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One of the most exciting parts of the visit was Helena’s immersion in Ghana’s Badgers and Cadets programme. Emmanuel introduced her to 10 school clubs where pupils learn first aid and CPR early, creating a generation of lifesavers. For Helena, who usually trains adult volunteers, this was new territory — younger learners, cultural differences, and language barriers. But with Emmanuel’s guidance and the pupils’ enthusiasm, they made it work.

Together, they found creative ways to teach CPR timing using songs familiar to the children, such as Baby Shark for the little ones, local tunes, and even songs of worship in the churches and an Islamic school“Music and fun make the lessons stick, and it was great to work with Emmanuel and the students themselves to come up with locally-relevant song options for the different communities,” Helena shared. Emmanuel agreed: “It reminded us that teaching methods can always adapt to culture.”

In Takoradi, Emmanuel and Helena co-facilitated the Maiden Inter-School First Aid Competition — a lively contest where clubs competed for trophies and first aid kits. Helena and Emmanuel worked with local youth leaders to facilitate and judge the competition, ensuring fair play and high standards. “It was great to meet these passionate young volunteers and see the result of all their hard work and practice throughout the year,” Helena said. Emmanuel added, “This is what motivates young volunteers — seeing their skills celebrated.”

Helena also joined Emmanuel in supporting operational volunteers at public events. She was struck by their dedication despite resource challenges. Emmanuel explained how volunteers often have to improvise due to limited equipment, sometimes resorting to scoop-and-run approaches. Helena led some clinical skills sessions with the volunteer first responders, and facilitated introductions that sparked new partnerships — including securing the donation of a BP monitor from a British pharmacist.

Cape Coast brought another highlight: World Restart a Heart Month. Emmanuel and Helena teamed up for school visits, radio appearances, and health worker engagement, spreading the message that bystander CPR saves lives. Helena also led a session on anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injector use, complementing Ghana’s training programme. The session was broadcast across the right regions, inspiring discussions about the possibility of sharing future training sessions between Ghana and Gibraltar for their First Responders.

Managing activities across three regions wasn’t easy. Emmanuel did an exceptional job of coordinating transport, schedules, accommodation and local trainers. Limited resources and language diversity pose hurdles in the diverse context of Ghana’s various regions, but Emmanuel’s colleagues — including regional coordinators like Akua Fremah Annor Bosompem and Theresa Priscilla Eshun — kept sessions engaging and effective. “Resilience and adaptability are as essential to first aid as the techniques themselves,” Emmanuel reflected.

As Helena departed on October 26th, both agreed the visit was more than a project — it was a partnership. Emmanuel summed it up: “St John’s strength lies in its people. These weeks have been all about listening, learning, and serving together.” Helena echoed that sentiment: “I’ll never forget the energy, creativity, and commitment I saw here.”

Together, they proved that service knows no borders — only shared humanity.