My Nonprofit Reviews

“Life lived for self alone is meaningless” – Dr. Kofi Osei-Kusi

I am Justine Elikplim Ametepee, an executive club card member of Osei-Kusi Foundation (OKF). I am a proud volunteer who has participated and benefited from seminars, workshops and rural outreaches of OKF. Through the foundation, I was introduced to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award or Head of State Award Scheme in Ghana in 2017 while I was in level 400 at University of Professional Studies, Accra. OKF is an award unit for the Award.

I did the Gold level of the award which consists of the following activities : voluntary service, skills development, physical recreation (all three activities require a period of 18 months), adventurous journey and residential project. For the love of children, I offered voluntary services to the primary class of my church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, to lend a helping hand to the current tutors.

As part of my skills development, I joined the church’s youth choir where we sang during our youth programs.

I signed up to a gym and fitness centre not only for the physical recreation aspect of the award but also to be in good health and shape while I did total body workouts and strength trainings.

One of the interesting and challenging activities of the award was the ten (10) days adventurous journey and expedition I embarked on with various teams of young Ghanaian volunteers to designated towns in the Aburi District in the Eastern region of Ghana. My team covered an estimated distance of 80km, hiking from Adonten SHS to Nsakye and rerouting to Amanforom. We were warmly welcomed by the people of Amanforom, as we conducted a community project to assay the level of maternal death and measures to curb it due to insufficient health facilities in the community and neighbouring towns.

We further conducted a residential project when we arrived back to our base camp at Adonten SHS. We painted and beautified the entire kitchen and pantry of the school. Indeed, it hasn’t been an easy journey but it was worth it. I have learnt life skills that my academic curriculum did not teach me.

I qualified to receive my Gold Standard Award with other award recipients after successfully completing all my activities. The prestigious award ceremony was held at the Jubilee House on 30th October, 2018. It was presented by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex with the Vice – President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. It was the most gracious and memorable day in my life.

I certainly would recommend doing the award to other young individuals since it is a long term investment in oneself and the world at large.