Katelyn's Service Trip to Ghana
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I am a second year student at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Allendale Michigan and am currently working towards a degree in Occupational Therapist. I attended grade school at St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield, IL. In 6th grade we had a visiting priest with us from Malawi, Africa, and his stories led me to making a promise to myself to go to Africa to lend a helping hand in any way that I could.
While I was In high school at Providence Catholic in New Lenox, my cousin traveled to Ghana and spent an entire summer working with children in an orphanage. His stories reminded me of the promise I made to myself only a couple of years before.
Now, it is my turn to travel abroad. Studying abroad was always something I knew I would like to do, but the program I have been accepted into is so much more than just travel.
About My Service Trip:
The program I have decided to be a part of is a 7-week service trip affiliated with the Non-Governmental Organization called Challenging Heights. GVSU sends 15 students to the coastal city in Ghana called Winneba, through the Grand Valley Ghana Honors Service Learning Program.
Each summer the students work with Ghanaian youth at the Challenging Heights Hovde House. The Hovde House is the first point of refuge for rescued children, offering a transitional home for holistic rehabilitation, survivor support, aftercare, and love! Hovde House holds up to 60 children, ages 5-18, and provides counseling, preparatory literacy programs, health care and human rights education before being re-integrated into their families.
While I was In high school at Providence Catholic in New Lenox, my cousin traveled to Ghana and spent an entire summer working with children in an orphanage. His stories reminded me of the promise I made to myself only a couple of years before.
Now, it is my turn to travel abroad. Studying abroad was always something I knew I would like to do, but the program I have been accepted into is so much more than just travel.
About My Service Trip:
The program I have decided to be a part of is a 7-week service trip affiliated with the Non-Governmental Organization called Challenging Heights. GVSU sends 15 students to the coastal city in Ghana called Winneba, through the Grand Valley Ghana Honors Service Learning Program.
Each summer the students work with Ghanaian youth at the Challenging Heights Hovde House. The Hovde House is the first point of refuge for rescued children, offering a transitional home for holistic rehabilitation, survivor support, aftercare, and love! Hovde House holds up to 60 children, ages 5-18, and provides counseling, preparatory literacy programs, health care and human rights education before being re-integrated into their families.
Organizer
Katelyn OGrady
Organizer
Plainfield, IL
