FROM FRUSTRATION TO ULTIMATE FULFILMENT

Will Szalay (2014) dreamed of volunteering in Africa whilst on a university semester abroad to America in 2016. Originally wanting to join the Peace Corps, but discovering it was only available to US residents, Will finished his business degree but felt no motivation to use it. During a particularly miserable part of his life, Will decided it was finally time to pursue his dream. In this article, Will talks about his experiences and what led him to GVI Ghana.

CASSIE TWEMLOW Former Communications & Marketing Officer

For as long as Will Szalay loved the idea of volunteering internationally, he has always wanted to go to Africa. Currently working as GVI Ghana's Participant Compliance and Welfare Officer, Will reflects that he was motivated to go to a place where he felt his impact would be maximised – a place that “needed the help”.

Western media has the tendency to paint Africa as that location most in need.

Advertising slogans referencing the ‘starving kids in Africa’ and charities depicting sickly, malnourished children may be accurate but can also be dehumanising.

“There are no doubts about the lack of facilities and resources,” Will says.

“[But] approaching these issues in such a manner perpetuates the idea that these communities are backwards and beneath us, unfairly disregarding the vast aspects of the culture that should be admired, even envied, in some respects, rather than pitied.”

Now that Will is in Ghana, he says that reality paints a different, more vibrant, picture.

“At any given time and place, you'll find kids dancing together on the streets as music is playing and the locals go out of their way to make you feel welcome; inviting you to join them for food and wishing to be your friend.”

Compare that to the ever-increasing isolation, anxieties and disillusionment of the western world – particularly after the impact of COVID-19 – and it almost begs the question of which community is more in need of support.

Considering this, Will expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to be a guest of the Kokrobite community, working with GVI Ghana – an organisation that helps to empower the local community to secure the knowledge, resources and support they require to access quality education, healthcare and an improved standard of living.

Will says, “When you consider the sensitivity of working with children in any environment you have to be extremely considerate. Add to that dynamic the challenges of navigating a foreign culture, the vulnerability of many locals and the lack of access to adequate educational and medical resources/facilities and it becomes even more difficult.”

On top of that, volunteers delivering the programs are decidedly passionate but largely unqualified in the specific fields within which they work. This promotes the concept of 'voluntourism' – a label for promoting international volunteering as an opportunity to travel overseas, work a little, party a lot and feel good about yourself. Will says this is, “abundantly prevalent, and it's easy to understand why there has been a lot of deserved criticism surrounding international development and the damage that it can cause."

Will’s original role of Education volunteer – supporting kids with reading, writing and maths – has transitioned into a staff role where he ensures that GVI Ghana operates to the highest possible standard in the scheme of all these complex moral, ethical and philosophical debates, and that their participants have the best experience they can.

Starting in March 2022, Will helped to create and coach girls football teams in two of GVI Ghana’s partner schools.

“I'm also particularly proud that I coached a boys team to a fantastic upset victory over a much larger rival school,” he says.

He also designed a proposal to address waste management in the community and ran environmental education classes, a subject particularly relevant to Kokrobite as it is a coastal community heavily impacted by rising sea levels.

Will explains that most of the work undertaken by GVI Ghana is preventative and knowledge-sharing - teaching people how to fish rather than giving them fish.

“We're currently based in seven schools around Kokrobite, where our participants educate students about issues pertaining to our program areas of Women's Empowerment, Education, Environmental Education and Health and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity,” Will says.

To donate to the GVI Gender Equality, Public Health and Welfare in Ghana:

To donate to the GVI Early Education and School Development in Ghana:

Speaking honestly, Will says it's a tough job.

“The matters that we deal with can be emotionally, mentally and physically draining. However, it's also fulfilling in a way that's hard to put into words. The love, joy and affection that you receive every single day from the community and particularly the students keep you going, and I feel truly privileged to be a part of this.”

Will currently has no plans to return to Australia – he bought a one-way plane ticket – but says that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he will never forget.

“I can't recommend this enough, both in terms of the community impact and the personal growth and perspective shift that an experience like this allows. From my time here, I was able to find a level of fulfilment that was sorely lacking from my life, alongside discovering skills and passions I didn't know I had.”