ASEYE Badu says she felt called to return to Africa as a volunteer.

Ms Badu, of Mt Waverley, recently spent three months as a volunteer nurse on a hospital ship in Togo, Africa.

Born in Ghana, Ms Badu said she felt a need to to give something back to her homeland Africa.

"I've always wanted to use my nursing skills in charity work for as long as I can remember.

"I left Ghana when I was 10. I'm aware of the struggles people endure in Africa, and know that my life has been very blessed."

Her work in Africa for the charity Mercy Ships involved helping patients who had undergone surgery to correct disabilities, deformities or blindness.

"It was wonderful to see people who have nothing and who have gone through so much being so happy with what we consider to be the smallest things in life.

"They are so grateful for what they have, and they don't worry about what they don't have."

Ms Badu said many patients had been rejected by their family or community, or had been cursed and cast out of their villages because of their condition.

"It was amazing to see the change that came about in the days following surgery. Their lives and their personalities had totally changed."

A highlight for Ms Badu was the spirit of the patients.

"There was always someone singing, dancing, drumming, clapping or laughing in the hospital.

"It was an eye-opening experience that has changed me in

so many ways, personally,

professionally and spiritually."

Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978.

■A Mercy Ship volunteer, Joan Corfee, is guest speaker at the Monash-Oakleigh Community Support and Information Service annual general meeting, 1.30pm, September 14 at Monash Seminar and Training Centre, meeting room 2, 1A Atherton Road, Oakleigh. RSVP September 6. Details: 95684533