As often happens in International Development, there have been some operational changes within the VSO-ICS programme. I will now be going to Ghana for my Team Leader placement*....

What?! Yep. Asamankese, West Akim, Ghana, West Africa. A mere 5,200km from home. 

When? still January to May 2017.

What? West Akim Livelihoods Project.

VSO is part of the international "Cocoa Life" project,  working with cocoa farmers in Ghana to improve incomes and enable communities to drive their own long-term change.

Working with local partners in the West Akim district, the VSO-ICS team aims to increase youth interest in agriculture, empower young people to increase skills such as bookkeeping and adopt innovative marketing to involve more people with the Cocoa Life project.

The team will be made up of 20 UK Volunteers and Ghanaian volunteers, staying with host families and joining the community in which we're working.

My role is Team Leader, primarily supporting the learning and pastoral care of both the UK and Ghanaian volunteers whilst they further the aims of the project.

To find out more about the amazing work being done by VSO and the opportunities given to young people by the ICS scheme, please look at the links below.

​http://www.volunteerics.org/vso-ics 

https://www.vsointernational.org/fighting-poverty/where-we-fight-poverty/ghana

The Cocoa Life website also has some super interesting information....

https://www.cocoalife.org/the-program

Thank you!

Mel :)

*Confused? Don't be. This happens all the time. The projects in Cambodia are on hiatus for now, and my skills are being utilised elsewhere.

**Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who has sponsored to get me so close to my target - your support has been incredible. Although the bicycle will not be used quite so much in Ghana, I am chuffed that I've finally learned to ride and will continue to try and improve my skills!