A young volunteer from Germany Nike Neumann through the AFS exchange program was welcomed by Center for Sustainable Transformation (CeST) on September 1st, 2025. With a bright smile and a deep passion for the environment, Nike was ready to dive into a new culture, learn from the CeST team, and contribute to sustainability efforts in Ghana.
From her very first week, Nike immersed herself in CeST’s programs. She joined a short crash course designed to help new volunteers understand the organization’s mission, its sustainability goals, and the practical work being done to achieve them. For her, it wasn’t just theory, it was a chance to see how real people in communities were taking action to protect the planet.
One of Nike’s first field experiences was at the Achimota Anglican Basic School, where CeST was executing a Plastic-Free Week exercise. She spent time interacting with students, encouraging them to reuse, recycle, and rethink how they treat their environment. Seeing the enthusiasm of young Ghanaians taking small steps toward a cleaner future left a strong impression on her.
Nike also rolled up her sleeves for a beach cleanup exercise, joining the CeST team to collect waste and raise awareness about marine pollution. For her, it was more than just picking up litter, it was about connecting with people who share the same passion for change, even thousands of kilometers away from home.
Beyond fieldwork, Nike contributed to educational material preparation for upcoming workshops with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and Ministry of Environment Science and Technology (MEST), helping develop resource books and manuals that promote sustainability education in schools.Exchange,however, is a two way process. As a German citizen, Nike brought a fresh perspective to the CeST team. She started a TikTok series where she creatively discussed environmental challenges observed in Ghana, comparing them with those in Germany. Through her short videos, she educated more than thousands of people on global sustainability issues while encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and learning (see CeST at Tik Tok).
Although her stay with CeST was brief, Nike left a lasting impact. Her hands-on experience deepened her understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CeST’s commitment to achieving them locally. In her last team meeting with us she said “My time with CeST gave me the opportunity to see Sustainable Development becoming alive”. We couldn’t have gotten a better acknowledgement.
Inspired by her work in Ghana, Nike made a life-changing decision to pursue Political Science with a major in Sustainability at the university level. Her story is a powerful reminder that volunteerism transcends borders. Through shared experiences and cultural exchange, young people like Nike are helping shape a more sustainable and inclusive world.
At CeST, we have had volunteers joining us from all over the world for many years,and we continue to welcome passionate volunteers from around the world to join us in driving meaningful change, one project at a time.
Join us today and be part of the movement toward a sustainable future!
info@cestint.org