Rethinking Volunteering: Why I Wouldn’t Do It the Same Way Again

When I first decided to volunteer in Ghana, I was full of hope and ambition. After traveling through Indonesia and Australia with nothing but a backpack and a camera, I knew I wanted my next adventure to be different. Hostel hopping had become too fast-paced, and I craved something deeper—a connection with the people and the culture of the country I was visiting. Volunteering seemed like the perfect way to achieve that.

But my experience in Ghana didn’t go as expected. It was rewarding in many ways, but it also made me question the traditional approach to volunteering and why I wouldn’t do it the same way again.

The Volunteer Program: What Works and What Doesn’t

At first, joining a volunteer program seemed like the right choice. These organizations offer support, helping you find your feet in a foreign country, which can be especially valuable in a place like Ghana—far less tourist-friendly than Southeast Asia. And for those who have never traveled solo, this structure can be comforting.

But I soon realized I didn’t need as much hand-holding as I thought. I found my way easily, and although some of the other volunteers struggled emotionally and culturally, I quickly adapted. Many of them had come with expectations shaped by social media, like one girl who chose Ghana because she’d seen it on TikTok. The reality, of course, was far different from the polished 10-second clips.

The Conflict Between Helping and Tourism

One of the biggest issues I faced was the disconnect between the program’s mission and how we lived as volunteers. During the week, we were there to help—working with children, trying to make a difference. But on the weekends, many volunteers spent money on guided tours and enjoyed tourist activities. It felt like two completely different worlds that didn’t really go together, especially since our focus was supposed to be on helping the community.

This inconsistency was troubling, but it wasn’t the worst part.

A Cycle of Dependency

The real problem became clear as I spent more time with the children. I stayed longer than most volunteers, which gave me a chance to form genuine relationships and understand the dynamics at play. Many of the kids didn’t open up to short-term volunteers because they had seen too many people come and go. To them, the volunteers were temporary, and often seen as sources of material goods rather than real connections. New shoes, school bags—these things became expected gifts with each new group of volunteers.

This cycle created unintended consequences.The children started to depend on these gifts, and the value of the items decreased. This caused waste, and more importantly, it led to jealousy and even conflict within the community. When something broke or was lost, it didn’t matter—they knew another volunteer would soon replace it. For the local staff, it was frustrating to watch. They believed that responsibility for these things should lie with the parents, but because the items weren’t paid for with hard-earned money, the sense of ownership was lost.

What struck me most was that this cycle was creating more harm than good. It fostered dependency rather than empowerment, and the real needs of the community weren’t being addressed. The volunteers felt good about their contributions, but the impact was superficial.

Where Does the Money Go?

Another issue was the financial structure of the volunteer program. We paid a significant amount to be there—about €200 per week. Yet, local workers who earned a fraction of that were often the ones buying materials for the children. It raised a serious question: where was all the money going? It wasn’t being reinvested into the community in any meaningful way. The local staff worked hard but were underpaid, and the funds we contributed didn’t seem to benefit the people we were there to help.

How Volunteering Can Be Done Right

Despite these challenges, my time in Ghana taught me valuable lessons. I don’t regret going, but I wouldn’t do it the same way again. The experience made me realize that if we truly want to help, we need to rethink our approach to volunteering.

It’s not enough to show up for a week or two, hand out supplies, and leave. Real change comes from empowerment, not charity.A friend once gave me an analogy that stuck with me: If you go to Africa and build a well, it will eventually break, and the community will be back where they started. But if you teach the people how to build and maintain the well themselves, they’ll not only have a lasting resource, but also the knowledge to repair and improve it in the future. That’s where real impact lies.

Moving forward

The lesson here is simple but powerful—education and empowerment are the keys. Volunteering should be about sharing your skills and supporting the local community in a way that fosters independence and growth. Learn from the people, lead by example, and you’ll create something that endures long after you’re gone.

With this mindset, I’m returning to Ghana, but this time my focus is different. I’ll be supporting a local organization with my photography skills, training local photographers, and showing them how to build a sustainable career in visual storytelling. I’ll also be working with a local surf club, documenting their work to help elevate their visibility and attract further support. It’s about showing them what a professional workflow looks like, how determination shapes success, and providing them with the tools to continue growing long after I’ve left. This time, it’s not about what I can do for them, but what we can build together.