YES Programs

MENU  

STORIES


The Volunteer Spirit

Philip With Host Family

Philip Boakye (YES 2016-17 Ghana, hosted with AFS in Elk Grove, CA) was recently selected as his placement organization's student highlight. Since the beginning of this year, Philip has taken advantage of many opportunities that served his host community as well as helped him get to know his host community. He signed up to help volunteer at Sacramento Public Library where he tutors and helps elementary and middle school kids for 10 hours a week. Recently, he went to St. Augustine Canterbury Church and as part of their shelter ministry he helped to prepare, cook and serve meals to over 70 homeless people. When reflecting on this experience, Philip said: “I was so happy to have served all these people. It was quite unbelievable when I had to serve one man who was once a college professor as stated by the people in charge of that church.” The experience impacted him profoundly. He's also participated in the National Honor Society blood drive.

Philip is also very involved in school. He is a member of the California Scholarship Federation where he volunteers tutoring middle school students during the weekdays. He recently got involved in in the school’s spirit week and “celebrated crazy hair and dress day” with his friends. He also joined the school's track team and says that they are training hard for their first track meet.

Philip And Volunteers Small

Philip and other exchange students hosted in his region had the exciting opportunity to visit the California Superior Court where they listened to a case between a prisoner and a police officer and had lunch with one of the judges. Philip had the opportunity to explain how the legal and judicial systems work in his country. They also went to the city's educational department where they met important personnel and had a discussion on the similarities and differences of US educational system and the educational systems in the countries of the exchange students. They then met the mayor of Sacramento, Darrell Steinberg, and had a brief talk with him about their exchange year.

Philip has also enjoyed various adventures with his host family. He was excited to share that they had visited a snow park where he had fun sledding. They also spent the weekend in San Francisco and visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium there.

It's safe to say Philip has been making the most of his YES year!



Share: