The Vim Views & Versions - Blogs of a MIghTy African

One major question we ask in the intro format at Konnect meetups focused on #Volunteeringh is: " When did you last volunteer to help others and how? " My answer is normally: " Yesterday, or today, I gave someone a free ride ". Basically, I stop the #vimride at a stop, asked folks where they were going, and if they were going my direction, I politely asked to give them a free ride, and if they accepted, I did the needful. " Are you not afraid? " No . I do this as carefully as I can. If you are afraid for me, pray for me. Thank You . As I do each year, I spent National Volunteer Day giving free rides.  National Volunteer Day ( NVDay ) is a GhanaThink Foundation initiative, launched on September 21, 2013 , to promote volunteerism in Ghana and connect volunteers with opportunities. It is linked to Ghana's Founders' Day holiday and aims to encourage citizens to volunteer for community service and skill development. The day is part of GhanaThink...

Impact driven by National Volunteer Day (NVDay)  National Volunteer Day (NVDay) is a GhanaThink Foundation initiative, launched on September 21, 2013, to promote volunteerism in Ghana and connect volunteers with opportunities. It falls on Ghana's Founders' Day holiday and aims to encourage citizens to volunteer for community service and skill development. The day is part of GhanaThink's larger Ghana Volunteer Program (GVP), which was established to manage the initiative and match volunteers with various opportunities across the country.  Origins & Growth (2013–2019) Founded on September 21, 2013 by GhanaThink Foundation, aligned with Founders’ Day (which became Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day for some years), and managed by the Ghana Volunteer Program (GVP) TheAfricanDream Wikipedia . Scaling fast : From ~34 activities and 300+ volunteers in 2013 across 7 regions, to 80+ activities and 1,000+ volunteers by 2015 mightyafrican.blogspot.com TheAfricanDream . Stabilized pre...

I have always been a big fan of hashtags , and them trending, especially when based on something we at GhanaThink are working on. I have consistently driven some hashtags, demonstrating consistency and remarkable staying power. I use some to capture the essence of national identity - in tow with my love for Ghana . The #233moments phenomenon, pioneered by yours truly - Ato Ulzen-Appiah , has transformed Ghana's country code (+233) from a mere numerical prefix into a powerful digital branding tool that celebrates everyday Ghanaian experiences. Starting social media posts on Twitter (X) and Facebook timed at 2:33 PM has evolved into a shared cultural practice that connects Ghanaians across the globe through moments of humor, pride, frustration, and joy that also collectively defines what it means to be Ghanaian in the 21st century. I actually started posting these before returning to Ghana to work for Google in 2011. I began posting moments from my life intentionally at 2:...

If you scroll through Ghanaian social media on any Wednesday , you'll notice a colorful pattern emerging. Plates of waakye —Ghana's beloved rice and beans dish—flood timelines, accompanied by the hashtag #WaakyeWednesday . A few GhanaThink members started posting this - as casual food posts - led by yours truly - Ato Ulzen-Appiah . These have evolved into a weekly cultural celebration that connects Ghanaians across the world through shared plates and stories. The Wednesday Ritual Everyone Anticipates For many Ghanaians, Wednesday has become synonymous with waakye . Because they both start with the letter W. Easy does it right? I once captured the collective anticipation on social media: "It's Wednesday! You know what that means... #WaakyeWednesday. Where's your favorite spot?" My regular posts kicked off each Wednesday , inviting others to share their experiences. The responses have created a digital map of waakye appreciation across Accra and beyond: "...