Volunteering in Ghana

Agoo,
Welcome to week two of CIEE Global Navigation Study Abroad tour in Ghana. The Global navigators have been volunteering at three service sites in Accra. The sites are Shalom, Crystal, and Future Leaders Schools.
CIEE leaders who volunteer at the Shalom Home School in Ogbojo, have been developing their storytelling skills to engage students in reading books. During the stories, and after, the CIEE leaders are sure to ask Shalom students questions about the content. The leaders collaborated to plan a fitness routine for the entire school, which they led today. Afterwards, the leaders had fun playing various games with Shalom teachers and students. Leaders at the Shalom also observe the Headmistress (Auntie Marie) cook different meals for the students, which helps them learn even more about Ghanaian culture. Today they learned how waakye (rice and beans cooked in sorghum leaves) is made, which they enjoyed.

Future Leaders Service Site
In Future leaders, the CIEE volunteers are working on teaching skills by using different strategies during instruction. Some of the subjects the volunteers teach are Math, English, and French. CIEE volunteers use games, songs, and interactive activities to engage and improve student learning.
In addition, volunteers have one on one sessions with students who are falling behind because of learning disabilities. The volunteers assist the students in reading and writing. CIEE volunteers will continue to work with the students to build on their teaching and individualized learning skills.
During break sessions, CIEE volunteers play soccer, amp3 and rope jump with the students. The games foster friendship, community interaction, and fun. 
In addition to their service work, CIEE leaders also engage in physical learning experiences with students in the local community. 

Service Site: Christal School of Excellence 
For the past two weeks,  nine of the twenty-eight CIEE leaders in Ghana  students gather and meet at the Christal School of Exellence. The schedule starts with an assembly, followed by the students dispersing to their respective classrooms. Throughout the week, each student continued leading their classroom. Many students developed lesson plans for their classroom For instance, one Ciee Leader created flashcards to help students grasp the content. In additon, this week the CIEE leaders hosted a field day with the teachers. They corrdinated and lead physcial activities for students. CIEE Leaders also contributed in learning local games. Overall, this week was a productive week.  

 Play & Learn 
CIEE leaders had the opportunity to have a football (American soccer) scrimmage with students from the Play & Learn nonprofit organization. We learned that this organization supports underserved students by promoting teamwork, conflict resolution, and responsibility via the sport of football. The program also requires students to attend tutoring services for math and literacy after-school. Following the scrimmage, CIEE leaders and Play & Learn students discussed differences and similarities between their teenage lives in Ghana and America, as well as the struggles and joy of their schooling experience. 

Madase 

Harriet 
Kayla 
Sandra