Volunteering for Good: Reflecting on the LittleBigSouls Volunteer Circle
At the top of the hour—7:00 PM—we gathered on Zoom to discuss what it means to "volunteer for good". LittleBigSouls is an organization doing incredible work as a charity for premature babies, and their new Volunteer Circle is designed to be a learning and connection space for volunteers to grow, reflect, and serve with intention. I invited GhanaThink members and various volunteers for our local teams and they also joined in their numbers. Here is a breakdown of what we discussed and some of the practical insights I’ve gathered from years in the social impact space.
The Journey: From Presec to 150+ Barcamps
My own journey with volunteerism didn’t start with a job title; it started with a curiosity to do more. During my time at Presec, I found myself drawn to the editorial board because I had a new-found passion for writing. I also heard that being part of this was a good way to eventually become a prefect or student leader. This and other volunteer positions in various clubs at Presec weren't just "extracurriculars"; they were the training grounds for everything I do today.
One of the most significant milestones in my volunteer life has been the evolution of Barcamp Ghana through the GhanaThink Foundation. What started as a single event in 2008 has grown into a movement. By 2026, we have organized over 150 events #alloverGhana, each one powered by local volunteers who take ownership of their communities. This basis drove GhanaThink’s Ghana Volunteer Program (GVP): creating a culture where service is not just an occasional act, but a lifestyle.
The Reality of Volunteering: Time, Money, and Impact
During the session, we dived deep into the "hard truths" of volunteering. A common question I get is about compensation. Let’s be clear: while volunteers are not "paid" a salary, they can—and often should—receive stipends or compensation based on their responsibilities. However, the true "payment" and benefits in volunteering is the skill development and the networking opportunities that often lead directly to employment and many other great things.
I shared with the fellows on Zoom that volunteer work requires two things: a serious time commitment and the responsible delivery of tasks. If you treat a volunteer role with less respect than a paid job, you are only hurting your own reputation.
Managing the "Volunteer Cycle"
We discussed the technical side of managing volunteers, which is something we’ve spent years refining at GhanaThink.
Onboarding is Key: You cannot just "throw" people into a project. Onboarding takes time and effort but is essential to align expectations and provide the necessary training.
Clear Communication: I advised volunteers like Paschal, who asked about meeting expectations, to maintain an open line of communication with their managers. If you don’t set clear goals, you’ll always feel like you’re falling short.
Valuing Opinions: Organizations must value the opinions of their volunteers. Even if an idea isn't implemented, a volunteer who feels heard is a volunteer who stays.
Using the Right Tools: We talked about the platform "Go Give Time," which LittleBigSouls is already using for recruitment and which I highly recommend for tracking and leveraging volunteer experiences for future opportunities.
Addressing Challenges and Career Transitions
I like people who ask questions so when I am in sessions like this, I leave a lot of time for direct questions from the participants. Rita asked a tough question about how to handle situations where volunteers feel undervalued or exploited. My advice? Communicate. Understand the organization's constraints, but also recognize when a situation is no longer serving your growth.
Joseph was looking for advice on career transitions. When you are moving between roles or sectors, you have to look at your expertise, your passion, and the funding availability in the space you want to enter. Volunteering is often the bridge that helps you cross into a new career path safely.
The "Big Picture" and the Political Question
A question came out of left-field, but this is one that Samson had been meaning to ask me for many years. He asked about my personal ambitions—specifically if I have any desire to run for the presidency of Ghana. My answer remains the same: No..
My focus is on grassroots impact and social enterprise. At GhanaThink, we transitioned from a traditional NGO to a social enterprise model. We stopped charging dues and started relying on fundraising and proven impact. My "politics" is the politics of empowerment—helping people like Edwin, a student seeking software development opportunities, find the right place to build his skills.
Final Thoughts
The session ended with a group photo (yes, a virtual group picture on Zoom) and a feeling of renewed energy. Volunteering isn't always easy. My most rewarding role has been leading Barcamps which helped land a dream job at Google, but my most challenging has always been fundraising. Yet, when you see the impact—whether it’s supporting premature babies through LittleBigSouls or building a national network of thinkers through GhanaThink—it is always worth it.
To the volunteers at LittleBigSouls: keep serving with intention. To everyone else: what are you doing with your "extra" time? Go give time.
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