Description

Since 2003, PCO has hosted over 213 international volunteers from across the globe. PCO has partnered with reputable volunteer organizations such as Global Volunteer Network, AFS, and a number of universities and companies.

We currently have volunteer projects available in Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp, within the Ghanaian community, and in Liberia. Just the opportunities in Ghana will be explained here. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to pursue what interests you.

REFUGEE SCHOOL: Many Liberian refugee children in Buduburam are not going to school due to the economic hardships on the camp. They roam the streets with nothing being done to prepare them for their future. To help improve the situation, the PCO Refugee School was established for children who are not in school because their parents or guardians cannot afford to support them in school. The school is tuition-free and the teachers follow the standard Ghanaian syllabus. However, there is room for the diversity of the volunteers backgrounds and education to further enrich the students experiences. At the school, you will assist the teaching staff in providing academic lessons to students between K-6.

MOTHER SKILL TRAINING CENTER: At the PCO Mother Skill Training Center Center refugee mothers are trained to sew and to improve their overall education. Currently the Center is producing beautiful African quilts and bedspreads. We are establishing transport and distribution systems in Europe and America for these products. Money derived from the sales will be used to run and expand the skill training program and will also be given to the refugee mothers working at the center to support their family. A percentage of income from the sale of items produced by the mothers at the center will be used to run the PCO Refugee School. PCO is also hoping to include other vocational skills such as tie dying, beauty care, soap making, typing and 'grass root' industrial technologies. The aim is to provide women with vocational, employable skills and an income with which they can support their families and provide a more stable and healthy environment for their children.
Women at the Mother Skill Training Center also get education. There are currently 4 levels of Adult Literacy classes. Peace Education focuses on understanding conflict, and learning how to achieve peace for the world, community and the home. Health Education is mainly about reproductive health and AIDS/HIV, but also includes sanitation and hygiene awareness.

WEST AFRICE PEACE VILLAGE
The purpose of the Peace Village is to help strengthen trust and friendship within and between local communities. In this project, volunteers are called to work with vulnerable people in underprivileged communities in six villages. Our long-term is to establish a school and community action center which will include a health clinic, vocational skills-training center, a volunteer guesthouse, and community meeting space for peace and conflict resolution training. Initial funding has been secured and work is in its first phase with teaching and peace establishes, and construction starting in the school. PCO has began the construction of a six classroom school building at the site of the proposed West Africa Peace Village in order to provide better learning facilities for school children in Aboansan and other surrounding villages. At the moment, with the help of Aboansan villagers, PCO local staff and international volunteers, the contractors are in the process of constructing school building.
International volunteers are urgently needed to help with their expertise in construction engineering or labor to build the school. Moreover according to experience, volunteers may help with planning and fundraising.

PEACE CELLS: Peace education cells encourage non-violent conflict-resolution training, and facilitate dialog and reconciliation between competing priorities within and between the family group, neighborhoods and communities. Cell discussions are based on topics that villagers feel are affecting them, such as domestic violence, tolerance and intolerance, and women's empowerment. The conflict-resolution training includes anger management strategies, cause of and solution to tribal prejudice and hatred, practical pathways to forgiveness and reconciliation, basic mediation and negotiation strategies to use in relationships and neighborhoods, and causes and solutions to domestic
violence.

ELDERS COUNCIL: In Collaboration with the Liberian Refugee Welfare Council, PCO runs the Liberian Tribal Leaders Reconciliation Forum. The Forum is an interface between high level and grass root peace building initiatives and seeks to fill the 'reconciliation gap' that exists for the large part of Liberians who are currently in exile and who will therefore not be touched directly by the peace and reconciliation activities mainly focusing on top political actors in Liberia. The forum brings together tribal leaders, county association leaders
and religious representatives in the Buduburam Refugee Settlement. The overall aim of the forum is to develop an action plan for reconciliation that can be implemented at the community and national levels.

Highlights

In this program you can have a true immersion experience. As a volunteer with PCO, you will get a chance to make many friends with Liberians and Ghanians. You will have to explore the area and will get a different perspective on Ghana and current politics in West Africa. You will get to challenge yourself and learn so many new things. There is so much flexibility within our program, that no two volunteers will have the same experience. If you are interested in hearing any specific story, please contact us and we can put you in touch with past volunteers so you can ask them about their experience.

Qualifications

Ability to speak English, interest in nonviolence, flexibility, ablity to tolerate heat and walk long distances.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 600/month

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

PCO survives mainly through the support of its international volunteers, who with their expertise, curiosity, creativity, and donations allow us to serve our communities, build localized expertise, and make contributions to lasting peace in West Africa.

Volunteer costs cover accommodation, three meals, safe drinking water, bathing water, transportation within Ghana (to/from camp & to/from airport), as well as support the operation of PCO projects, such as the Free School, The Mother Skill Training Center, and Peace Cells.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Most of our volunteers are young individuals from first-world countries who are adventurous and interested in non-violent conflict resolution.

Age Range

young children through elderly

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

3-4 days

Population Caring Organization's Mission Statement

Population Caring Organization is a humanitarian NGO dedicated to the well being of young people in West Africa, especially Liberians and Ghanaians: Acknowledging the many crises that face young West Africans - including war and ethnic animosity, displacement, poverty, lack of education, pandemic illnesses, sexual violence and labor exploitation; acknowledging that young people represent the future of their countries, and that these continuing crises affect the social, political, economic and cultural well being of the entire West African region. PCO aims to educate and empower young people, their immediate careers and their communities in order to nurture the development of responsible, peaceful and productive citizens.

Year Founded

2003