A Day in the Life of a VIMA Volunteer
Hi! I am Susie, but at VIMA Children’s Home I am known as “Mama Susie”! I want to give you a glimpse into a day in the life of a VIMA volunteer and I hope that it will fire you up to make a visit to Ghana and spend time with the beautiful children at the orphanage. The work can be tough as a volunteer, but it is some of the most rewarding work I have ever done.
Days at the VIMA orphanage are always filled with activity. The children are up early so there’s a lot of time to interact with them. I bring tons of stickers and the kids will put them all over their face and clothing, which is a little day brightener.
Sometimes we need supplies for the work we plan to do that day, so we travel to a larger town, grab those things, and come back to get to work. We helped to erect a classroom on one of our visits and everyone pitches in; the children help by carrying cinder blocks on their head, while the young men are digging trenches and laying concrete. It is definitely a team effort and everyone is so happy for the improvement we are making that they are all smiles!
On our last visit in January 2022, the library had just been built and we focused our energies on decorating, painting, stocking with books, and cleaning the ground around the beautiful new building. The next trip we plan to work extensively on the large garden that will help defray some food costs, and landscaping around the existing buildings to continue making this community feel even more “homey” to them.
When we finish our work for the day, it’s time to eat a simple meal and enjoy the children! They have regular dance parties and we will often treat them to some ice cream or other goodies. By the time you go to bed it’s pretty easy to fall asleep!
Four years ago, my husband, Steve, and I wanted to be adventuresome and learned about this opportunity to help some children in need in Africa. Well, from the moment we entered their isolated village in Ghana and saw 60 or more children running to greet us, I was hooked! Yes, they were orphans, and they had next to nothing, but you will NEVER see happier children anywhere! They clung to us the entire time we were there and gave us constant, unconditional love.
Like most people, I always thought it would be great to be able to go somewhere and make a difference. I have found that place for me. I hope that others who read this will consider going there, too. It is absolutely life changing, and I plan to make this trip until I can’t physically do it anymore. Please give it some thought—you will NEVER feel more loved and appreciated than you will if you choose to get involved with the VIMA Children’s Home..
