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Studytrip Ghana: working hard while having fun
The Ghanaian students arrived at the hostel on the 28th of July to join their Dutch teammates for the final phase of the NBC 2016, the Ghana Study Trip. This year, most of the Dutch participants had never been to Africa and none had been to west Africa so this was a great experience they looked up to. There was a lot of excitement in the hostel with students excited to experience Ghana and the Ghanaian students eager to show their teammates around in Accra, where they would be staying for the next ten days.
After the scavenger hunt, where participants crossed Accra to complete their assignments like making videos, dancing with children, eating a particular Ghanaian street food, find a known landmark, purchase something on the street, take public transport (popularly known as ‘Trotro’) and learn the various areas of destination, etc. Team Koudijs did a fantastic dance video and won the scavenger hunt.
Opening at the Dutch Embassy
The NBC 2016 Ghana Study Trip was formally opened on Friday 29th July, 2016 at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Accra by Felix Lomans, the Second Secretary at Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra who received the group on behalf of the Ambassador. He spoke on making use of the opportunities that this challenge gives to every student in light of them preparing for their individual professions and careers. He also spoke strongly on the need for such collaborations as a means to better the relations of countries across borders, trade and experience the different cultures represented in the challenge (particularly between the Dutch and Ghanaians).
Field trips
The participants were fully booked for field trips and team meetings during the Ghana study trip. This was a period where the teams had to meet up with stakeholders, potential customers, conduct their actual market surveys with the Dutch teammates for them in particular to have a full understanding of what they were dealing with and to have a first hand experience on the local grounds. Some teams went on long journeys to designated areas to meet up with the various stakeholders relevant to their case. Landmappers went on a half day’s journey to Wassa Akropong to meet up with local farmers, while the Maxim Nyansa Team went to Kumasi to also engage their stakeholders. WakaWaka and Toney’s Chocolonely Team also visited the cocoa farms and farmers in Suhum and the rest of the teams spread out in various part and suburbs of Accra, meeting up with their respective interested parties as well.
With local music in the air, the NBC Village danced and laughed their stressed minds away during the Ghanaian night as they awaited the final day, knowing that they would have to part ways after three days. One thing was clear, that the young boys and girls of the NBC Village will surely miss their time together! But first… they had to present their solutions during the finale!
By Joana Chemel