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| William |
Hello, could you introduce yourself?
Could you take us back to the days you started working with ICYE?
How has your work been afterwards?
What do you like most about your job?
In what kind of project do your volunteers work? Has a new group of ICYE volunteers started recently working in your projects?
What kind of volunteers would you like to receive? / Is there a perfect volunteer profile?
Did you have new workplaces joining in ICYE programs this season?
Yes we had a programme with European Voluntary Service. The programe was based on promoting voluntary service and the impact of volunteering.
I am William Gordon Acquah, a Ghanaian and National Correspondent for ICYE. I volunteered in Switzerland from August 2003 to July 2004. I started working with ICYE GHANA after my exchange year from Switzerland. Its been a wonderful experience and a privilege working with ICYE GHANA since 2005.
It all started when I was working as a young marketing executive in a manufacturing company . I was engaged in lots of global issues as to how to penetrate into a new market and getting to know much about country , lifestyle, culture, attitude and other demographic factors. Based on that, i travelled to Switzerland to do voluntary with the intension to be exposed and learn different culture and work ethics. I was involved in taking care of kids who are aggressive and have learning challenges. It was a great pleasure for me to contribute to the development of my team through volunteering because the impact was visible. There are three elements that permitted me to succeed in life through volunteering: passion, determination and patience.
Upon my return to Ghana, i was made a contact person to some volunteers. After some time, based on my personal experience, i decided to work with ICYE GHANA . I officially started working from February 2005 till date.
How has your work been afterwards?
It has been a learning and teaching experience which can't be quantified. There has been challenges but, above all it's a great learning experience. I'm still waiting for the best to come.
What do you like most about your job?
It's always a great joy to work with volunteers from all over world. I really enjoy the personal engagement that i always have with my volunteers. It's heartwarming if volunteers see that, you are also there for them. ICYE is also a training centre or avenue for personal development. it also affords me the opportunity to establish contact with volunteers all over the world.
Our volunteers work in schools, orphanage, also with street children, With physically challenged people and at crèches.
We currently have volunteers who arrived in August 2014 and are doing their voluntary work in Ghana.
We don't believe in perfection in voluntary service. It's the willingness and the ability to provide service to humanity. There are situations which calls for specialist or special skills in discharging of duty but we don't team it as a perfect volunteer. We run an exchange program with people from all walks of life with different attitude, lifestyle, culture, beliefs, etc. Culture is dynamic and we don't expect all to fit into single situation or case.
ICYE GHANA host volunteers from the ages of 18 up to 45 years. We are also willing to host volunteers who fall out of our target group. We are very flexible with the age limit.
Did you have new workplaces joining in ICYE programs this season?
Yes we had a programme with European Voluntary Service. The programe was based on promoting voluntary service and the impact of volunteering.
Which are your wishes for the future co-operation between organizations?
We wish to partner with other organization who are socially conscious and are ready to serve humanity and assist in providing peace to world.
If you could now travel as an ICYE volunteer abroad, to which country would you prefer to go to?
Been a volunteer, it is a nice experience and if i have the opportunity to do it again, i would love to experience Madrid, Tokyo and Auckland in New Zealand.
With best regards,
William
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My name is Adeolu Onamade and I am the National Coordinator of the ICYE in Nigeria.
Could you take us back to the days you started working with ICYE?
I started working with ICYE Nigeria in 1992 but then I became the National Coordinator in 1994. Then there were lots of problem with the old administration in Nigeria’s National Committee and the Federation Board wanted new management and administration and I was fortunate to be well positioned for these new challenges.
How has your work been afterwards?
The work has been very challenging but with a view of hindsight, I would say I was very happy for the support and encouragement we received from other NCs and partner organization. I think with a programme like ICYE one can not but appreciate the International solidarity involved.
The excitement is seeing volunteers that are fully immersed in their project and the cross cultural influences. The ongoing discovery that no two people are the same and the possibilities of confronting and resolving new challenges and conflicts with positive results.
In what kind of project do your volunteers work? Has a new group of ICYE volunteers started recently working in your projects?
We have projects basically with children in orphanages and youth reproductive health. We also have some in disadvantaged poor areas that lack basic amenities of life and basic health care system and are prone to various diseases. We work with organisations that provide these basic medical care for the people.
What kind of volunteers would you like to receive? / Is there a perfect volunteer profile?
I look forward to receiving volunteers who have an ‘open mind’ about Africa and Nigeria. There is no perfect volunteers Profile. The volunteer should of course be more than eighteen years old,. Maturity matters, volunteers who despite media influences and western preconceived prejudices are motivated enough to come and work in Nigeria with the trust that ICYE Nigeria will be there to enhance their experience and protect them.
Did you have new workplaces joining in ICYE programs this season?
Unfortunately no. There has been a decrease in the inflow of volunteers in the past years due to the insecurity ravaging the Northern part of Nigeria (i.e. Boko Haram).
Which are your wishes for the future co-operation between organizations?
I feel that ICYE programme is basically euro focused. We have Africans wanting to go to Europe on the volunteer programme. The same thing Asia and Latin America. I will be happy if we have more of other regions exploring the possibilities of the programme outside Europe. Thus Africans going to Asia and Latin America for instance will be one of my wishes on future cooperation within ICYE Federation and these regions also exploring the programme in Africa.
If you could now travel as an ICYE volunteer abroad, to which country would you prefer to go to?
Is this a fair question? Well, Spanish language has always been an attraction for me. I think I will want to go to one of these latin American countries because of the language and culture.
Kind regards,
Adeolu
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