Antoine Campbell from AECOM shares his experience of volunteering with our Building Better Schools programme in Ghana.

 

I was inspired to volunteer for the Sabre Trust as I wanted to help disadvantaged children in rural locations to gain a better future. This was my first visit to Ghana and I’ve had a positive experience which was totally unexpected. I was welcomed with open arms and everywhere I turned I saw a smile, which was refreshing to see.

I was involved in the construction of the school at OLA College of Education, where I helped with cutting the timber to the exact dimensions for the roof and helped to produce bricks from local materials. The highlight of my time in Ghana was engaging with the local community and participating in their activities, such as the dancing festivities and trying different types of national dishes.

I’ve appreciated the level of communication between the managers and the workers on site, which is very important for the project to develop effectively. The system they have on site is very unique, as they try to help develop one another, so therefore every employee will be proficient with the multiple skills they have learnt. From this I sense a close community spirit, where everyone is willing to help one another.

I would definitely recommend this experience to others because it feels great helping to make a difference and supporting this project. Not only will volunteers be gaining experience working on site in another country, they will also gain friendships and positive memories, which will not be forgotten.

Antoine Campbell volunteer on site at OLA

Antoine Campbell with Ghana site team