By Casey Doherty, guest blogger
This is a modified version of a post written for the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs.
When I arrived in Ghana, I had no idea what my semester would look like. What classes would I take? Who would I spend my time with? Perhaps the most important question for me, at least, was what will I fill my time with? I quickly joined the University of Ghana’s swim team,
which was a fun and new way to make local friends. It helped me grapple with how and where I could take up space while living abroad. I had a blast, but I wanted to fill my four months with something more.
I was not sure about volunteering. I have studied the effects of voluntourism—volunteering typically done by white westerners, often in developing countries. The service period is short and largely meaningless—the example most often given is a group of white students teaching at a local school, playing with children, and leaving abruptly a week later. I thought deeply about my reasons for choosing to study in Ghana, and more than anything else, I did not want to feel like or present myself as an American coming to Ghana to “fix” or “save” anything or anyone.
I was approached by the founder of an organization that seeks to provide safe spaces for local children to read, complete their homework, and play sports. I was wary—I didn’t want to contribute to voluntourism and incorrectly feel as though I was “making a difference.” I considered the positions available and asked if I could help coach a local girls’ soccer team. Though unsure at first, I decided that four months was enough time to make a genuine connection with the children I interacted with. I was providing a skill, and I was the only female soccer coach, a fact that made the girls I coached significantly more comfortable. I finally told myself that maybe I could make a small difference during my time in Ghana.
Soon after I joined the nonprofit organization and began coaching, I assumed the role of head coach for a team of 25 girls—an incredibly fun, albeit stressful gig! Before practice, I asked each girl if she had had a good day at school and to please tell me one thing she learned. The girls groaned at the questions, but they always answered, and they always remembered something significant they had learned.
I lived in Ghana for four months, and I constantly considered my place as a temporary volunteer in my temporary home. Was I serving my new community appropriately? I by no means “fixed” or “saved” anything. I provided a skill and had fun with 25 girls who brought joy to every practice. I hope I did the right thing.
I’ll be honest—I never considered my involvement in any service activities in the United States this deeply. Now I know I should. We should all strive to thoroughly consider our involvement in any community. Are we bringing a skill to the table? Are we understanding the very small role we play in making our communities, nations, and world a better place? I really like a simple line from an article about volunteerism: “Be aware of your presence and your impact, and be realistic about your work.”
I highly encourage Georgetown students to mindfully and ethically seek involvement in their new communities while studying abroad. Think about the space you are taking up. Depending on where you are living, think about your various identities—your race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, and more. Consider your motivations for getting involved. Sometimes, just have fun! Join an activity, team, or organization that makes you smile and introduces you to new people. Full immersion comes from putting yourself out there, so be on the lookout for ethical ways to get involved in your new community. Ask your on-site study abroad program advisors for recommendations. Attend club fairs, if your new school offers them. Look online for organizations near you. Ask local students what they are involved in. Upon finding things you might be interested in doing, be critical about how you might affect these organizations and the people in them.
My community involvement while studying abroad helped me think intentionally about where and how I should dedicate my time. Volunteering has always been a part of my life, but I now have a deeper understanding of how I should approach volunteer work. It’s necessary to avoid a “savior complex” and think about how your identities will affect those around you. It’s important to consider power dynamics. I am grateful for the opportunity I had in Ghana to explore how “making a difference” in a new community can be done intentionally and ethically. I’m looking forward to employing the lessons I learned in life back in D.C.
