Alumni Interview with Clara Ela

What inspired you to travel abroad?

I had just graduated high school and had no idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I didn't want to continue studying right away and decided to look for volunteer programs around the world, to help people while getting to know different cultures.

I wanted to experience the world outside of the protective sphere of my parents. I had only travelled around Europe, and I had no idea how truly lucky I am to be born in a country inside the European Union until I got off the plane in Accra and saw how truly different the living conditions are across the world.

Why did you choose Atlas Volunteers?

I knew I wanted to work with children in the classroom and Atlas Volunteers had just the program for me. Many other organizations asked for great monthly fees to be paid, but as I was a student I could not afford such a sum.

I didn't need a placement that would take care of everything for me, I had no problem with cooking my own food and doing my own laundry, I just wanted to make a difference without emptying all my savings.

I started looking for more affordable programs and stumbled across Atlas Volunteers—it was all I needed.

What was your favorite part about Ghana?

If I had to choose a favourite part, I would say the children. They were playful, loving and hungry for knowledge. No matter how hard their personal conditions, they always came to school with a smile.

Some of them were great troublemakers, but one adorable smile my way and I couldn't stay angry at them! No matter how many different schools I visited, they always welcomed me with open arms and beautiful smiles.

They were the hardest to say goodbye to, and the main reason I want to come back.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

There were so many different factors that contributed to it. First, the local people, kind beyond measure and always willing to share their culture with us. Also, the other volunteers, no matter our different backgrounds, with them I formed friendships that will never break.

Meeting people who are as committed as you are to helping others always gives you a tremendous amount of satisfaction, and knowing that even though each of us came from different countries, we all had the same goals. That made creating bonds really easy and natural.

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?

The Atlas Volunteer team were there for me in every step of the way, whenever I needed them. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for their help and support.

They were always available on the phone, and often stopped by at the house to check on us, recommended places to visit, or just talk to us about our general experience. We had meetings every once in a while to solve any possible issues or relay any feedback we had for the organization.

For me, they were not just employees of Atlas Volunteers, but part of my family from Ghana.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

I wish I had found time to visit Kakum National Park while in Ghana; other volunteers told me it was impressive. It is a national reserve that contains and protects many different animal species, and I really wish I had travelled there.

Aslo, I wish I had decided to stay in the mountains (in the volunteer house) during the Christmas holidays, to see the Festival that takes place. However, these are now just two more lines on my long list of reasons to come back.

Other than that, I cannot think of any other regrets of my stay.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

We woke up in the morning and had a quick breakfast before the driver came to take us into the school. Once there, we went to our assigned classes and taught alongside the teacher until break time.

We spent the break playing with the kids or just sitting around and talking in the shade if the sun was too strong. After break, we came back to class and continued with the lectures until the bell rang again, and our driver came to take us home.

The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent walking around town, talking to the locals, playing games, or reading at the house.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

I enjoyed the most the weekend-long trips we made to visit different locations. The trips to the coast, to Kumasi, or Lake Volta. Ghana has so many beautiful landscapes to admire, and the fact that they are mostly free from normal tourism makes them all the more attractive in my opinion.

Mainly, I enjoyed meeting new people from different cultures and having long conversations about how each of us saw the world and how we were going to change it. So, talking with others, both the natives and my fellow volunteers, that was my favourite thing to do.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

We lived in a house with the most incredible view I have ever seen, a beautiful valley covered in different shades of green. The house had three bedrooms, a huge livingroom, a kitchen, and a terrace.

It was located within walking distance of the town, and was really peaceful. What I enjoyed the most was the huge terrace, overlooking the valley, and with a roof to spend hours talking or reading in the shade.

On the ground floor, a woman named Gertrude lives with her two adorable sons. She is a teacher in one of the nearby schools, and prepares some of the most delicious Ghanese dishes I had the pleasure to eat.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

Pepease is located in quite a remote area. You won't find big cities close, only a few towns and lots of wild, beautiful nature.

You won't find there the usual means of entertainment that we are used to, but will have to look for new ways to pass the time: exploring the towns, talking to the locals, playing games... At first, it might seem difficult to find things to do, but once you forego your traditional ideas for entertainment, you realise there are actually tons of things you can do in the area.

And if you are craving some more "western activities" you can always walk up to Modak Hotel and take a swim in the pool!

Would you recommend Atlas Volunteers to others? Why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend Atlas Volunteers and their programs. They were there for me at every step of my experience, I could count on them for anything, not just as members of the organization, but as friends.

Furthermore, they are deeply committed to the whole area, which means that you won't stay in the same school during your whole stay, you will move around and help out in different schools. 

It may seem difficult at the beginning, especially saying goodbye to the kids every once in a while, but you later realise that you are actually making a greater impact that way.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

Without a doubt, the chance to know different cultures from the inside, meeting new people and forging friendships that will last for the rest of your life.

Not travelling abroad implies missing out on all the different cultures and traditions from around the globe. We might see images of distant places, but nothing will ever compare to the real feeling of seeing these places with your own eyes, talking with the people who live there, and asking them to share their history with you.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

I decided to go volunteer abroad because I wasn't sure of what I wanted to study in the future. After coming back, I knew my goal in life would be to promote change and solidarity in the world; I am now studying Global Studies with that goal in mind.

My experience in Ghana helped me understand what really matters in life, and thanks to that I was able to choose a career path that I truly love. That will allow me to pursue my goals of a world in which solidarity and equality are core values for all of us.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

For me, it means being able to make a difference while you travel and get new experience. To give something back to the community that is taking you in.

There is no comparison between the way of traveling that I had enjoyed before, during vacations with my parents, and the way of travelling that my experience in Ghana helped me discover.

I believe all the new places we visit leave a mark, however its size, on us; but for me, meaningful travelling means also leaving a piece of you in those places too.