AN inspirational mum-of-two has finally fulfilled her 30-year-old dream to teach kids in Africa.

Lorna Veal, 51, realised a long-held ambition as she spent four weeks at a school in Kokrobite, 30 miles west of the country's capital, Accra.

The support worker says the experience volunteering has changed her life.

She said: "It was mind-blowing life changing experience in Ghana and was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

"The Ghana people are so welcoming and friendly and are so grateful for any help.

"I taught school classes and presented talks during the week and then the weekends were ours to explore and experience different regions of Ghana."

The trip had originally been planned for 2020 but it was postponed multiple times due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Lorna took out a consignment of donations she had built up before her trip.

She said: "I was able to go to Ghana with an abundance of donations of money, stationery, sanitary protection, underwear, books and clothing which were extremely gratefully received.

"I still can't believe it finally happened. I am so happy and grateful for the opportunity to make this life-changing trip."

Greenock Telegraph:

Lorna chose to teach children as part of a project with seven partner schools but found life very different from back home.

She said: "In Ghana basic education is offered by the state but is of very poor quality with up to 200 children of all ages in each school and only a handful of teaching staff, usually unqualified.

"I chose to volunteer my time, energy and expertise in a community development project which has ongoing goals to improve the overall area, set up in partnership with the poorest schools in Kokrobite.

"The aim of this project is to empower the young Africans with knowledge and skills that would not otherwise be available to them."

Lorna built up a great rapport with the children and received heartwarming letters of thanks that she has brought home with her to keep in a scrapbook alongside photographs as a memento of the trip.

During her stay she covered a wide range of topics including gender equality, gender-based violence, menstrual health, exercise and mental wellbeing.

She said: "This project offers the young Ghanians expertise and knowledge that will allow them to progress to further education and become career professionals in the future. Many of them aspire to be doctors, teachers and police officers in the future."

Greenock Telegraph:

The team also introduced basic computer skills for older children who were working towards their national exams teaching them to create email addresses and search for university opportunities.

Lorna said: "The students are desperately eager to learn and progress and are so thankful for the knowledge and support that they are receiving."

She was part of team of volunteers who came from all over the world, from as far afield as Canada, the USA, Australia and Latvia and they lived in a basic camp.

She said: "The majority of the locals in villages such as Kokrobite live in extreme poverty in very basic, crowded conditions.

"Power supply there is sporadic as is running water."

Lorna says she is thankful that she also got time to embrace the local food and culture in the evenings and weekends, completing a jungle trek in neighbouring Togo, sleeping in a remote hut in the mountains.

The super-fit mum also scaled Mount Afadjato, the highest mountain range in Ghana.

Lorna said: "I swam underneath the most stunning waterfalls, abseiled down a cliff-face to a remote beach,visited a monkey sanctuary and did canopy walking in Kakum National Park. Each trip was unique and truly memorable.

"I took surf lessons at sunrise on the beach in the village I was working in and watched the sunset every evening after the long, hot school days were over.

"I feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to make this trip happen.

"I am so grateful for my amazing circle of family and friends that supported me on my decision to go to Ghana."