Young at Heart Ghana is ten years old!  Our journey is one of impact fueled by a passionate and youth-led team that is challenging the status quo in opportunities for digital education. As part of the growth and channelling a way forward, there was a need to enlighten both old and new volunteers on the organisation’s goal, vision and mission. Volunteers have been vital in the organisation’s growth, hence the need for them to reorient them. For the past ten years, volunteers have taken up roles such as planning and implementing school outreaches, social media engagements, and inspiring young people to be educated.

#YaHKow? was a digital forum for all energised by the charge to create EdTech solutions to the learning barriers in our world. The forum experienced speakers from the various departments who shed more light on their department’s activities and how volunteers can join any based on where they feel they can make maximum impact. The forum engaged about 55 passionate volunteers.

Young at Heart had its second volunteer engagement this June, dubbed Skillathon. Skillathon was organised to train volunteers on the skills needed to scale for the next decade. The sessions were to help volunteers become up to speed with skills required in the 21st century, which is necessary for the organisation’s growth. The training was centred on programming, volunteer engagement and multimedia. 

Programming 101 focused on programming, how it is done, and why it is necessary to learn it. From problem-solving skills to understanding technology and achieving various career options, the training opened us up to varied options. Planning and Implementing volunteer engagements introduced volunteers to the benefits of giving back to society and doing so the YAH way. Over the years, YAH has devised a way of achieving its goal; hence, volunteers need to be abreast of it and continue in the same way. The last speaker spoke on multimedia and expressed the need for volunteers to capture moments when they are making an impact. The approach would help the organisation showcase its work to the world. 

All sessions were practical or hands-on, allowing listeners to practice with the trainers.