PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
- We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.
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
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BLOG POST FOR JULY 9
Hello friends and family of those joining us for this 14 day programme in Ghana!
Yesterday we got to meet 4 of our students who arrived early – it was wonderful to hear Homebase full of noise again – before welcoming the remaining cohort today.
Those who arrived yesterday and on the morning flight wasted no time getting stuck into life in Asitey by hosting football games with the kids and many of the girls recovering the honorary flower crowns!
A huge well done goes to the later arrivals of the day- with them holding strong for everyone in the group to arrive. Luckily we managed to get the Spain Vs France to watch up so their was some mild soccer/ football entertainment!
Now everyone is here and with us we can’t wait to kick off the programme tomorrow and see all that these next two weeks have to offer.
Mia, Ghana International Director
BLOG POST FOR JULY 10
Mohee from the cloudy hilltops of Asitey!
Today marked the official beginning of Session 2 and we kicked things off with a very active orientation. The students were off to a great start, partaking in numerous ice breakers whilst also asking many questions and displaying an eagerness to know more about the Ghanaian culture they are about to immerse themselves in.
Lunch was a welcomed break in orientation and we all delighted in the delicious flagship Ghanaian meal of Jollof and chicken with sweet pineapples as the fruit to round off our meal. We then continued with our regular programming where we did a deep dive into the leadership elements of a GLA programme before having an engaging session on Krobo and Ghana!
After orientation, the students met with a local seamstress who will be making clothes for them. It was great to see students getting stuck into the process- having their measurements taken and choosing beautiful local cloth fabrics and designs. This activity not only introduced them to the vibrant textile culture of Ghana but also allowed them to take home a piece of local artistry as a keepsake from their stay.
The students then headed off to Asitey Park to play with the local kids, which was definitely their favourite activity of the day. The highlight of today’s park session was the intense volleyball match where our young leaders partnered with the local players to showcase their amazing skills.
After a hearty dinner, the students participated in the “Social Sync” anchor activity which helped them reflect on disconnecting from their phones and social media to be present in their leadership journey.
Finally we closed off the day with an introduction to mentor groups. Mentor groups will be a key element of the students journey’s – a space to share and reflect on what is happening- as well as having fun and forming a bond with their fellow students.
Everyone is in excellent spirits and excited about what lies ahead in the coming days!
⁃ Ali, Ollie and Ritchie, GLA Ghana Mentors
BLOG POST FOR JULY 11
Good morning GLA parents and friends,
We at Krobo Ghana hope you have had an excellent day and have many more to come much like the amazing experience we are having here.
Today was the second day after arrivals and already we are becoming a close knit community and working well together. As you may expect this day was jammed packed with activities and we will try to summarize them for you the best we can.
First we went down to breakfast for a balanced meal of traditional foods one of which was similar to a donut ball. We quickly ate before going to see the service sites for the first time.
Not only was the walk there eventful with us seeing many fun things like two goats head butting each other but the community was excited to see us, often waving and calling out. Arriving at the achools we were met by kids who were ecstatic to see us and they came to us in swarms to meet us and introduce each other.
Back at home base we recharged with a quick lunch before collectively deciding how to split ourselves amongst the two service sites. The local kids then arrived and we played with them, participating in activities like football (soccer for those in America) and hair braiding.
After this we were all quite sweaty and returned back for showers and dinner. We also watched the Tedtalk “The Danger of the Single Story” which if you haven’t seen we all recommend that you watch at some point and talked amongst ourselves about it. We had time to reflect on it before going to a bonfire where we danced the night away.
Chloe, Madoc and Xzavier, Leaders of the day
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
Good morning from the beautiful region of eastern Asitey.
We woke up this morning to a bright sky, and local music from a nearby church. For breakfast we had a traditional porridge blend, before we headed down to our job site. We loaded four very heavy bags of cement into two wheelbarrows and pushed them down through the park to the school under the watchful eyes of Sam, our foreman.
Upon our arrival, the children greeted us with bright smiles and many high-fives, before vigorously helping us shovel sand into wheelbarrows. Shortly after we finished mixing the concrete, Papa Henry stopped by to deliver tools, a pleasant surprise. We spent the rest of the morning leveling a perfectly flat foundation as children watched with curiosity, played football (soccer), or learned new subjects from other members of our group.
After a very fulfilling meal, our group spent time learning a dance to be performed later. While chaotic at times, our group had a lot of fun, dancing around the dining hall.
Next, we spent a half hour learning how to clean and mill maize from Lartey, one of our local mentors, something we thought was very interesting and worth knowing. Shortly after, we left the homebase to visit our host families where we were taught songs and parts of the Krobo language by older locals. We began to learn a song for church which was difficult though rewarding. Shortly after, the children led us to the park where we played football and talked more.
Shortly after we had a less Ghanaian meal of french fries and grilled chicken before resting.
To finish the day, Papa Henry came with his drum for the naming ceremony. We dressed up in authentic dress and put on blue and white body paint before warming up with a dance and music. The ceremony that followed was incredible. Papa Henry had a unique story for everyone, with each story matching the person perfectly. After, Nama Ana tied beads around our wrists, though when the beads occasionally fell, the bearer had to dance with Papa Henry, a tradition that brought laughs from the crowd.
Shortly before bed, we got access again to the tuck shop and bought unique snacks.
Ellie, Keanu and Ridley, Leaders of the Day
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
Hello to GLA friends and family!
Today was a beautiful day in Ghana, and it was filled with endless adventure.
We kicked off our day with a delicious breakfast which consisted of vanilla and chocolate pancakes, cornflakes, bread, watermelon, and juice.
After that, we immediately got ready for our hike at Boti Falls. We collected our “W.I.T.S” (water, insect repellent, toilet paper, sunscreen), and we were off! When we arrived, we did a group stretch to loosen up for the hike. The hike took us through cocoa fields, through caves, up steep stairs and all the way to the famous umbrella rock with views over the valley below. The hike was tough, but we all made it to the top and enjoyed a scenic view.
Our hike was then followed by a delicious lunch of chicken and rice before heading to the waterfall. After walking down over 200 stairs, our group made it! It was worth every last step. We got lots of pictures to capture the moment, and then headed back to home base.
When we got to home base, we had a nice break to chill and play with the kids. Our dinner was fantastic. It included pasta, sausage with curry sauce, fish, and pineapple. Before lights out, we sat down for storytelling by Henry. We learned a lot, and it was very inspirational.
I ta mo ama, and good night!
Kiera, Lena and Jasper, Leaders of the day
BLOG POST FOR JULY 14
A big hello from humid, cloudy Ghana!
Today we had a later start to the morning with a breakfast of oats, bread, and fried eggs along with some fresh juices.
Soon after we got into our Sunday best and followed Papa Henry to the church. Once there we heard loud, traditional music and participated in some dancing. We were kindly welcomed into the community after each saying our Krobo names and singing a local church song (in Krobo) that we learned in from our host families a few days ago. After that, we heard a beautiful Amazing Grace sung by our very own Trinity, who bravely stepped up to preform solo in front of the community.
After a wonderful church service, we walked back to home base for a fulfilling lunch of traditional omotuo (rice balls) paired with peanut butter soup and a side of watermelon. Nana Ama showed us how to eat it using our hands.
After lunch Lartey showed us the second step in the milling process which was re washing the corn which had been sitting in the bucket fermenting in water. We are very excited to see the final result and give to our host families in a few days.
We then had some down time to get ready for our debate. We had a group debate on the topic of oil drilling in Ghana. We had four groups which included the oil company, the government, the fishers and farmers, and the nonprofit organization. After heavy debate, we reached a consensus and all agreed on action to take on the matter. We then met in our mentor groups for a short time to discuss how the debate related to leadership skills.
We eagerly headed to Asitey Park to visit with the kids and play games. Madoc played in a volleyball game, Mya got her hair braided, and Pablo and Jaspar created a song for the kids to sing.
We then went home for a shower and ate a dinner of noodles and chicken. After dinner we had a chill night of downtime, movie, or the Euro finals projected on the big screen. Excited for our first day with our service sites tomorrow!
Claudine, Mairead and Molly, Leaders of the day
BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
Today was our first day officially teaching at our service sites. At Sunnydale elementary we started our day moving piles of building rocks and sand to start a foundation of cement.
After that we began teaching. 3rd grade learned about the human body and space. 4th grade learned about living and non living things. 1st and 2nd grade did a word search and 5th grade learned about the environment and how to care for it. Mr president (aka Ritchie – GLA Mentor) wants the readers to know that he single handedly made the class great with his humor. At 10 we had our first break of the day and all the kids played together and ate rice for lunch.
After lunch classes continued and the kids had a little less energy. Particularly in 4th grade when a boy took a nap during reading time. When the school day ended hugs were given and everyone was excited for tomorrow.
At Asitey elementary we started off doing service by carrying 60 blocks of cement so we could start the foundation for a new classroom. After a short break, we separated our group to teach different classes, we all worked on forming bonds with the kids by introducing ourselves and practicing engaging activities and ice breakers. With that we said our goodbyes and did a quick feedback circle of how the experience was and how we can make it even better tomorrow.
After lunch we had dance practice and got half way through our song. The song in question is Waka waka by Shakira. After dance practice we separated into host family groups. We learned the days of the week, numbers and body parts in krobo.
Our night was filled with immense joy after experiencing the captivating cultural dance of the Ghanaians. Their performance was truly exceptional, showcasing vibrant costumes, rhythmic movements, and the powerful beats of traditional music. The dancers’ energy and passion were infectious, drawing everyone in and creating a sense of unity among us.
Through their thrilling performance, we were not only entertained but also given a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Ghana. This shared experience brought our entire program together, fostering a deeper connection and appreciation for the beauty of Ghanaian music and dance.
Caroline, Giovanna & Orly, Leaders of the Day
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Hello and happy Tuesday from Ghana!
We started the day off with pancakes, wheat porridge, and mango juice before we headed off to our service sites.
Sunnydale got started on their construction, extending the concrete playground floor before carrying out their lesson plans which went very well.
Asitey school began placing there cement blocks making a wall before teaching their grades, it went very well!
We then headed to Cedi beads and made our own beads which was very fun. We made 2 different beads, one of them was made with powdered glass and when it is fired it will look like clay. The second type of bead we made was with shards of glass and when fired it will look more like a glass bead. There was also a shop that many people bought bracelets and necklaces from.
And finally we came back to the house, went to the park, and showered. We had a chow circle at 6:15, where we reflected on the day, and then ate dinner around 6:30.
Finally we headed upstairs and did some group activities and games and ended the night after that!! What an amazing day!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
Hello from our last Wednesday in Ghana!
We started our day by going to our designated schools to teach and do our service. At Sunnydale we added more concrete to the outer area, forming a walkway, before everyone did an amazing job teaching and had a very successful learning day.
At Asitey we continued to build up the foundations for the new school room floor before heading over to Glorious School where we taught students fractions, energy, science and sang a lot of nursery rhymes with the younger children!
We made the trek back home and got to try the local dish of fufu for lunch! We loved it! After lunch we took a little break to recharge before going straight into Batik and Hawking. This is where we learned how to make wax prints on clothes and how to balance various items on our head. It was very challenging but lots of fun!
To conclude our night we had yummy chicken for dinner, everyone cleared their plates. And before bedtime we met with our mentor groups to add to our leadership skills by completing a set of questions to determine what type of leader we are!
We had such a fun day and can’t wait for tomorrow!!!
Xoxo,
Carly, Lucy, & Trinity, Leaders of the Day
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Good morning from a hot Asitey!
This morning we started the day with French toast and then got right to service. At Sunnydale we continued to work on the flooring in the front area, and then after we got to teaching 1-5th grade.
At Asitey, we continued our construction of another room for the schoolchildren. Sammy helped us support the corners of the foundation and Lartey was a big help. We then headed over to the Glorious School to finish our last real lesson of the program before our goodbyes on Friday.
When we got back to home base, we were greeted with lunch and then were pleasantly surprised by a 2 hour break in which most of us used to have a nap! When it was over, we took time to perfect our dancing skills to Waka Waka.
To end off the day, we visited our host families again for a surprise Krobo test and to learn a little more. We got to play a little with the kids after and they got a brand new soccer ball from our heartfelt donations.
After showers we had dinner that was pasta and chicken. For the rest of the night it was pretty chill. Some people watched Toy Story 2 and some people went to bed early.
Love from Ghana,
Sasha, Peter, and Susannah.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
Hi Friends and Family!
Today was a jam packed day! We started the day off early with a nice breakfast of oats and pancakes and then headed out to our service sites for a final goodbye to all our kids. A few tears were shed and hugs were exchanged and at noon we said goodbye to come back to home base and each lunch.
After lunch we all took some time to rest before we did our final dance practice and then sat down with Papa Henry to listen to his stories on Krobo history. We learned a lot about mountain ranges and how this part of Africa came to be. Then, we went to the park to play with the kids. When we got back to home base, we took showers and had dinner.
Afterwards, we danced outside with the community and learned some fun moves! It was a lot of fun, and we really bonded with the community. Everyone had to go up and dance and show the dance moves that they taught us. After this great experience it was about nearly bedtime so we headed inside and some of us were enjoying the last couple days of bonding as the little family that we have become over time.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Today was a day of a lot of emotions for everyone, which we kicked off by having delicious fruit and cereal for our last breakfast here as a group. After breakfast we quickly got prepared for our very deserved resort visit as a group. The car ride was fun and all of us very much enjoyed the facility.
Whether is was playing games in the pool, playing football on the fields with other people who were also there or having a big volleyball there with a star appearance from Nana Ama we all enjoyed ourselves a lot until lunch time. After a great lunch of rice and chicken it was time for our very awaited dance performance with cameras filming. Then some of the group enjoyed a lovely boat ride with the rain taking across the prettiest river in Ghana with a beautiful view of the Atome bridge.
After the boat ride is was time to start heading back to say our final goodbyes to the kids to touched all of our hearts in the past 2 weeks of being in this program. These kids won all of our hearts with their smiles laughs and all of the incredible moments that they each shared with each one of us who spent time with them. After a lot of repeating themselves the mentors finally got all of us back into home base and ready to change into our clothes for the fashion show with all of our incredible traditional clothes that we picked out in the beginning of the trip. With every walkout was a different display of stunning clothing made by people here in this amazing country.
After the fashion show it was time to shower and get ready for the appreciation circle. This circle was kicked off with an amazing video made by Mr Ritchie who put us all the right mood the upcoming activity.
The appreciation circle was nice and heartwarming because everyone felt appreciated for who they were in these two weeks with the people that they lived with. After a lot of ups and downs emotionally it was time to wrap up our last day here in Ghana with some final chill time until our lights out which we all enjoyed and cherished spending it with the friends we made along the way.
Kiera, Pablo and Xzavier, the final leaders of the day!
