What inspired you to work for Overseas Project Initiative?
I draw a lot of inspiration from meeting people from all over the world. It's wonderful listening to their story, their motivation, and what makes them happy.
Describe a typical day at work.
My day begins at 8am at the office. I check and respond to all emails, update project information online, meet with other staff to discuss their work schedules till 11am. I then spend the rest of the day visiting volunteers and interns and their host family for feedback.
Alphones Acheampong with volunteers and staff members
Why do you do what you do?
I do this work because I want to be part of the incredible experience of volunteers and interns. I want to advertise my beautiful country to the rest of the world and, most importantly, become an agent in my community.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Welcoming arrivaling volunteers at the airport with a big smile, taking them for orientation of the local area and helping them overcome the cultural shock.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
It's vital that prospective volunteers and interns get the right information for their pre-departure preparations and also while in Ghana about the culture and Ghana as a whole. My background helps me to provide the right and useful sets of information and explanation so as to help them prepare and manage their expectations so they have a great time in Ghana.
With Team TAD 1 and ready for anti-malaria campaign in Dzogadzi
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
The practices such as the use corporal punishment in schools as a way to maintain discipline is the most difficult challenge. Many schools in Ghana especially the ones in rural communities still engages in corporal punishment even though its abolish by law in Ghana. Canes are used to punish stubborn students.
I organize regular workshops to discuss the alternative ways of maintaining discipline in classrooms without the use of canes. Volunteers are invited to share some of the methods used in their various countries with staff.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Medicine & health care internship in Ghana. This project is available to all students and professional in the medical field who would like to get hand-one experience working in hospitals in Ghana.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Be open-minded. Ask alot of questions about where you would like to visit, especially questions about the culture and history. Apply a lot of common sense when it come to your safety and security whiles in Ghana just as you would in any country or big city.
What makes Overseas Project Initiative special?
Our organization is managed by local staff so every time a volunteer or an intern signs up for any of our projects, they are investing in our local community to help reduce poverty and make dreams come true for our local staff, schools, hospitals and care centers where they are placed.
Why should someone choose Overseas Project Initiative over competitors?
Our prices are cheap compared to most of our competitors. Our staff are highly motivated, our programs are well-planned and also exciting. And our ultimate goal is to ensure our participants get credible experience and recommend Ghana to the next traveler near her.
What hopes do you have for the future for Overseas Project Initiative?
The future will be exciting. The plan is to open up new destinations in the coming years to provide more choices for our participants and enhance their experience.
A work visit to a teaching placement
Are there any developments with Overseas Project Initiative that you would like to share with us?
We have entered into an MOU with our partner Ghana Health Service that as part of our community outreach we will educate people about the need to take covid-19 vaccine. There is still resistance by many Ghanaians to take the vaccine due to high illiteracy and inadequate information by the government on covid-19 vaccination.
What makes Overseas Project Initiative easy to market to potential participants?
For each of the projects we have a detailed description and the role of the volunteer or intern to help prospective participants manage their expectations. We also have some beautiful pictures of volunteers in action.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
We are here to provide our cherished participants with Ghanaian hospitality and to provide them with safety and all the support they will need to have an incredible experience in Ghana. We are currently running our partners in a refresher course on our volunteers program. For example, host families are being trained on feedback discussion from volunteers like what to do when volunteers are sick, or have an item stolen on a weekend trip.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
An opportunity to build a network of friends from different countries. Participants also become culturally sensitive and thus it helps them to be the best of communicators. Again they get to witness and experience the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality.
Routine visit to hospital placement to check up on our medical and healthcare interns in Ghana
How do you help support participants?
Through our host family system, participants get to live with a family whose job is to make you feel at home and ensure they are safe. They also cook and teach how to make some Ghanaian food. This gives the participant the peace of mind for their trip.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It's always fun to travel abroad whether the purpose of the trip is to help, learn, or explore. Experiencing new cultures outside our comfort zone makes one learn a lot and grow in confidence.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It's when travelers go beyond just being a tourist but engage in volunteer activities or internships that have the capacity of impacting positively on the lives of others and improving our own lives.
How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
We have strict compliance to the covid protocols. And since the safety of our participant is our top priority we have devoted a page on our website to update them on all covid-19 protocols for both arriving travelers and departing travelers.