18 days.... 13 hours....:D

18 days until I turn 30... but only 13 hours until I begin my trip to Ghana. Boy has it come around fast!!!! I am leaving my house around 4am tomorrow to get to the airport where I will take a plane to Amsterdam, wait there for around 4 hours and then fly on to Ghana. I shall be arriving in Ghana sometime around 8pm tomorrow night (7pm here I think!). I will spend the night at the volunteer house in Accra then spend Sunday getting used to climate and my new surroundings and meeting other volunteers before being driven to my placement on Monday.

I'm very excited now but also quite nervous. I have been chatting to a few volunteers who will be starting at the same time as me, some at the same orphanage and others at different ones. I'm going to be placed at WORSCA orphanage in Dodowa, unless it gets changed at orientation on Monday. I've also been chatting to afew volunteers who are out there already so I will be able to get on to the internet at some point during my stay and update you all on my progress. Apparently the computers are very old and internet connection poor but I will do what I can. I have been learning the stories of some of the kids out there too and it's heartbreaking what these young children go through. I know this trip will be emotional and I'm sure I won't want to come back!

I have just finished packing my bag. It weighs a ton. My mum is on her way over with another suitcase for me as the one I planned to take has a dodgy zipper (I'm allowed 2 but I have so much stuff to take over that I may end up paying for another bag! we shall see) and scales used to weigh suitcases. We shall see how heavy it all is and work out if I can take everything. I've accumulated so much stuff from all the donations and all the things I've bought to take over. I didn't realise just how much until I tried to pack it all. Thanks so much to everyone that has donated both money and items for me to take. I really appreciate it.

I've not been feeling too well this week. Justin was ill earlier in the week and I've felt run down and sick the last few days. Feeling quite sick today but I am hoping its more excitement and nerves then any real sickness. I shall be topping up with vitamin C today and hopefully off out for a goodbye dinner with Justin tonight!

The next time I update this will be from Ghana. Thanks again to all those who have helped make this possible and given so much for the kids. I really am very grateful.

Talk to you all soon!

Corrie

26 days......

26 days until I turn 30.....9 days until I fly out to Ghana to start my placement. Received my placement details today. I am being placed at WORSCA orphanage in Dodowa which is about 45 minutes outside of Accra. I have heard from other volunteers that they haven't had any volunteers for awhile and ran out of food. The kids are in desperate need of food among other things. I can't wait to get out there now and do what I can to help. I think the money I've raised will go on buying food and any other essentials needed once I am out there. Please please keep donations coming in and help me to make a difference in these kids lives.

Had some more donations of shoes and clothing to take with me. Luggage is probably at it's limit now but please keep donations coming in. I can always pass things on to other volunteers heading out there too and cash donations will be a HUGE help in buying food and clean water for the kids.

I really really appreciate all your help and can't wait to show you where your money went.

Thanks to all of you that have donated and those still wishing to donate, please do!!

Corrie

37 days......

37 days until I turn 30... old age here I come!!....

I have just TWENTY days until I fly to Ghana... time has travelled really fast. I can't believe it's nearly here already!!! I am mostly ready though. I now have my visa, which I had no trouble getting other than long waits at the High Commission. I also have got most of the bits and pieces I need to take personally. Just need to pack it all. I've had another £75 of donations since my last post and a HUGE amount of clothes, books, toys etc donated for the kids. I definitely have enough to fill my suitcase and am hoping to get money towards taking an extra bag so if anyone fancies donating 200 euros, that's how much KLM are going to charge me for an extra bag. I tried to get them to allow it for free because it's for the orphanage but alas, they were not feeling charitable that day.

I was given some items which were not suitable to take over to Ghana so I have sold some of those on Ebay and raised another £25 which is great. I have so many books now and a limited luggage weight allowance so I will be selling some of the unsuitable books at my upcoming jewellery & massage party. All the support I have been recieving is amazing and I really appreciate it. I can't wait to get out there now and meet the children. Please please keep donations coming in and help me to make a difference.

I am holding a jewellery and massage party next weekend (31st October 2010) in Letchworth Garden City (The Guide Hall, Icknield Way, Letchworth) from 1.30-6pm. I will be selling jewellery from my shop (www.corriekay.com) and offering 15 minute mini massages in order to raise more funds for Ghana. As it's on Halloween there will also be face painting for kids so bring them along before going trick or treating!

I am getting very excited about the trip now and can't believe how fast it has come around. I have been in touch with several other volunteers, both past and future, and feel I have prepared myself. I am looking forward to meeting the other volunteers out there but most of all I can't wait to meet the children and do what I can to help their situation.

Thank you all for your time and donations. I really appreciate it. Keep checking back for updates and stories from Ghana and please share this blog and ask friends to donate. I'd really appreciate it.

Many thanks

Corrie

49 days.....no turning back now!

So there are now 49 days until my 30th and just 32 days until I fly out to Ghana. I am now much more organised. I have had my injections, sorted out clothing and malaria tablets and just have my visa left to get in the next week or two. Feeling much better about it all now I'm organised.

I had another £60 of donations since my last email appeal and then the tins at work raised another £50. I also had a very large donation of brightly coloured wool which I will use to entertain the kids and teach them to make bracelets or crochet. Another appeal email sent today with a list of items needed so hoping that will bring in even more! :)

If you would like to help but are unable to donate money then there are things that other volunteers and the agency have suggested I bring so feel free to donate these items and post them to me at Corrie Buckland (Ghana), c/o Claybury International, The Pixmore Centre, Pixmore Ave, Letchworth, SG6 1JG.

Items needed are:

• Children’s underwear & clothes
• Nappies, wipes and baby supplies
• Vitamins/ Calcium tablets (ones like sweets are good as kids think it’s sweets)
• Antibiotics/Antiseptics / alcohol, wipes
• First Aid / medical supplies
• Plasters (band aids)
• Medical Family guides
• Any books on health care relevant to Africa
• Hankies
• Electric/battery Razor for cutting kids hair

Items for entertaining/teaching/ treating children

• Balloons
• Toys
• Books
• Bubble Solution
• Face paint
• Stickers/Stamps
• Games (bingo, snakes & ladders etc)
• Pens/Pencils/ Paper/ Crayons
• Chalk / pavement chalk
• Sweets

Anything you are able to help with is very much appreciated. I can’t wait to get out there now and meet the children. I’ve been watching videos and talking to previous volunteers and I am ready to get out there and do what I can to help.

Thanks for all your help and I look forward to sharing the experience with you.

Corrie :)

85 days....

There are just 85 days left until I turn 30 and just 68 days until I fly out to Ghana for my volunteering.... I am getting slightly nervous now but more nervous about not being organised.... time has flown by and it's been a busy few months personally so I don't really feel all that prepared yet. I am still off sick from work (it's been 9 weeks!!!) but I should be back at work next week hopefully and can pick up my collection tins from the staff room!

I haven't had any donations since the last post, although the cheque from ' Love it' magazine did arrive (see picture for the article).

I also booked my flight (paid for personally by me not from donations) with KLM. I am hoping the next few weeks before I go will bring in some more donations and provide a sizeable donation for the orphanage.. here's hoping :)

I have made a short video on Youtube using some photos borrowed from previous Ghana volunteers (Nicole Anzelone and Samantha Leathers.. thanks girls) so hopefully that will also get people donating. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_nP1P1DAG8

I am very grateful to all who have donated so far. For those that still want to help, if you are unable to donate money right now I will also be taking some things with me like pens, pencils etc for the children...maybe when you are out getting the kids back to school stuff you can pop an extra one in your basket and donate it. Email me for my address to send items to. My luggage is limited so nothing too heavy or bulky though.

I will spend the next few weeks fundraising and preparing myself for the trip. I still need to have my yellow fever injection and get my visa and work out everything I need to take and how much space I'll have. I'm getting excited as it gets closer but I'm also nervous about it all having never done this before. I'm sure it'll go well but it will be emotional.

Well I better get on. Do check out the video and share it if you like and please please keep donations coming in.

Thanks all and have a lovely day :)

130 days............

So there are now 130 days until I turn 30.... time is flying by!!! I have just 113 days until I fly out to Ghana to start my placement at the orphanage.

My fundraising is going well.... my tins at work are slowly growing and after I wrote to 'Love it' magazine I got a call saying they are printing my story in the July 27th issue (next Tuesday) as 'Reader of the Week' and they will be sending my £100 towards my fundraising.. woohoo... that makes my current total £450 (+whatever is in the tins at work).... I have now passed my total that I wanted to raise and am hoping to raise even more to give to the orphanage on my arrival.

I am currently off work sick after falling down the stairs and tearing a ligament but that gives me more time to research online and try more fundraising ideas... time to get writing those letters to local businesses.... wish me luck!

Thanks to everyone that has donated so far and for those still promising to donate. I really appreciate it and I can't wait to be able to share photos and stories of where your money has gone to help (this blog will surely get more interesting then too..hehe!). :)

148 days.... eek!!

Aaahhh...So there are only 148 days left until I turn 30.... that means there are just 133 days until I start my placement in Ghana.... I will hopefully be booking my flight soon and getting those all important jabs... ouch!

I have been a little slack on the fundraising lately what with moving house and changing jobs etc but I'm hoping to get back on it fully again soon. Ive put a couple of collection tins and notices at work and have had some donations that way. I've also had a few more online or in person bringing my current total to...... wait for it...... £350!!!!!!!! I am also going to start writing to companies and magazines etc to see if I can raise any funds that way. Fingers crossed I'll make even more for the orphanage. Not so long left to go now. Time is flying by!

I will hopefully have more to update you with soon!

Many thanks all for all your support :)