Country: Ghana
Position: Animal Nutrition Training Specialist
International Partner: SEND Ghana
Placement dates: May -August 2018 / January - May 2019
Samantha worked in Tamale (northern Ghana) with SEND Ghana as an Animal Nutrition Training Specialist. Enjoying her time, Sam is worked with local farmers in rural communities to lead educational outreach sessions on vital topics such as feed management, animal nutrition, and animal comfort. Through each field trip, she says she gains something as an individual, not only in terms of animal nutrition practice but personally as well. Her goal is to help families become more successful by diversifying animal and crop production, thereby increasing household profits and capacity. Sam has returned to Ghana to do another 4-month placement, and we are very happy to have her back as a returning volunteer!
In recognition of World Zoonoses Day 2026, this article explores how community-centered One Health approaches can help detect, prevent, and respond to zoonotic diseases before they become global health emergencies.
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you stories from the field shared by passionate VETS program volunteers. Meet Vincent Auclair, a Fundraising Advisor who spent four and a half months in Cambodia (January–May 2026) with our local partner, AVSF Cambodia, supporting proposal development, fundraising systems, and organizational capacity strengthening.
From Community Animal Health Workers to livestock keepers participating in the Passing-on-the-Gift model, communities across South Sudan are carrying forward the skills, knowledge, and systems strengthened through the 1-SHOP project. As the project concludes, we reflect on the lasting impacts of this community-led approach to resilience.
