Ashley Welter | The Young Leader

May 31, 2023 by Ashley Welter

Guatemala: Children of the Maya (July 14-July 27, 2023)

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Today was our first day together! Students were super excited to meet everyone and start connecting with each other. We had breakfast at 7:30 which was beans, eggs and plantains. After breakfast we head over to Azotea Coffee farm for a tour. Students learn about the practices that go into making coffee and got to explore. After the tour we hung out and played card games until lunch was ready at 12:00. We had a delicious lunch. The options were grilled chicken, hamburgers, ribs, or grilled vegetables. After lunch we headed to our home base in Xela.

Despite it being a long bus ride, the students made the most of it with games and sing alongs. When we arrived to home base we did a tour of the campus and then had Chow Circle where we went over the schedule for the next day. Then we had dinner. After dinner we had one on one check ins for mentor groups then headed to bed. The group is super excited for zip lining tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 16

Today we had a very active and exciting trip to a small town near our home base where we could Zip Line throughout the beautiful mountains and landscapes of Xela.

We began our day by having delicious breakfast at home base: refried beans, sweet boiled plantain, and eggs with cream on the side, yummy!!. After that we took our water bottles, backpacks, bug repellant and we got on our way to Vuelo Extremo which is where we Zip lined.

As soon as we got there we got some pictures of the amazing view of Santiaguito Volcano, other mountains around us, and of course ourselves!! We got to the zip line stations in three different groups. We rode on a pick up to the 1st station and our trip began.

We had a great time and took great videos and pictures thanks to our amazing mentors who were always there to support us. After the Zip line adventure we headed back to home base where we had lunch and had our official orientation day with some activities to get to know us more. Our mentors explained to us the mission and vision of GLA and common rules to follow while we are in Xela and during our entire visit in Guatemala.

We had dinner, then our Chow circle celebrated our accomplishments reflecting on the day’s value: Be Courageous. We had dinner, and had mentor groups where we got to reflect on our values during an activity. We finally went to our rooms and hung out for a while. It was just an awesome and exciting day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 17

Written by Leaders of the Day – N and T

Our 4th day together was a hit 💥💥students had a pancake breakfast before heading out to begin service at the local school. We were greeted with a beautiful civic display full of songs and art work to celebrate the holiday ‘Dia De La Juventud’. 🎉 Soon after students were divided into pairs and immersed in various classrooms form around 9am-12pm with children ages 5-12. Depending on the age of the students in the class, we engaged by playing games, teaching English, helping with school work, and connecting with the community👩‍🏫👨‍🏫💕. After students returned to have a wonderful lunch of fried chicken (or yummy soy protein for the vegetarians), pasta, salad, and papaya watermelon juice 🥤. We had to save room because right after we headed over to a local chocolate museum 🍫!! Students indulged in a chocolate fountain, hot chocolate, tea, and cardamom drinking chocolate! After the chocolate museum, students enjoyed a salsa class from a local dance studio 💃🏻💃🏻 what a great day!!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Written by Leaders of the Day S and R

Today we started off strong with a great breakfast. We had oatmeal, yogurt with granola, a banana, and to spice things up, a piece of chocolate cake. We then headed out to the school where instead of being with the kids, we painted two classrooms. The kids were off from school so we had plenty of space and time to get started. With little left to complete, we headed back to home base. For lunch we had chicken and rice. So yummy! About an hour later we departed for Xelo for a Mayan and Catholic based tour. We began our journey at an authentic, Spanish-Catholic Church. Then we ventured up a hill to a shrine with a beautiful view.

After that, we walked over to a nice lady’s house where she walked us through the process of making the traditional textile shirts. She speaks Ki’ch, and is very well known and respected around her community. After, we quickly stopped by her sauna that was in a cave around the women’s house. Next we headed back. At home base, we were able to rest up and reset for our nightly chow circle! Chow tonight was led by our leaders of the day. They went over the schedule for tomorrow and revealed tomorrows value: uncovering solutions. After all the important stuff they held a game of Musical Chairs! For our well deserved meal we had some brown noodles, beans, and a cheese-filled tortilla. Eager to be done with our schedule, we split into our mentor groups and went over our lesson plan for tomorrow, each crafted by groups of two or three. A great way to end an amazing day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Written by Leaders of the Day F and J

This morning we woke to hard boiled eggs in tomato sauce, beans and plantains. After we finished we left for our community service at the elementary school where half of our group worked to finish painting the classrooms and the other half began English lessons with the kids. At 11:30 we said our goodbyes and heading back to home base for a lunch consisting of breaded meat, pasta, and vegetables. This afternoon we went to Momostenango where we learned about textile making from a family that has been spinning wool for 6 generations! We got to spin the wool into yarn ourselves, and later we learned what natural ingredients were used to color the wool! We ended the afternoon with homemade tortillas, beans, quac and shopping! We were given the opportunity to buy handmade purses, blankets, sweaters, and slippers from this amazing family before heading back to home base!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Written by G and C, Leaders of the Day

After waking up early in the morning, we started the day off with some delicious pancakes and papaya. We headed to the school where we taught English, played with students during recess and finished painting up some of the classrooms. We’ve loved getting to know both the kids and the community we’ve served this week, and are glad we have a couple more days with them before we have to say goodbye! After service we returned to home base and enjoyed a traditional Guatemalan lunch of chicken and rice covered in salsa verde.

We then traveled to downtown Xela where we learned about its history and the natural beauties Guatemala has to offer. We visited a popular Cafe, where we tried traditional hot chocolate with spices and coffee. We walked around the city and embraced the culture of the city we’ve been calling home for the past few days.

After our tour of the town we were welcomed back home with a lecture on Guatemalan history from a local who endured the countries civil war in the 1940’s-1950’s. Learning from his first hand experience was incredibly moving, and for so many of us it felt as if our history books had come alive as he shared his experience.

As we reach the midpoint of the program we reflect on the wonderful memories and new things we’ve learned, as well as look forward to new experiences to come!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Written by leaders of the day K and S

After waking up bright and early, the group started the day off with a delicious breakfast of beans, plantains, eggs, and watermelon! We then headed out to the school and fully painted a classroom together, practicing great teamwork, we finished quickly and all had the chance to play with the kids at recess! After getting back to home base we had an amazing lunch consisting of broccoli, mashed potatoes, beef, corn, and salsa. For dessert we ate blue jello! Afterward, we headed out on an hour long car ride to las fuentes georgina’s. These hot springs contained thermal and mineral-rich waters which are said to be beneficial for both physical and emotional health. Stunning mountain side views accompanied these hot springs. After taking in the hot springs, the group headed to Walmart where we all stocked up on snacks and essentials. Many quetzals later, we headed home, had chow circle and mentor groups and got some much needed rest.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Written by Leaders of the Day J and T

Today we started out with a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and oatmeal soup. Shortly after we departed for the lovely panajel, where we took a boat ride to San Juan. In San Juan we explored a lively market and tasted some refreshing gelato. On the boat ride back, we got caught in a thunderstorm, which made for an interesting time. Back at the hotel we had a great lunch of chicken, guacamole, rice and chips. After lunch everyone relaxed for a while and took some much needed naps before we headed to another market. After spending a few hours at the market we came back for dinner, which was spaghetti and meat sauce, broccoli salad and cookies. We wrapped the day up with mentor groups and free time.

– Leaders of the day J and T

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Written by Leaders of the Day M and L

First, we woke up at the hotel and had breakfast, which was, eggs, yogurt, bread, etc. After breakfast, we headed off to the market of Chichicastenango. When we got there we shopped around for a few hours. The shops included masks, textiles, clothing, food, etc. After we had a lunch at a hotel in the area, which was chicken or roast beef, vegetables, and french fries. Then we drove back to Xela, homebase, and had fried ravioli, filled with carrots and a side of rice. We ended the night with a debate during mentor groups about women’s rights in Guatemala. The debate lasted just over two hours. Then we went to bed.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Written by Lauren:

Today we woke up to Party in the USA blasting and left home base bright and early to go to our last day of service. Since we had successfully painted three classrooms we all got to be teachers today. Saying goodbye to the kids that we had gotten to know and love over the past week was very hard, but it was great to see how what we did made a positive difference on their lives. After lunch we went to a talk about immigration relating to kids. This talk was about the hard truth about child migration from countries in Central America to the US. It was very meaningful. After that talk we listened to a local who explained the other side of the Guatemalan Civil War. This talk opposed to the one we heard the day earlier. At the end of the day we all did the OMG activity where we wrote One Meaningful Goal. We did goal setting based on what impacted us this trip and our goals for the future. Then we went to bed!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Written by Leaders of the day S and M

Today was a day full of a mixture of emotions! We started off the day strong with pancakes, eggs and beans. After we finished our delicious breakfast we hit the road for Chicabal, a no longer erupting volcano. There we hiked down to the lagoon and attended a traditional Mayan ceremony where we gave thanks for everything we have. The ceremony consisted of a shaman performing a Mayan ritual, emphasizing certain impactful parts of the culture which made us as a group feel very inspired! Towards the end, we all threw in six candle sticks into a fire made by the shaman in order to achieve goals we have for the future, the white one symbolizing air, bones, and purity, the black one symbolizing death, sickness, and misfortune, the red being flesh, blood, and war, yellow being the sun, green being nature, and finally blue symbolizing the water, an incredibly respected resource in these communities. Once done we hiked back up which was definitely a workout! At homebase we had lunch which consisted of chicken, pasta and vegetables. Right after we had two hours to pack everything up in preparation for our departure to Antigua and then had an intense soccer tournament on the grass field. With some extra free time before chow circle we played basketball and at chow circle had a concert from our very own, Bubski The Rapper! Following a pasta dinner we had appreciation circle where we shared our appreciation and love for the other members of our trip. It touched a lot of hearts leaving many of us crying! However to switch the mood we had an epic dance party before in rooms and lights out. What an eventful day!

Leaders of the day S and M

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

We started off our last morning in Zela with a traditional Guatemalan Breakfast of beans and eggs. We then said our last goodbyes to homebase, and began our journey to Antigua. We stopped at Ixmiche, the Mayan Ruins, where we were given a tour. After the ruins we had lunch at a yummy restaurant. We had chicken or veggies. We then continued our drive and stopped to learn about the Mayan weddings. After the wedding we were given the chance to look at the handmade art the family was selling. After we finished we finally made it to Antigua. We quickly got ready for to go out in the town and shop, and then we had dinner at a restaurant. There we celebrated Chloe’s 17th birthday. We ended the night with a quick evaluation of the trip.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Today, a lot of emotions are in the air, most of our students had to say Good-Bye to their friends. There were a lot of great memories and moments we know all of the students will cherish for the rest of their lives.

After their nice dinner last night and celebrating one of the students’ B-day our wonderful team had students walk around Antigua Guatemala, take pictures and have fun with their peers.

Today, some of our students woke up really early at around 2:30 am to get their first shuttle bus to La Aurora Airport, where they had to wish each other the best. The second group of students arrived at the airport at around 9:40 am to do their check-ins and get ready for their flights. We know our students just had a great time these weeks and all the staff felt sad to let them go. Finally, the last group arrived at 5 pm at the airport and got ready to get back home safely.

We appreciate all the time and effort our students put through the whole experience and we only wish the best in their future plans.

May 31, 2023 by Ashley Welter

Guatemala: Children of the Maya (June 27-July 10, 2023)

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 27

After a long travel day all of the students arrived in Guatemala!! Our first students, arrived early this morning. They had a traditional Guatemalan breakfast of beans, eggs, and plantains with staff members. Next, we had another student join us and we hung out until lunch. For lunch, the group had fajita’s with potatoes and guacamole. After lunch we played get to know you games and eagerly awaited our next arrivals.

In the afternoon, our second group arrived. When they got back to the hotel, we had a snack of fresh watermelon, papaya, melon, and pineapple. The students got to know each other and then it was time for dinner. After dinner, the first and second group headed to Antigua while the last group was arriving. Finally, when all of the students in the last group landed, the remaining students and staff made their way to Antigua where we are spending the night!

We are super excited to finally all be together! Tomorrow, we have an action packed day where we will learn about Mayan traditions tomorrow and to visit a coffee farm!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 28

We started our day today with eating a rejuvenating breakfast. After eating a delicious meal, we packed up and boarded our bus to learn about how to make textiles, understand the indigenous practices of Guatemala, and the process of a traditional Mayan wedding.

During the Mayan wedding, students volunteered to each play a role in the wedding. From groom, to bride, bride’s family, and groom’s family. After the wedding, students learned how coffee was made and spent time with the local family in which shared their home with us.

After departing the Mayan Wedding, we all headed to a coffee farm. At the coffee farm, students learned how the coffee process is started and the took a tour of the estate. We all then shared a delicious lunch of a traditional Guatemalan dish.

After an eventful arrival day and a full day of tours, we headed to our home base in Xela. When students arrived, we ate a delicious dinner and relaxed for the night before heading to bed to be fully rested for our big hike tomorrow morning!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 29

We had a busy first full day in Xela! We woke up early and had a breakfast of eggs, beans, and fruit. After breakfast we headed out to hike Chicabal which is a dormant volcano with a lake in the middle. When we reached the lake, we watched a Mayan Ceremony and got to make wish. After the hike our students and staff were ready for lunch! Our lunch was barbecue chicken, a carrot salad and beans. This was a favorite amongst the students.

After lunch students had some free time where they hung out and played board games before orientation. We had our orientation and students got to learn about rules, expectations, and GLA. After orientation we had dinner and ended the night in our mentor groups. We are super excited for our first day of service tomorrow!

Best,
Lauren Musshorn

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

We started the day off with some delicious vegan pancakes before to the school we are volunteering at, Centro de Atención Integral. There touched up a planetary mural, four square, hopscotch, flowers, and butterflies and scraped an old paint to make room for a new mural. We returned to home base for lunch: cheesy potatoes, carne asada, guacamole, chips, salsa, beans, tortillas, hibiscus tea, and jello for dessert.

After lunch we went on a chocolate tour for our real dessert where we were greeted by Cali the cat. We enjoyed fresh fruit in a vegan chocolate fountain along with three hot, cocoa based drinks. We danced on over to a salsa lesson where we killed it in the dance floor. Just before it began to rain, we hopped on the bus back to base camp where we did chow circle and enjoyed dinner, ending the day in our mentor groups.

We were surprised by a piñata and cake in honor of Caroline’s birthday which is tomorrow! In the morning, we are heading to Panajachel bright and early where we are looking forward to a boat tour in San Juan, along with other fun activities.

– Leaders of the Day A and E

BLOG POST FOR JULY 1

Good morning from Xela! Nos vamos a Panjachel (we are going to panajajel). We had a “good morning burrito” with beans, rice, and some other goodies for breakfast. After breakfast we took a roady up into the mountains and man oh man was it beautiful! We arrived at the hotel we were staying at and promptly headed to a super cool and fun boat ride across lake Atitlan. The water was soooo clear and the volcanos around us made the journey absolutely breathtaking.

Once we docked at San Juan, we took a few hours to walk through the steep streets. We had to get in some shopping obviously! We found tons of beautiful hand made goods and lots of welcoming people. On our way back across the lake, Mother Nature had a bit of a temper tantrum and there were some waves splashing us ! We survived, don’t fret. It was definitely a trip to remember. The adventures continued as we ventured back to the hotel, the rain still pairing and the old man still snoring, our plan to head to another part of Panjachel was sadly canceled 🙁 but that didn’t stop us from coming up with fun things to pass the time! Playing hangman, soccer along with story telling helped us get through the never ending rain storm. Then it was time for our daily chow circle, mentor groups and a delicious dinner of pasta. Overall it was a great day!

Leaders of the day E and C

BLOG POST FOR JULY 2

We awoke in the hotel in Panajachel and started packing early for the bus ride. We had a breakfast of eggs, beans, and oatmeal, and fried plantains. We got in the bus and headed out for our journey to Chichicastenango. Chichi is known for its huge market, so everyone made sure to bring their Quetzales to spend. After dropping off our luggage at a beautiful local hotel, we set out into three groups and explored everything the market had to offer. There were woven dresses, blankets, ponchos, and much more of over a thousand different designs and colors; and vendors sold trinkets, food, jewelry, and many other things. We hope to share these gifts with you soon! After we met up post market excursion, we had a lunch of chicken, fries, and salad. We also had very good desert- fruit cake.

After saying goodbye to the parrots at the hotel we hoped on the bus to drive back to Xela. We put down our new things, and went to the “clubhouse” to play a game with our mentor Lauren. The game was called pterodactyl. How to play this game is quite simple you have to say the word pterodactyl without smiling or laughing and if someone makes a pterodactyl sound, it will reverse the circle. It was really fun and we had tons of laughs and bonding time. We then did our shoutouts to hype everyone up, and will be ending the day with watching a movie. Today was such a fun day and cannot wait for what the future days bring!

-Leaders of the Day F and J

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Written by Leaders of the the Day B and E

Yesterday was very fun, we ate breakfast at home base then went to the school .

At the school we did so much from painting Messi Ronaldo and Neymar jerseys to making flowers on the ground.

We went on to the hotsprings and we had so much fun there in the water. We then went on to Walmart where we bought all kinds of snacks.

We returned to the home base, we ate and then we did chow circle and the mentor groups.

We were all really tired so we went to sleep right after.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 4

Written by Leaders of the Day M and K

In the morning we had a breakfast of pancakes at 6:50. At 7:30, we departed for the school and met the kids. we were split up in the different groups and visited the different age groups in their classrooms. We helped in their classrooms until their recess, then they enjoyed the painting activities that we nade. Around 12, we came back to homebase for lunch. We had burger Pattie’s and potatoes. Around 1:00 we went down town, took pictures, and got ice cream. After, we came back to home base, and listened to a guest speaker. He told us about the history of the Guatemalan government, military, and conflicts. To close out the night, we had a dinner of rice and meatballs with salsa. Finally, we went to bed at 9:30, and shut the lights off at 10:00.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 5

Wow today was an eventful day! We got up bright and early for breakfast at 6:50 am! We had yogurt with granola, nutella/peanut butter toast, and eggs. After eating breakfast we got ready to head over to the school to work on our service projects. Some kids worked on painting murals, while others played with kids. For the second half of our community service we headed over to a nearby organization (which is connected to the school) that helps kids who were deported from the U.S. by providing them room and board, and a safe space as the program helps to reconnect them with their families. As we considered a new perspective on immigration, we came back to home-base to have lunch.

After eating a filling and delicious lunch we headed over to Momostenango, where we got to see the process of spinning and dying wool, and the garments created on the looms using those materials. While not only seeing this process, some kids were able to try it out for themselves! After learning about how they make the garments, we got the opportunity to buy some, and then headed back to home base. We then had dinner, and we were all enthused to find out that it was pasta! Then, we had chow circle, where we went over the schedule for the next day, shout outs, and how we lived our values. We wrapped the day with a surprisingly fun debate over women’s right, the involvement of international programs in local communities, and the preservation of local norms.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 6

Written by Leaders of the day D and M

We woke up and ate breakfast which was a breakfast burrito and it was pretty good. Then packed and got ready for community service and left at 7:30. Once we got there we were all excited to play with the kids but then we got the unfortunate news that we would not be able to talk to the kids due to the government inspecting the school. This resulted in us all having to paint murals the whole time which was a little different from our usual activity of talking to the kids for half the day and then painting for the other half.

After we finished painting we went back to the home base to eat lunch. For lunch we had chicken and rice which we all enjoyed. After some rest time we had a speaker come in and teach us about his experience during the Guatemalan civil war as a member of the army. It was interesting for us to now see the bias of both the army and guerrilla. Next we went on the tour of Xecul where we saw the San Andres Xecul Church and learned more about the Mayan culture in the town. We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner, chow circle, and an emotional mentor groups. Overall as a group we learned more about Guatemalan culture today and got to contribute with are community service work.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 7

We started the morning off with a breakfast of oatmeal, fruit and cake before heading to Centro De Atencion integral for our final day of service. There, we finished up our murals and entertained the children before saying tearful goodbyes. For lunch we had chicken, potatoes, and carrot pineapple salad and then headed to downtown Xela. We toured the municipality council building,
House Noj, and the library, finishing the tour with hot chocolate tasting at Cafè la Luna. Returning to home base, we had free time, Chow Circle, and hot dogs and French fries for dinner. Before bed we played some mafia and got excited for zip lining tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Today we had an early start. We had breakfast at 6:30 which was pancakes and eggs. After breakfast we headed out for zip lining. We had so much fun zip lining over the Guatemalan jungle. After we headed back to Xela for lunch. We had pasta, carne asada, and vegetables.

After lunch we packed and had some free time to hang out. Some people played soccer and others played cards. Before dinner we had chow circle. Our last dinner at home base was soup which was very yummy. After dinner we did some goal setting for after the trip then headed to bed. We are super excited for Antigua tomorrow.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 9

Today we said goodbye to our home base in Xela. We had a yummy last breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and beans then got our stuff ready for our departure to Antigua. We headed out to the Iximiche Mayan Ruins before heading to Antigua for the afternoon. The ruins were so beautiful and it was super cool to learn about the Mayan civilization. After we went to a yummy lunch on our way to Antigua.

After lunch we got to our hotel and explored Antigua for a bit before doing our appreciation circle where we celebrated each other and the trip. Some of our groups went shopping while others went to Starbucks. Finally we went to a fancy restaurant for our last dinner together. After dinner we said our goodbyes and finished up packing. We had such a great trip and are really going to miss each other.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 10

Our day started bright and early with our first group leaving Antigua at 2:30 am. After an hour drive our first group arrived at the airport, we hung out and got checkin. We waited for our first students to depart at 7:30. In the meantime our Second group arrived to the airport at 6:30. We were all able to hang out for a few hours before the majority of departures started. By 1:00pm there were only four students left. We had lunch at the airport and waited for our last few flights. The students had a wonderful time visiting Guatemala and will be missed dearly by the staff.

May 31, 2023 by Ashley Welter

Greece: Mythical Cities & Islands Expedition (July 7-July 18, 2023)

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

Cell Phone Policy: The GLA cell phone policy is currently in place this summer to help foster meaningful connections between students. This means your student’s phone will be collected every day and returned to them after activities are completed to have with them through the night. Actual tech times and regularity will vary greatly by program location and time zones. During designated ‘tech time’, your student may use their phones as they wish. Please note that your student may not always choose to use this time to get a hold of their parents. If you are not hearing directly from your student each day, you can assume that no news is good news! We strongly recommend you follow the blog to follow your students’ experience without talking to them every day. If you are a parent and would like to get in touch with your student directly, you can call us at +1-619-758-3031 and we can set up a formal time for you to connect with your student.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 8

Hi it’s Jacob and Alicia!

This morning we ate a very traditional greek breakfast and immediately hit the streets. We traveled all throughout the city of Athens by bike and saw famous landmarks such as the acropolis, and explored the different mini towns of Athens. The different views were breathtaking as most were overlooking the entire city. After this amazing bike ride, we were ravenous and ate at a traditional greek restaurant and ate, spanakopita, dolma, and many famous traditional foods. They were delicious.

The second part of the day was full of long walks and taking in the views, as well as taking in the interesting information from our tour guides. They provided us with a new perspective on the acropolis and toured us around the jaw dropping, historical, works of art. We finished off our day at the hotel eating dinner, swimming, and getting to know the individuals on the trip in our mentor groups. The goal of mentor groups is to make a tighter bond with a smaller group of people. In these groups, we discuss our interests, dislikes, and dreams in efforts to help give us confidence and boost us to reaching our goals. The night was completely with the stunning rooftop view of the acropolis!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 12

Hey everyone, it’s Olivia!

In the morning we packed our bags and left the hotel in Zaros, before heading north to a nearby farm. Tired, we were greeted by Michalis and Melina, (owners of the farm) who took us on a bumpy truck journey down the rural track to the farm. We spent the morning dancing, learning how to make bread and phyllo pastry. After that we milked and fed goats, held chickens and bunnies, as well as watering pigs. Then we tasted the food we made in the stone fired oven, (which was delicious) finally we danced to traditional music with a traditional dance.

Hi guys, this is Nolan! After the farm we took a nice long bus ride to Heraklion, then took a nice long time to rest in our rooms. Then we took a tour of the village, exploring all of the old churches, and the old Venetian spots from their previous occupation, seeing the fountain of lions and so much more. After that we went shopping for a while then went out for a nice long dinner with some very interesting conversations. The last stretch of the day we went back to the hotel to reflect on the day and went to bed. All in all it was a great day.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 13

Hi I’m Anika!

To start our day, we drove to a local beach and spent a couple hours swimming and building sandcastles. The water was so clear and it felt so nice to get in. After a while, we got hungry and went to a small restaurant for a snack. I really enjoyed hanging out with friends and eating ice cream. After one more quick dip in the sea, we drove to a restaurant and had a delicious Greek lunch.

Hey guys, it’s Inara and I’m here to discuss the animal shelter in Heraklion! The animal shelter is a nonprofit organisation that brings homes to injured animals in Crete. Part of the deal, was us having the ability to choose between bringing the animals food or medicine and we chose medicine because we thought it would benefit the animals more. We unfortunately couldn’t walk the dogs due to the weather but we had plenty of fun playing with them and the kittens in the shelter!

Hey guys, this is Alvie! After some fun group games run by our mentors, we were treated to a city tour of Heraklion by our local guide! We stopped off for some gelato to rejuvenate us before heading off to the old Venetian port, fortress and dockyards. We saw a mural of Icarus and learnt about that myth. We then walked up to the flea markets, where we had an hour of free time to explore and go shopping! We concluded the evening with a delicious Cretan dinner which included a birthday celebration for one of the mentors. We finally went back to the hotel where we had our Olympic circle and reflected on the day.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 14

Hi it’s Charley and Lukas!

We are in Santorini! We took a short walk to a burger restaurant only a block away from the beach, called “Juicy Burger”. We sat at a long table and enjoyed talking with one another while having some delicious burgers, fries, salads, and onion rings. After eating, we hopped back on the bus and drove to Oia, the biggest city on the island. There, we walked around the city center and took some beautiful photos before getting free time to explore the little shops. After that, we hopped on the bus and traveled to the second city on our afternoon tour, Megalochori. There, we explored the ancient cave houses that were once used to store wine, as they maintain a constant temperature year round. Then, we traveled to our last location, Profitis Ilias, which is the highest point on the island. Finally, we went back to the hotel, changed, and had dinner there. And to finish our day, we ended with our mentor groups and other team bonding games. Overall, it was a very fun day with lots of traveling, pictures, and fun!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 15

Hi it’s Ben, Alexa and Andrew!

We woke up and went to breakfast and went to the town of Fira and went shopping for 2 hours. After Fira we went for lunch at a restaurant with a stunning view. Then we went to the Old Port of Fira to take a wooden boat to sail around the Caldera. On the boat trip we had a great time conversing with each other. After that we jumped in the water x2 then we got nutrients for fuel🍗.

Danced we did!?

Signing off!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Hi everyone! Beth and María here, your International Director and Mentor, to summarise the final few days on this wonderful Greek adventure.

After our brilliant time in Crete and Santorini, and a day’s ferry back to Piraeus, we enjoyed some closing GLA activities together before our final day volunteering in Athens at The Other Person community centre and soup kitchen. We are so proud of you all for socialising with local displaced peoples, working as a team to prepare and provide them with hot food, and leaving a positive impact on your last day in Greece. We finished our adventure together with a traditional dance and dinner in a family restaurant nestled in the hills of Athens, with more beautiful views of this ancient city. A few Greek surprised were in store, with smashing plates and dressup in traditional costume!

Good luck for the future and we hope you will all take the lessons you’ve learned into your journeys beyond GLA!

Efcharisto and Yasas! ❤️

May 31, 2023 by Ashley Welter

Greece: Mythical Cities & Islands Expedition (June 22-July 3, 2023)

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 23

Kalimera everyone! (That’s Good Morning in Greek 😃)

It’s Beth writing, the International Director of GLA’s Greece Mythical Cities and Islands Expedition, here to kick off our first blog post. Yesterday was arrival day, we were so thrilled to meet our brilliant students at the airport. Through our first dinner and GLA activities they have all jumped into this experience with enthusiasm and teamwork!

We are off to the Acropolis this morning to learn about the ancient city, before heading to a traditional Greek lunch, with some souvenir shopping and a bike tour later!

Efcharisto & yasas! (Thank you and goodbye)
-Beth

BLOG POST FOR JUNE 30

Hello families! Here is what we’ve been up to the last few days!

🏛️ Acropolis and Bike Tour – Written by Scarlett and Luka Z

Hey everyone! It’s Scarlett Walker and this morning we woke up bright and early for breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we rode to Acropolis and the Parthenon. After a very informative tour, we had time to look around and take pictures at the top. After that, we had a very lovely lunch at Arcadia restaurant with authentic Greek food (very yummy!) Later, we had 2 hours to walk around the street we ate on for shopping and exploring!

Hi! It’s Luka Zivkovic, Today we took a bike tour around Athens. In our mentor groups we cycled around the perimeter of The Acropolis, we learned about new history and saw different parts of the city. Peace, Love, Greece!

🎨 Schedia Workshop – Written by Sophia and Hope

Hey it’s Sophia! This morning we went for tour of the ‘invisible’ Athens. Our tour guide Mixalis was really interesting and told us all about the support systems for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Athens, and showed me a new perspective on social systems to support people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The tour ended at Schedia cafe and arts workshop where we made paper magnets out of magazines. Katrin, the woman who runs the arts and crafts in the cafe, uses leftover magazines and upcycles them into art or useful items.

Hey it’s Hope! Our tour guide told us that most of the people that live in the new Athens have not seen the older side of Athens. The food was amazing and we were able to see all the little shops that they had. Our tour guid also walked us around and showed us the different shelters. he also told us the rules, the difference between them, why people are or are not in them, and he even shows us the one he is in. He told us is story and what he went through and it was so heart felt. It was amazing to see how he has bounced back and it helping others do the same. He also help the tourists understand Athens and the difference but also how people can either stay where they are or bounce back like him.

🏺Pottery and Dancing – Written by Emma and Lily

Hi, it’s Lily! On this amazing day in Crete, our group took a bus ride to a beautiful town where we met a pottery maker who brought us to craft our own pitchers. We first saw some freshly harvested clay from the mountains on Crete, and our guide told us about the ancient process of making clay and the different types. We saw some traditional wood fire kilns and very old workshops before taking our seats to make our pitchers. We used our hands to mild the clay, and the potter guided us through the process of making the body of the pitcher, the neck, the handles, spout, and designs. Once we were all satisfied with our creations, we drove into town to admire the potter’s own works and see the old Minoan pots he had there. He showed us many ways to paint the pots and how to make a certain pot that the Minoans invented. We made the connection between ancient pottery making and the modern way. Finally, our guide showed us the special pots of the Minoans, which were very interesting.

Hi, it’s Emma! After spending time learning about pottery, we had a delicious lunch and tasted many traditional Cretan dishes. After lunch we went back to our hotel for some rest before heading to dinner and dancing. For dinner, we went to a family-owned farm in the mountains of Rethymno. At dinner we ate more Cretan food and saw traditional Cretan dancing and clothing. We then learned a few dance steps and were able to test out our moves on the dance floor. At the farm we had a chance to see chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, and ponies, and had an opportunity to pet the ponies. Then, we were able to play songs that we enjoy and sing and dance around with friends. The night ended with a quick drive back to the hotel and the daily shoutouts and reflections on the day.

🏖️ Beach and Animal Shelter – Written by Ryan and Samuel

Hey, it’s Ryan and Sam. Today we went to the beach in Heraklion, Crete, and spent time volunteering at an animal shelter nearby. At the beach we got a chance to relax and play games in the sun with our peers. The water felt great and it was nice to have a relaxing beach day. After the beach, we all went to a nearby shop and got refreshing drinks to cool off. The animal shelter was home for hundreds of animals. We hung out with and walked lots of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. It was really interesting to see how these animals are supported before finding their forever homes. People from all around Europe come to this shelter to volunteer during the summer. In the evening, we went to a traditional taverna in Heraklion to taste Cretan cuisine.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 3

Hi everyone! Beth and María here, your International Director and Mentor, to summarize the final few days on this wonderful Greek adventure.

After our brilliant time in Crete, exploring Greece’s largest island and all the mountains, farms, micro-cultures and cities it had to offer, we took a quick ferry to the gorgeous island of Santorini (Greek name Thira). Now based in the windy Cyclades, we enjoyed the black sand beaches and toured the iconic white and blue houses in the towns of Oia and Pyrgos. The views across the Aegean were beyond spectacular, and we learned about the various exports that the island offers, including native vegetables, vines and materials. Our second day, we explored the iconic postcard-town of Fira and climbed aboard a traditional wooden boat, which took us on a tour of the Caldera, a hike up the volcano, and a dip in the hot springs. Singing Mamma Mia and dancing to Shakira as the sun was setting was a real highlight that none of us will forget!

After a day’s ferry back to Piraeus, we enjoyed some closing GLA activities together before our final day volunteering in Athens at The Other Person community centre and soup kitchen. We are so proud of you all for socializing with local displaced peoples, working as a team to prepare and provide them with hot food, and leaving a positive impact on your last day in Greece. We finished our adventure together with a traditional dance and dinner in a family restaurant nestled in the hills of Athens, with more beautiful views of this ancient city. A few Greek surprised were in store, with smashing plates and dressup in traditional costume!

We are so sad to see you go, but we know that you have made this experience amazing, and you will all take the lessons you’ve learned into your journeys beyond GLA.

Efcharisto and Yasas! ❤️

May 31, 2023 by Ashley Welter

Ghana: Children of Africa (July 18-August 7, 2023)

Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!

PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM

Here are a few things you can expect:

We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.

For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.

-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team

Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 18

Hello GLA families and friends,

Today the program Ghana – Children of Africa begins!

We welcomed our students at the airport, and they looked tired from the flight but very positive and excited about finally starting this amazing adventure.

We arrived at the homebase around dinner time, and after everyone ate some delicious food, students called it an early night to charge their batteries for what’s ahead. Angelina and Lou arrived later, so they’ll join the group tomorrow morning.

Woezor to all of our students, we are very excited to have you!

Stay tuned to follow our adventures!
Your GLA Ghana Team,
Dodzi, Maggie, Stephen, Wisdom, Eugene

BLOG POST FOR JULY 19

Hello GLA families and friends,

Day one started off with breakfast at 8.30 am. The first agenda was introducing the students to the both program staff and support staff; thereafter the students were oriented to the home base code of conduct, GLA policies, program expectations and an overview of the 3 weeks service program. They had a chance to visit the Anloga beach front, 100metres from home base, then came back for delicious lunch of chicken, fried potatoes and salad.

At 2.00pm, there was an Ewe lesson and later Ewe traditional dancers, The Emancipation Group, crowned the afternoon with folk music and dance.The students also had a chance to interact with the local community kids who were eagerly waiting for them.

Fast forward, dinner was served at 6.30 pm then followed by Ewe naming ceremony at 7.30pm. Having known their Ewe names, the day was done and everyone went to rest in readiness for the day ahead.

The Ghanaian adventure awaits them!
Your GLA Ghana Team,
Dodzi, Maggie, Stephen, Wisdom and Eugene

BLOG POST FOR JULY 20

Written by Maddie and Isa

Today we started off the morning with moving blocks. These blocks are for a wall which we will be building in the following days and weeks. The wall is important because they will use it for the safety of the students. Then we taught different grade levels. We all enjoyed getting to learn new things today. After teaching, we went to the market to buy fabric. This fabric is being used for clothes that we designed. Then we went to Fathers’ House International and learned about what they do for the community. Then we came back and had the best dinner we have ever eating. The fries were AMAZING! After dinner we saw a beautiful sunset and waited for Dr. Jeremiah to come by. While he was here, we learned about leadership and how we can make a change in our community. Overall today was a breath taking amazing adventure!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 21

Written by Whip and Grant

Today was only our 4th day in Ghana yet everyone feels as if we have known each other our whole lives. So far we have had two productive days of teaching. We started our service today by continuing construction on a wall that will eventually surround the school. After working on the wall we danced and played with the students before beginning our class period. We have formed pairs to teach in and each group was able to pick their desired grade/age . We choose what lessons and subjects we want to teach, and create lesson plans the night prior. We can choose between math, science, English, geography, and literature. This is the first time teaching for many if not all of us, and it is both interesting and challenging to think like a teacher and try and come up with lesson plans that will be effective and keep our classes engaged. The kids are a joy to be around and the teachers are appreciative of our help, and we thank them for being so welcoming to all of us.

After, we ate a beautiful lunch with local hosts families. We exchanged stories about our culture and were able to ask all of our burning questions about different aspects of life in Ghana. We then conducted a model conference in which we debated about the effects that a proposed oil drilling operation would cause in the Volta region. We each portrayed different groups including global oil conglomerates, students, local farmers and fishers, and the Ghanaian government. Then, we spent time with local children at home base, playing soccer and drinking from coconuts among other things.

We ate another amazing dinner together and finished our night with a discussion about the dangers of stereotyping. We discussed how our perceptions of Ghana before we arrived were often based on stereotypes. Similarly, we agreed there were common stereotypes about each of our home countries that people in Africa are drawn into just as we are. We concluded that the best thing we can do to combat stereotypes is to try our best to not find things true until we have actually seen them for everything they are, not just the stereotypes we are so accustomed to hearing. Overall, we had another amazing day and there is much anticipation for the weeks ahead.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 22

Written by Meron and Isa

Today was a very eventful day. We started out by having our service in the morning. We made really good progress on the wall, and it is coming along well. After service we had an amazing lunch and then took time to hang out on the porch and make bracelets with the community children. Then we went to Xenui island and learned how to weave baskets for carrying money and mats for sleeping. We came back to home base to eat a delightful dinner and then started our last activity which was talking about our triggers. Then we ended the night with games of Down by the Banks and Musical Chairs.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 23

Written by Lou and Kezia

We started the day by waking up everyone by playing the drum and yelling «breakfast!!»

We had an amazing breakfast as always and went to church – it was some of us’ first time!

Church was loud and exciting, and we had a great time as women took us dancing and the Sermon was interesting to hear. After church we had lunch and time to play with the kids during which we made bracelets, danced, and played football. In the afternoon we went to the Host family’s houses and discovered what a Ghanaian household was like. After dinner we had a discussion on voluntourism. Overall, it was a great day!

~Lou and Kezia

BLOG POST FOR JULY 24

Written by Jordan and Donovan

This morning our group started off with a slow start. We enjoyed a nice breakfast and went straight to service. We had fun working on the wall that we´ve been building for the past few days. After working on the wall, we taught the students, who were prepared and excited to come back to school after the weekend. We then went back to home base where we enjoyed our break by napping, learning to wash our clothes by hand, and getting new haircuts. After everyone got back from their free time activities, we had the privilege to listen to Dr. Etoko Dupey about the history of Ghana and the hardships the country faced to get to where it is today. The rest of the day we spent talking and getting to know each other before ending the night with a movie about the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. We´re excited about the days to come!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 25

Written by Justine and James

Hello Families!

We started the day off strong with a continuation of the construction work we have been doing. Each passing day our progress and skills have drastically improved thanks to Wonder and Savior (the two locals teaching us the necessary skills)!

After a small break in which we played with the local school children, we were able to teach our classes once again. Each day is better and better, getting to know our students and adapting to their needs!

Once we finished eating a wonderfully tasty meal at homebase, we piled up into the bus all the way to Keta. There, we had a guided tour of the Keta Fort, a stronghold where slaves were held before being transported. We were guided through the history of the fort along with each individual room. We learned that part of the fort was flooded due to the rising tides of the nearby coast, which was fixed by a rock wall donated by the US government.

We then were able to explore the beach a little further down the coast. We went to a local beach vendor and bought various drinks such as Coca Cola or Fanta. We had lots of fun running along the waves and sitting on the sand.

We ended the day with a discussion with Dodzi about education in Ghana and a retelling of his own life story.

Overall, this was another incredible day in Ghana!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 26

Written by Meron and Angelina

Today began with a short breakfast of omelettes, toast and some watermelon sliced into rectangles. Due to a field trip involving the students of our respective classes, we didn’t teach today. This allowed us to wake up at 8am instead of our usual 7am, which had us out of the door by nine. Service was as usual with the mean jobs being mixing cement, placing mortar, and carrying bricks.

Lunch consisted of fries, chicken, and a selection of vegetables and took place at the regular hour. We had a spacious schedule today, allowing us to spend a nice amount of time conversing and spending time with one another.

At 2pm, we were treated to a cooking class hosted by our kitchen staff. The meal of choice was a native dish called Red Red. Aside from the helpful directions and occasional intervention by staff, we chopped, stirred, and fried everything ourselves. Red Red includes tomatoes, onions, plantains, and carrots (all of which were sliced by us) and other miscellaneous ingredients including the main ingredient black-eyed peas.

After enjoying a well deserved portion of our hard work, we again had free time. Many of us played with the local children from the village, who came to the home base to play with us. Later, we took them to the beach and, although we got slightly wet and sandy, we enjoyed it and the children enjoyed it, so I’d call that a success. Following a quick shower, we had a dinner of beef fried rice with pineapple and settled down to discuss our imminent departure for Ho.

We ended the evening with a documentary about the struggle and importance of girls’ education. It told the stories of 9 underprivileged girls from around the world with one common goal. To go to school. By the end we were ready for bed and said goodnight.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 27

Written by Written by Lou and Justine

We started off the day with service, some shovelled a trench to build a new part of the wall while others were building the part we had already started. We are amazed at how tall it´s getting! We then happily went back into the classrooms to teach. After a delicious lunch, we went to a high school for a football match which, we are proud to say, we won! Finally, we ended the day with fun communication activities. Overall, it was a very good day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 28

Written by Kezia and Maddie

Today we woke up to the sound of drums at the early hour of 7am. Once we had risen from our slumber, we had a wonderful breakfast. We got ready for service and left at the usual time. For service today, we started a new portion of the wall in a different area, which involved lots of concrete carrying, as some of us continued on the other section of the wall. Once we had wrapped up the wall building and had time to play with the kids, we got changed and taught our respective classes.

After lunch, we had some downtime before heading to the market, where we played a scavenger hunt game. This game involved a shopping list in Ewe, in which we had to talk to locals to translate and hunt down the items. We also got some shopping time at the end.

At 3:30, we went to the high school, where we got to talk to other high school students and then do some fun games and activities with them! We came back and some time to pack for our weekend trip to Ho, and then ate dinner.

The evening activity consisted of learning about the Ghanaian funeral ceremony, which was very interesting. We ended the day with Wi-Fi time, and then bed. What a day!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 29

Written by Jordan and Whip

This morning the group woke up a little earlier than usual. We got up and started our journey to Ho. We arrived in Ho and got straight to the fun experiences. We stopped at a market to buy plenty of snacks for our stay, and we were even able to find some ice cream sandwiches! For our first activity in Ho, we learned about the history of Kente weaving and got to try our hand at it. After we left the weavers we arrived at our hotel, just in time for lunch! After lunch we explored the hotel, played on the playground, and found all different kinds of animals, some we had never seen before. Everyone was excited to jump in the pool, but first we had to take a swim test. Luckily everyone passed and we all were able to have a good time swimming and talking by the pool. Before dinner, a lot of us spent time in our rooms and getting to know our way around the hotel. At dinner we enjoyed pizza, pasta, and watermelon, among other delicious foods. So far, we love Ho!

BLOG POST FOR JULY 30

Written by Lou and Donovan

Today was our second day in Ho, we had the chance to learn how to make the typical cloth called Batik. Batik is made by applying prints dipped in wax on white cloth and then dying it. For lunch we tried the local Fufu, which most of the students found very spicy. After lunch we went on a beautiful hike in the jungle. It was an amazing experience with a super cool thunderstorm! We quickly arrived at the waterfall. There we went on a very fun swim. We walked the end of the hike under pouring rain which made it very fun. On the way back we stopped by a craft market with very beautiful art and jewellery. Overall, it was a fun day, rich in emotions and laughter.

BLOG POST FOR JULY 31

Written by Angelina

Our last morning in Ho was spent relaxing in the hotel until it was time to gather our things for our return to home base. We started the day with a breakfast of both hot and cold options and a 10am swim session. Lunch was equally as tasty and immediately afterwards, we began the around 3 hour drive.

Having stopped twice, we arrived back at home base and were greeted by seamstresses and a sea of clothes for sale. We collected, reviewed and paid for our clothes that we had previously ordered before digging into the piles.

The night came to an end with a final activity involving writing nice messages to each other to be read at a later date.

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 1

Written by James

Today we started the day off stronger with breakfast, eggs, toast and fruit, before heading off to volunteer for the day. Like typical, we started with the construction of the wall by creating cement and adding rocks into it to create a base layer for a new section of wall we are creating. Using the trench we dug out a few days ago, we continued to fill it, preparing for the process of layering bricks. We also started to carry some bricks to the trench to make it easier to fill up later in the process. After, we taught all of our students teaching them as best we could.

Once we got back to homebase, we had a quick lunch before a local hair braider came and braided some of our hair. She was extremely nice and braided three people´s hair. After that, we had our main afternoon activity which was a photo scavenger hunt. The three teams got a list of photos with specific objects or people that had to be included in them. We had to walk around the local community and ask about our list and where to find items or if it was okay to take pictures of people.

After a break, we had dinner proceeded by our nighttime activity “trash your values” where we had to write down our top ten most important values. Slowly we had to shrink our list, by eliminating, swapping with a partner, or reviving some values until each GLA student had three values left on their paper. Overall, today was an exciting day and we are all excited for what tomorrow has in store for us.

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 2

Written by Whip and Maddie

Today we woke up at 7:00 AM and got ready for breakfast. After breakfast we got ready for service. Today’s service was a lot of brick carrying and cement making. We all worked hard today, and it was cool to see our work paying off.

After service we played with the kids before getting changed for teaching. Teaching was so much fun, we are really starting to build a relationship with our students. After teaching we headed back for lunch and then went to visit the chief.

We had an inspiring conversation before heading back for dinner. After dinner we played volleyball before the night activity. Today’s night activity was all about goal setting both as individuals and as a team. Overall, we had a wonderful day and we can’t wait to do it again tomorrow!

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 3

Written by Kezia and Whip

Today we woke up with the knowledge that today was our last day of teaching, so we were all feeling a little down and sad about saying goodbye to the kids at the school. After breakfast, we had service, and then had playtime with the kids before we taught. We got lots of hugs and goodbyes, and it was very sweet, although sad! We came back for lunch at noon, and then about an hour later, we left for an island that we got to by boat. The island was very nice and relaxing, and we had fun swinging in the hammocks, playing volleyball, and swimming in the river. We had a fun afternoon there, and then took the boat back and arrived at home base for dinner. In the evening we had time to prep for the talent show which is tomorrow. Today was a mix of emotions, although it was sad saying goodbye, it was an exciting and eventful day.

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 4

Written By Justine and Isa

Yesterday, we started off the morning by waking up an hour later (8am). We went to service to continue building the wall. Then we came home, had an amazing lunch, and played with the kids for a while. After that, Makafui Awuku, founder of Mckingtoch Africa, which is a brand that makes stuff out of recycled items, came to talk to us about his mission. We built a Christmas tree using used plastic bottles with him. Finally, we had a talent show where everyone performed a talent, which led into a dance party that ended the night.

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 5

Written by Jordan and Meron

Today was a chill day. We started off with our last day of service, which was sad, but we did some great reflection on all the memories we´d made together. After service, we came back home to a wonderful lunch before a few hours of free time to play with the local kids and relax. We then got together as a group to talk about what we could do to help this community that we have come to love. We explored options like sponsoring kids by paying for their school fees, raising money to pay for school supplies, and much more. After that, we went to the beach where we played sports and enjoyed the music with the kids. Later, we came back home to enjoy a delicious dinner and ended the night with a super fun bonfire! We´re all so sad that this trip is coming to an end, but we´re making the most of what’s left!

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 6

Written by Lou and Grant

Today we were able to wake up later as it’s Sunday! After a good breakfast we left to clean the beach beside Home Base. It is common for women in this community to carry baskets on their heads while their child is strapped to their back. That said, this afternoon we tried the same. This task was quite difficult and no one from the GLA group was able to replicate the art of this task. Before the start of the next exciting activity, we got to play with the children from around the village and had to say our final goodbyes. We had one final chance to practice our Ghanaian dance moves with a local traditional music group.

After this amazing activity, we got dressed in our local Ghanaian attire that was tailored to us by a local tailor. Then we attended our final dinner which was great because the dinner included great food, music, and quality time with our friends, before we depart tomorrow. Our final activity was very heartfelt, which was a displayed the appreciation and gratitude we had for each other. Finally, we enjoyed a movie together. This trip has been great and we were all glad to enjoy one last moment of conversation and quality time between the amazing people we met through GLA.

BLOG POST FOR AUGUST 7

East or west, home is best. Departure day had finally arrived and the west was calling. Breakfast was served at 9am thereafter students did their final round of packing. Lunch was served early and this time in the summer hut. Time was moving fast and by 11.50 am all was set for departure. The students did a detour at the Anloga Avete School to say their last goodbyes. The atmosphere was filled with emotions for about an hour. It was a bitter sweet moment for both GLA students and Avete students. At 1 pm the journey to Accra begun and after 3 hours we were in the city. As a tradition, we visited the craft market to grab some souvenirs with the last coins remaining from our stay in Ghana. Thereafter went to Accra mall to have our last supper. It was no surprise that we missed American food. Pizza and fried chicken were top on the menu.

7pm we set off for kotoka airport. It finally downed on everyone that our stay in Ghana had finally come to an end. GLA staff and students alike were overwhelmed with emotions as we saw each other off probably for the last time or with the hope that fate would reunite us in the future.

To the students this was an epic experience of 3weeks of adventure. As the curtains close for the season, we applaud all the efforts and skill that made the summer worth remembering.
To all the students and staff, best wishes in your future adventures.

Your GLA Ghana Team,
Dodzi, Maggie, Stephen, Wisdom and Eugene

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