I began interning at WAAF in September 2023 while studying abroad with CIEE at the University of Ghana for the fall semester. I specifically chose to study abroad in Ghana to have the opportunity to work at WAAF. I found the organization when I was looking for international work opportunities in the field of reproductive and sexual health. I came across WAAF, and I was immediately impressed with their work, and with their mission. I began working with them in September and concluded when my semester was over in December. I was immediately welcomed with open arms when I first started, and I continued to be treated with kindness and respect throughout the entirety of my stay. The three months I spent at WAAF were filled with rich opportunities to learn and grow as I fostered new skills both professionally and personally, and built personal relationships with staff members. I had the privilege of working on the organization’s facilitation of World AIDS Day which exposed me to the work that is behind outreach services. That valuable experience also allowed me to connect with community members and educate them on sexual health. This taught me about preventative outreach measures and inspired me how I can take these strategies and practices back to the US. While I interned at WAAF, I also completed independent research regarding sex education in Ghana. I was able to make connections between the two which allowed for a tremendous amount of learning. Not only did I learn what sexuality education looks like in Ghana, but I learned the consequences and implications of it, then saw that first hand at WAAF. I made connections between what Ghanaians are taught about sexual health, and how that connects to stigma around HIV. In addition to discrimination against people living with HIV, there is a heavy amount of stigma and shame attached to talking about sexuality in Ghana. I learned this through my research and in encounters I had with locals. I took those observations and connected them to how this social phenomenon is perpetuating barriers to health care. Community members are not enthusiastic about testing for HIV due to the stigma around it, and citizens are too shy to talk about their sexuality which will perpetuate a lack of understanding it leading to sexual harassment and other dangerous situations. Having learned all that I did through my research, I paired it with my experience at WAAF and gained a deeper understanding and passion for how crucial sexuality education is in every culture which I am eternally grateful for. This internship was incredibly meaningful to me because it was an environment that allowed my passion to flourish in the most unexpected ways. Working in reproductive health has always been important to me, but my time in Ghana has revealed to me that it is genuinely personal. Work does not feel like work when you are passionate about it, and that is exactly how I would describe my time at WAAF. I was inspired by the devotion of my colleagues, the heartbreaking stories I learned about patients, and in learning about the complex system that perpetuates larger health and social issues related to sexual health. I am thrilled to see how I can use this inspiration and motivation in future work opportunities. In addition, I am profoundly proud of myself in all I accomplished in the last three months, and how much I have grown bothpersonally and professionally. I have fostered both new and existing skills that will make me a valuable addition to non-profit organizations, and I have a newfound confidence in those skills.
Although I encountered many challenges while living in Ghana, those uncomfortable experiences only served as opportunities for growth. I have grown into an individual who can better reflect, listen, learn, and recognize my privilege. For this, I am eternally grateful for my time at WAAF, and to Ghana for being a home to me throughout this experience.
Nadia Plechaty
BSc. Sociology.
Eckerd College through CIEE
Florida, USA