forget it. Atorkor and its people have touched our lives, and we will always feel like we have a home there. Thank you!

I would also request that you pass along our heartfelt gratitude to the many other people who were also important players in making this happen. Please thank Caroline and Marla (at the VV office) for their patience and efforts in getting us there in the first place, as well as Agbe and Kaye who were both phenomenal supports for our whole group while we were in the village. I would also like to recognize the tireless efforts and support that we received from Beulah and Seth at the school, and Togbe Avege’s guidance and expertise. They all made a huge difference.

I am sure as time passes, we will each continue to reflect at length about what we saw and learned during our time there, and how it has really changed us all for the better. I am also confident that you will see at least some of us back in Atorkor at some point in the future. We will look forward to hearing details from that end, and doing what we can to continue supporting all the fantastic work that continues to go on.

Once again, thank you.

Jon Gebbia, February 2010

For my first time volunteering, I went to Nepal and had the pleasure of working with SADP-Nepal and all of the people associated with the organization. I chose to go to Nepal because of its diverse terrain and culture, and now feel like I couldn’t have picked a better destination. Their lack of education coupled with an unstable government makes Nepal a slowly developing country that is “arms wide open” for volunteers.

The hardest part of the trip for me was trying to give back half as much knowledge and know how that I was receiving. One travel quote that I have always lived by is “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is the change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living” (Miriam Beard). That quote does a great job of explaining the type of experience anyone can have by volunteering internationally; an experience that goes way beyond short lived excitement, but self fulfillment and personal growth that will be with you the rest of your life.

In preparation for this trip, I tried to acquire as much information as possible about the people and the area; when in reality an open mind and a friendly attitude was everything I needed. When you surround yourself with such a wonderful group of people, the need for a travel partner and even home comforts becomes unnecessary. You become comfortable with the simple things in life like the sunset over the Annapurna Mountain Range, homegrown meals, simplicity and peacefulness; and since the best things in life aren’t things at all, the ability to slow down, relax, and appreciate life for what it is becomes a gift that many people will never understand.

If you are considering any sort of volunteering or even international travel, the value gained through helping other people will pay you back tenfold. Make sure you lace up your hiking boots, clear your schedule, and hold on, because the experience will rock your world! I thank both village volunteers and SADP Nepal for this life changing trip that will never be forgotten.
Namaste

Peta Hall, February 2010

I have been a volunteer with Village Volunteers for three years, I have worked in Kpando and Atorkor, Ghana. In Kpando I established a womens cooperative, Dzidefo, (meaning "there is hope" in Ewe.) The 10 women make beautiful colourful toddlers clothing, and home accessories using 100% Ghanaian cotton that is batik printed by Claudia in the village. Our website will be live soon! This will give us an even bigger window on the world!

I am now working with Village Volunteers and the Atorkor Development Foundation to bring a Centre to the village of Atorkor. The fishing industry, the main source of income, has been crippled by off shore trawlers. However, there is a nucleus of artisans working there, so we are hoping to build a Centre there with 3 large workshops training women and the youth in batik, kente weaving, glass bead making, ironwork and woodwork. The centre will bring employment to about 90 people when it is fully operational. It will make a huge difference to the economy of the area.
Throughout my working in Ghana I have had the unflinchingly dedicated support of Village Volunteers. I have worked with other NGO's so have had experience with some that are non-professional, careless, and unreliable. I cannot stress how impressed I am with VV. They should be THE MODEL for every volunteer organization! It should be the way every volunteer organization operates, with thought, care, deep commitment and such service. Their profound belief in humanity spreads throughout every sector of their work, and organization. Truly they are the best, their dedication is phenomenal.