Ghana Volunteers will like to personally invite you to volunteer with us in any of our over-crowded and understaffed orphanages in Ghana. Your presences can make a differences in the children’s life. This project aims to provide an opportunity for needy children and orphans to live and learn under one roof until they are adopted or integrated in the community or placed with family members who can take better care of them. Due to extreme poverty, neglect and abuse, many children in Ghana are forced to leave their homes to live on the streets or forced into child labor and trafficking and mostly live under bad conditions.
Our Orphanage care project initiative has tremendously improved the lives of children in Ghana. Our aim is to give these orphanages extra support so they can provide the children with good quality food, clothing and school supplies. Through the commitment and dedication of our volunteers, we have contributed immensely to the basic education of these children who sometimes lack the quality foundation.
We offer support, care and family for the orphans and vulnerable. Care volunteers don’t need to have previous experience. The only qualities that our volunteers need to possess are compassion for fellow human beings and a desire to improve the lives of those with domestic or physical circumstances less fortunate than their own. As a care volunteer working with children in orphanages, you would be helping the kids to learn life-skills that parents would normally teach. By getting involved in the day-to-day running of an orphanage – making sure children are fed, washed and dressed, and paying them personal attention -you will be making a really positive impact on their lives.
There is always scope for any talents or interests you may have to be utilized. Art & crafts or music are always popular activities and many care placements have outside areas where sports and games can be played. Many volunteers also help to educate the children in personal hygiene and social kills .The work volunteers do can be challenging at times but the strength and resilience of the children will inspire you to persevere.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Location: Koforidua, Agona Swedru, Kasoa
Minimum Age: 17, younger if in group
Minimum Duration: 4 weeks
Suitable for Families: Yes
Suitable for Groups: Yes
Language Requirement: English
Arrival Dates: Every day in the week
Work Schedule: Monday to Friday: 4-6 hours daily and sometimes during the weekend
Schedules differ depending on whether you come during vacation or a school term. The routine is also affected by the number of volunteers already at the orphanage.
During term times the children \attend an on site school, then you will work with them during school time.
Dress Code: Smart Casual
About the program
Like so many developing nations, Ghana has a large number of children who find themselves in the care of an orphanage. Not all children at the orphanages have lost their parents, some arrive from abusive homes and others are taken into care as their parents cannot afford to look after them. The orphanage is basic, under resourced and in need of volunteers assistance.
The children will have their food and accommodation provided for them, but with limited staff resources, it is individual attention that the little ones crave so much. Providing the children with the essential skills in life will help them on their way to successful futures free from poverty and filled with the same opportunities as others. As a volunteer you will become a big brother or sister to the children. You will work alongside local staff to assist with teaching the children, general childcare and the daily operational running of the orphanage.
We also encourage volunteers to initiate their own activities by organizing structured activities and games for the children.
Many of the children arrive at a very young age, as their mothers die in childbirth and have no one to look after them. However, the home also accepts abandoned children, street children and children of unstable parents. They even occasionally care for children whose families are travelling. Generally speaking ages can range anywhere from newborn babies to upper teens.
The children stay at the home for varying lengths of time depending on their situation. The home is now run and supervised primarily by the Department of Social Welfare and their supervisor is a government employee. Though the government pays the wages of most of the workers, much of the home’s funding still comes from other sources.
This role is perfect for someone with a big heart and who has the desire to do something meaningful with their time abroad. Working in an orphanage will require heaps of patience and a real sense of self-direction. Your level of impact is based on your willingness and pro-activeness to get involved and make the most of your time. Experience of working with children is not necessary but it does help.
Important Programme Information
As for all our volunteer programmes in Ghana, it is possible to combine multiple projects during your time with us. If this is something you’d like to do, then please apply for the main programme you’d like to take part in but also outline in your online application the details of the other projects you’d like to do. Our local team will finalize the details of your placements during your in-country orientation.
Travel tips
Can I use this program as part of a university or college placement?
It is certainly possible to use one of Ghana-Volunteers programmes as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors.
When you join Ghana -Volunteers we will send you a Volunteer Handbook. This document addresses a range of issues such as health, safety, visa issues etc. When you arrive in Ghana, you’ll be given a comprehensive safety briefing during your orientation course by our local coordinators. We will go through everything from emergency procedures, how to use local transport and cultural differences. You’ll also be given the opportunity to purchase a local SIM card, something we strongly suggest, so you’re contactable at all times. We will provide you with a full list of the important contact numbers that you’ll need to know.
All our local teams are experienced development professionals who have years of experience in hosting international volunteers. They are our representatives on the ground and will assist you 24/7 throughout your stay. Whether you need to call home, travel at the weekend or require urgent assistance – they are there to support you.
While we cannot guarantee your volunteer experience to be 100% trouble free we have taken all the necessary precautions to make sure each programme is as safe as possible.
MAIN DUTIES
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- Spending quality time with the children
- Playing with, cleaning, and feeding toddlers
- Maintaining children’s routines and supervising their chores
- Helping teachers in class
- Assisting students with homework
- Playing sports with the children
- Managing lunchtime and helping kitchen staff
- Working in the kitchen and helping to serve lunch
- Involving the children in fun activities, like sports, art, storytelling, reading, etc.