3 minute read
Spotlight: Volunteer Programme 2019 – Pathways to Success
Our 2019 FOG led volunteer programme, ‘Pathways to Success’ was delivered in 2 schools in Tema, Ghana on December 30th 2019 and January 6th 2020. The Future of Ghana Team, Future Stars Coaches, 27 volunteers and 7 keynote speakers came together over the two separate days to deliver fun and engaging workshop sessions to 99 children during their Christmas vacation. We discussed different kinds of success, the importance of education, leadership, different career trajectories, the importance of teamwork and building the skills necessary to realise our dreams and goals. Students also engaged in games, sports, presentations and creating positive affirmations like “I am confident, I am smart and I will be great!”. Volunteers were able to help students realise their own leadership skills and build confidence and assurance in their career paths.
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Keynote speaker William Adoasi (an FOG Alumni) gave an inspirational talk on founding his business Vitae London, and gifted a student with a watch after the student asked a great question. Keynote speaker Sarah Douglas (also an FOG Alumni) also had a huge impact on the children as she led on a session on practical career pathways at one of our schools. The children were split into different groups and each given an opportunity to attend every session within the day with a new FOG volunteer supporting each group, they were also given the opportunity to present their work and learnings throughout the day to the other students. The teachers and staff members at both schools were very grateful to be chosen as a school to support and were impressed with the workshops delivered. One headteacher said “On behalf of our school and the students, I say a big thank you for coming to impact the lives of our students. May God bless you with all that matters to you and the family”.
“We were in class, learning all types of things including career sessions, what you should do to end up at your goals and we should try our best to go step by step because it is not easy but we can make it with effort”.
“They [the volunteers] encouraged us to have confidence, trust in what you want to do. There was a saying that we learnt that goes “I can do it, I must do it and I will do it” so no matter what the challenges are, “I know I will do it!”
Volunteer/partner quotes:
“It’s been enjoyable going back to our roots with the kids. And even after going to school in the UK, spending time with the kids has shown that they are not much different to us”. Sean Bonsu - Volunteer
“It’s a beautiful experience as well and I think that people back at home in the UK should do this and try and spend some quality time in helping charitable companies within the UK like Future of Ghana, that are supporting kids in Africa as well as kids back at home [in the UK]”
Kwesi Asiedu - Volunteer
“We were able to engage the kids in talking about their future careers. We held the sports session out on the pitch and they have also done all the classroom stuff and it was fantastic! The kids were very engaged and they all enjoyed it”. Titus Bramble – Future Stars Charity Ambassador
“The kids are innocent and they are going to grow up into a world that we are going to leave behind, so it’s just good to have that input into their future”.
Kwesi Asiedu - Volunteer
Working with the schools to deliver this programme was an honour and we hope to return in 2021!
