Oboadaka: from Florence to the Red Dust Roads Ghana through the eyes of a 22 year-old

I decided to visit Ghana by volunteering at a local NGO. When I first arrived, I had no idea what lay ahead of me. It was a life-changing experience.I found myself living in the rural village of Oboadaka, by Accra, supporting the NGO in its daily tasks, holding talks in schools, leading HIV and Malaria screenings for children, offering free medical insurance renewal. Living like a local, eating when food was provided, no running water, showering with a bucket of water fetched from a river etc. was very challenging, but despite everything, I got to a point in which that village had become home to me. By the end of this experience, the saddest part was having to leave, knowing I might never see those kids again. I am continuing to collaborate with the NGO as a project manager: one of our current initiatives is the construction of a well in the village. Through the publishing of this diary I am trying to raise funds for the project, and maybe inspire others to also pursue socially impactful actions. I grew personally and professionally, realizing that happiness can be found wherever there is peace…My grandfather used to say: “you have to take it as it comes”Through this experience, I got a little closer to truly understanding what he meant.Facing comments coming from friends and family members who don’t understand why one would go to such countries and the importance of social engagement, is not easy.I’ve lost count of how many times I have been told that “making a difference” is purely an illusion. What most people don’t realize is that experiencing is never useless.It is not about saving the world, it is about learning how to live in different realities.Our actions reflect what we foster inside, and that’s where it all starts. Read more