I will Learn to Understand than to be Understood : Reflections from my Volunteer Journey with the International Citizenship Service (ICS)
Some journeys transform you so deeply that they become part of who you are. Volunteering with the UK Government's International Citizenship Service (ICS) program in 2015 was one of those journeys for me. I joined the program after hearing incredible stories from friends who served in Cape Coast and Abrobiano in the Central Region of Ghana. I was driven by a desire to grow, to serve, and to make a meaningful contribution to a community I had never known, and in the process, I discovered more about myself than I ever imagined. Livingstone and his colleague participated in a cultural dance during a community entry event. I was placed in a farming community in Adaklu in the Volta Region, where I worked alongside both Ghanaian and UK volunteers as part of the pioneer cohorts of the ICS volunteers in the area. We focused on livelihoods, working closely with women and youth groups, the District Assembly, community leaders, and local organizations like the Anfoe Youth Network. Our goal was...