Akua's time with CHF

Being a recent university graduate in the field of International Politics, I was keen on getting some valuable experience to aid me in taking the next step in furthering my education and career in International Development; and from my research it appeared that CHF Ghana would be an appropriate starting point. My experience with CHF began in January 2012 and lasted for one month and it has been a teaching one. Through field visits and the opportunities to liaise with various offices of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, sub-metropolitan officials as well as various communities, I experienced directly from the IncluCity Project, the complex work and patience required for the initiation of a project. I not only participated in some of the groundwork of IncluCity, but I also got to dabble in the Youth Engagement in Service (YES), which is a Youth Employment project focused on tackling the solid waste management problems in Accra. With this project I went into some of the operational communities and observed firsthand, the positive impact of tangible change and how important the sustainability of a project is to a community. I got to also observe some of the outcomes of the Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene for Urban Poor (WASH-UP) Project and how imperative behavioural change activities are in changing the mentality and effecting change in communities. I witnessed the importance of a good partnership in the relationship between CHF and local NGO partners in implementing the various projects; the level of capacity CHF staff had to provide technical support and training, and the dedication from the partners. I was great to see in the workshops I attended, the level of commitment and perseverance from both CHF and the local partners. I wish CHF Ghana and the staff all the best on its projects; I commend everyone on all their hard work. It’s been a wonderful experience, mainly due to the delightful company of the staff! I’ll miss you all. Akua Serwah Asubonteng