From becoming part of a Ghanaian family to volunteering with young people in Accra, EIL Explore 2026 winner Christina Healy shares her experience of six unforgettable weeks in Ghana, the people she met, the lessons she learned and the memories she brought home.
Hello! My name is Christina Healy, and this year I was lucky enough to be sent to Ghana by EIL/AFS as part of the Explore 2026 programme.
My time in Ghana was full of new experiences, challenges, friendships and opportunities to learn. It was a journey that took me far outside my comfort zone and one that I will never forget.
Finding a Home Away from Home in Accra
I started my time by exploring my new home in Accra City. My lovely host mother, Mama Love, welcomed me into her home and her family. I spent lots of quality time with her, her children and especially her grandchildren. We loved to play games, go for walks, learn about each other’s cultures, listen to music and dance. I will admit I mainly watched the dancing! I still remember the first breakfast Mama Love made me. I felt so looked after that first morning, coming to a new country so far from home.
After that, most mornings I had a breakfast that reminded me of home, which was always accompanied by a malaria tablet! My host mother also made me lots of traditional Ghanaian meals, including fufu with light and okra soup, omo tuo, goat stew, banku, fried rice, jollof and fried plantain. One of the most memorable cultural experiences during my stay came when my host family unfortunately experienced the death of a close family member. They asked me to join them at the funeral and experience a Ghanaian funeral.
It was very different from an Irish one. There was singing, dancing and lively music. It felt like a real celebration of life. We also ate and talked together throughout the day.
It was clear to me how important music, laughter and a strong sense of community are to people here.
Six Weeks Volunteering with Future of Africa
I spent six weeks volunteering with Future of Africa, a non-profit organisation that works towards transforming the lives of children and young people living on the streets. My work involved spending time with teenagers and children who previously lived, or currently live, on the streets, building trust and connections. I also helped the organisation work on a business model for a new social enterprise they are developing. Creating business models was something I had done throughout my college degree. It was brilliant to be part of this work and to see how my degree could be used in the non-profit sector.
Finally, I taught life skills classes to three graduating students to help prepare them for life after Future of Africa.
We played, danced, laughed and had conversations I will never forget.
Discovering Ghana’s Culture and History
I also got the opportunity to travel around Ghana and explore places outside Accra. I visited Achimota Zoo and saw animals I had either never seen before or never even knew existed!
I went to the National Museum of Ghana, where I learned about Ghana’s different tribes and cultures. I also visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where I learned about Ghana’s first president and his important role in the country’s independence. I travelled to Cape Coast to visit Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, two locations with a deep history connected to the transatlantic slave trade.
It was incredibly difficult to learn about, but I felt it was an important part of Ghana’s history to see and understand.
Exploring Ghana’s Natural Beauty
One of the highlights of my travels was getting to experience Ghana’s incredible landscapes and wildlife. I walked the canopy walk in Kakum National Park and did a small bit of hiking up Mogo Hill, where I saw a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. We also went to Shai Hills Resource Reserve, where we visited a monkey sanctuary and got closer to wild baboons than I ever thought I would!
I learned so much about the wildlife and landscape of Ghana.
Finally, I visited the Volta Region, where we had some lovely food before heading off on a boat tour of Volta Lake. The scenery was beautiful, and it was a lovely way to experience another part of Ghana.
A Journey I Will Never Forget
My time in Ghana was full of ups and downs. It was both challenging and beautiful, and I experienced things I never expected to. Being immersed in another culture and getting to experience something like this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will never forget my time there, the people I met, the things I learned and how much I grew as a person. I came home with a better understanding of myself, a greater appreciation for what I am capable of and memories that I know I will carry with me for a very long time.
As you can see in my video, my tour guide on one of my trips showed us a quote that really meant a lot to me:
“The secret to life is to have no fear.”
And after my experience in Ghana, those words feel more meaningful than ever.
Christina Healy was one of EIL’s Explore 2026 winners. Through her experience in Ghana, she had the opportunity to immerse herself in a different culture, contribute to the work of a local organisation and develop a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her.
Watch Christina’s video below to experience some of the highlights of her journey in Ghana.