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 International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, VWB reflects on how healthy rangelands, community-led animal health systems, and pastoralist knowledge help sustain resilience across working landscapes worldwide.
Based on field insights from Senegal, this blog examines how VWB’s COHERS program is helping drive early gender-transformative change at the household level — reshaping who decides, who acts, and how families respond to risks affecting both human and animal health.
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Hiya Goyal, a Communications Advisor who spent five months in Laos (November 2025–March 2026) with our local partner, Health Poverty Action, strengthening communications and knowledge sharing while exploring how listening and storytelling can bridge gaps between policy, research, and community experience.
