There are trips that go according to plan – and then there are trips like this one. Our journey to Ghana was originally scheduled for January 2nd. On the way home from the consulate, my passport was lost during the postal process. It was Christmas, the authorities were closed, and it was simply impossible to find a solution. Bad timing, you could say. My flight had to be rebooked for January 9th, without knowing if I would even receive a replacement passport and visa in time. At the last minute, I managed to get an emergency passport and visa in Hamburg – all at the very last minute, but fortunately, it was a success!

The journey to Brussels began with a snowstorm, which made me increasingly concerned. When we arrived at the airport, we were processed safely, but the entire runway was already covered in snow – and it didn’t stop snowing. Some flights were canceled, and we had to brace ourselves for the possibility that we might not take off. But finally, after two hours of de-icing the plane, we took off into a calm flight. The adventure continued.

Our layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was far from relaxing due to the delay. We missed our connecting flight to Accra and found ourselves in the middle of the night at Addis Ababa Airport – with a hotel stay offered as compensation. So, we spent the next day in Addis, where, despite the many circumstances, we had the opportunity to explore the city and experience a bit of Ethiopian culture, like freshly prepared traditional coffee.

After a long day, many impressions, and a missed flight, we finally arrived in Accra at 6 a.m. But the chaos continued: our luggage was stuck in Ethiopia. By this point, we could only laugh about the situation. But at that moment, we had to make do with what we had – and it was clear that we had a trip full of surprises ahead of us.

It wasn’t until the next day that we could somewhat recover and began tackling our primary goals in Ghana. My initial plan was to conduct training and medical examinations for over 1,000 children at three schools. However, due to the delays, we had to adjust the plan. Instead, we used the time to further develop the concept, have discussions, and make new contacts.

During our stay, we wanted to visit various clinics in Kasoa, so we selected a few facilities in the region. By chance, we ended up at the Bethel Clinic. Dr. Prince, a young and dedicated doctor, showed us the clinic, which operates under extreme conditions – there was a shortage of almost everything: suturing materials, emergency medications, and even basic equipment like a defibrillator. What we did find, however, was a doctor passionate about medical education in the region and willing to collaborate with us. We discussed our plans and quickly realized that we are working in the same areas.

In the following days, Dr. Prince took us to other clinics in the area, where the conditions of the facilities varied greatly. During each visit, we created a detailed record of the clinics, listing the primary needs of each facility. In total, we were able to visit six clinics that require support. For each clinic, we now have a list of missing equipment and materials, which we will take back to Germany to organize targeted donations.

The visit to the Kasoa Polyclinic, which we visited on the last day of the trip, was the highlight. Here, we were finally able to hand over the much-needed medical supplies we had sent at the end of last year. It was touching to see how the clinic has developed: From initially having only three beds in the emergency room, there are now nine beds, and the equipment has significantly improved. However, many areas are still underfunded, particularly the maternity ward, which urgently needs a gynecological chair and a functional sterilization device. The clinic plans to expand and set up a children's ward and an operating room, but once again, all materials are still lacking.

In addition to visiting the clinics and talking to the local people, we also visited the schools where the first training sessions will take place. The need for health education and support is enormous. School fees cost parents a lot of money, which is reflected in other areas – most children are uninsured, and medical services must be paid for out of pocket. We are planning to introduce insurance options in collaboration with the schools. In discussions with the teachers, new dates for the training sessions were set for after the Easter holidays, and we were able to determine which topics are most relevant. The teachers are now supporting us in developing the concepts so that we can implement them directly with them.

During the visits, we also learned about the challenges the schools in Ghana face. One particularly interesting conversation was with a mother whose son was born with physical disabilities. She had struggled with many schools to secure a place for her son – a situation that we cannot ignore. We want to incorporate this story into our project and think about how we can develop a long-term inclusion strategy for children with disabilities.

What did I learn from this trip? That not everything always goes according to plan – and that’s okay. Sometimes life leads us down detours that not only bring us new solutions but also unexpected encounters and valuable experiences. Although we didn’t achieve everything we had planned, we know that every step we took in Ghana made a difference.
We are back in Germany and already planning the next steps. Flights for May are already booked, and we still urgently need donations of money and goods to support the hospitals and schools. One thing is certain: This journey taught us more than we ever expected, and we are grateful for the chance to work with all these wonderful people.