Meet our 2019 Ambassadors: Bryce on Fiji Islands Building Community

​Hello my name is Bryce Mensah. I am a 17 year old male living in Harlem, New York. I have 3 siblings and a dog. I love music, basketball, running track, hanging out with friends, but most of all I love to travel. I have had the opportunity to travel to many different countries, places such as Ghana where my father’s family is from, St Kitts, Nice, Paris, and Mexico, while visiting in these beautiful countries I have had the opportunity to travel to many of the rural areas as well, and I have witnessed a lot misfortune in the desolate areas. I’m often shocked at what a big contrast the two areas are, I feel like countries have a sightseeing region and then there is the real region where the natives live. The areas where the natives live are far more beaten down and the living conditions can be very bad. I always feel sad when I visit these places because I feel that no one should be living in unsafe conditions, without real shelter and food. I always leave wondering what I could do to help.

My childhood friend Jeremiah told me that he would be going to the Fiji Islands this summer to help build schools. I thought wow this would be the perfect opportunity for me to help out. I talked to my parents about it and they suggested that I take a look into it. I looked at the Global Works website and was fascinated by the pictures and all the things that you guys do to help out in many different countries. I loved that the students that are chosen to participate in this amazing program get to stay with the native people and see how they live, we get to eat their food and just be a part of their community all while helping build schools for the children.

I would love to have the opportunity to participate in “Building Community” in the Fiji Islands, to give back and start my journey in helping out people who are in need more than myself. I am not saying that I have a lot but I have my time and passion to want to help others, who are less fortunate than I am. I believe that this trip could help move me one step closer in the direction of doing just that. If I am chosen to participate on this journey to the Fiji Islands I will be making my first attempt at leaving my mark on the world. I hope that this will move me to want to help out in other countries in the future. I would love to give my time and effort to volunteer and get to know the culture and most importantly help whichever way I can.