Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

I thought all you world travelers and future world travelers would like this video. It seems like Matt from the video may have traveled to more places than our founder Dr. Peter Slowe but I would wager that Peter is probably a much better dancer.

Team preparing for a game

By David Flaschner - Academy Director, Ghana.

Having volunteered at Cantonments Football Club for three months at the start of the year through the Projects Abroad Sports program, the chance to continue working with the boys was too good to turn down. I took on the role of Academy Director with a great deal of excitement and a healthy dose of fear - sure, I’d coached football before, but never actually been in charge of a club. What was I letting myself in for?

We set out to provide a coherent structure and quality coaching for boys aged 7 to 18 as well as an excellent opportunity for volunteers to work with some of Ghana’s brightest young talent. We’re still in the early stages, but from the reactions of our first few volunteers and my own personal experience, we’ve achieved much, much more.

Training starts early - 7:30am sharp on Monday morning where we put our senior players through their paces with Head Coach Amando’s grueling conditioning session. Volunteers are welcome to take part, but in my experience, it’s tiring enough just watching them from the sidelines! Thankfully, the players are given the afternoon off to recuperate, but the programme is back in full swing from Tuesday, with further sessions every morning incorporating small-sided technique games, tactical drills and match practice in preparation for the weekend league matches.

Player cleaning his kit at the Team HQ

Most of our volunteers prefer to work with the junior players and we have Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s and under 17s to choose from. Each team has a dedicated pair of coaches who are happy to run the whole session and have you observe or take a more back-seat role, depending on your preference. I am always around during training to lend a hand, along with my assistant Rama, who originally founded the club 8 years ago. Our aim is first and foremost to educate the children, but anything we can teach you or you can show us along the way is an added bonus. These training sessions run at the more civilized time of 4:30pm, leaving you time during the day to work on training plans or just explore Accra to your heart’s content.

Of course, the real fun begins on match days - this is, after all, what we train for! Our teams are renowned for playing exciting, attacking football so we draw a decent crowd both home and away. Volunteers are welcome to referee friendly matches and supervise from the bench during league play. Our seniors play in the Ghanaian Third Division and the juniors are part of the Colts First Division. This means that there is always a home and away match at the weekend, providing plenty of opportunities to visit different areas of Accra and experience the sights and sounds of a vibrant football scene. Obviously, we realise that not everyone wants to give up their weekends for football matches, so no demands are placed on volunteers to attend. All we care about is you having a good time while you’re here in Ghana!

Some future national side players?

So after a long week of training and matches, the only thing left to do is relax with a satisfying Ghanaian meal. That’s where Cantonments provides something a little bit special. Most of our boys grew up and still live within 5 or 10 minutes of our pitch, meaning there is an incredible community atmosphere surrounding the club. We frequently hold meals for volunteers and staff cooked by our resident chef Lydia (Rama’s mother). Previous volunteers (including yours truly) have also attempted to cook for everyone with some pretty decent results so far. This is just one example of how Cantonments differs from many other clubs in Ghana. There is always someone around, day and night, so if you want to just hang out at Rama’s house and help the kids with their homework, or go with Coach Kofi to buy supplies from the market, the choice is yours. In return, we are able to provide a football education for over eighty boys, keeping them fit and healthy and hopefully offering them a chance at a glittering career and a future full of opportunity.

The one and only Rose

Last Thursday we were summoned from our offices by Director Peter Slowe to celebrate Rose Yelland’s big birthday. We enjoyed a champagne toast and Rose received a massive bouquet. She was seen leaving the office like a moving flower display.

We were not told how big the birthday was. I don’t think it was 18 or 21. Scott Mcquarrie was even seen to be suggesting Rose might have been 30. The answer remains a mystery.

Rose is a lady of many talents. As well as keeping the marketing department in order she plays a mean game of badminton and outshines everyone in the UK office. Pabbu from India reckoned he might be able to match her but suffered like the rest of us. Rose even has similarities with Margaret Thatcher. In the past she used to keep Denis Thatcher (Margaret’s husband) in order when she worked with him.

She is a font of many stories which keep the marketing department amused. If you have a chance ask her about her exploding kitchen. Assisting coordinating our representatives at different universities across the UK Rose is normally up with the gossip of who is going out with who and where people are going on holiday. Coordinating our many visits to schools and universities I am frequently greeted by a careers assistant asking is Rose not coming looking disappointed at the arrival of myself.

Oko from Mongolia and Catalin from Romania are both big fans of Rose’s cooking. She cooks a mean curry. Her steaks are well loved. Oko in fact loved one of them so much he went back for a second one!

Happy birthday Rose! We have our investigators out counting the numbers of candles on the cake.

- Ian Birbeck

We have a record number of volunteers heading to India for our 2 week summer special programs for high school students. While the farthest I went on my high school summer vacation was to Chicago it is surely a sign of the times as well as my age that younger and younger volunteers are going further and further afield in the world for volunteering and community service and this is a great thing! Zanique went to India with us last year on a 2 week summer special program and wrote in with some really helpful advice and some things to expect. Do any other alumni have some advice for the new volunteers in India this year? - Will

Volunteers with some children

By Zanique Albert

My experience with Projects Abroad in India was one of the best in my life.
I learned more than I ever thought I would, saw some amazing places and
things, enjoyed some wonderful food and returned home with new friends. I
was lucky to have such a terrific experience, and there are some things I
would recommend to anyone traveling there now.

I have seen many impoverished places and come face to face with incredibly
hard-to-stomach situations, that said, India was still shocking and
difficult to adjust to. I would recommend that any volunteer keep an open
mind and embrace the experience. Most likely you will be with other
volunteers adjusting to the shock as well- so you aren’t alone!

Zanique with a patient

I felt incredibly safe the whole time, though the program does a wonderful
job of transporting volunteers and giving them instructions on proper
behavior for Indian culture, I found that one of the more proactive ways of
feeling safe was wearing traditional clothing. Wearing the conservative
clothing was comfortable in the heat, respectful everywhere I went and a
good conversation starter. I have blonde hair and blue eyes, so it helped me
fit in too! One item I couldn’t have gotten by with out was a shawl/scarf. I
also ended up letting my roommate borrow one a lot. It was great for
covering your mouth on a dusty rickshaw ride, for covering yourself in
temples and in public, and for shielding spontaneous monsoons.

The doctors gain a respect for you if you express interest in their lives
and their profession, and in turn let you in on more experiences. Many
people I worked with invited me and other volunteers into their homes to
meet their children and have chai or dinner. So make sure to be friendly
because that is a wonderful opportunity!

Volunteers on a weekend excursion

In conclusion, my experience was wonderful, after 9 weeks in India ( 4 with
projects abroad) I was ready to return home to my family. Being away from
the usual comforts gets tedious, and though I was ready to return, I would
go back in a heartbeat. Best wishes in your travels!