Description

Orphanage Volunteer Work (Social)

Volunteers assist in caring for orphans and abandoned children and also providing them education. Caring work includes, assisting in cooking for the children, bathing them and showing them love. Volunteers can also assist in teaching English language and other subjects and extra curriculum activities at the orphanages and the schools pertaining to them. A local teacher will guide volunteers during the first week of classes at the orphanage in regard to lesson plans, schedules and teaching curriculum. If the volunteer or volunteer-intern is ready at the beginning of the second week, he or she may begin teaching independently.

Teaching Volunteer Work Program (Education)

Volunteers and volunteer-interns assist in teaching English language, mathematics and other subjects or extra curriculum activities at nursery, primary and junior secondary schools. A local teacher in the school will guide volunteers and interns. They will shadow the local teacher to become familiar with the school, the children, and the teaching curriculum during the first week of classes. If the volunteer or intern is ready at the beginning of the second week, he or she may begin teaching independently.

Medical and Nursing Student Volunteer work (Health Care)

Medical and nursing student volunteers observe health care delivery work of local medical doctors and nurses and other health care professionals at hospitals. They also assist in the health care delivery work by being allowed to do minor work under the supervision of the professionals. Volunteers/interns do not offer drug injections or perform surgery.

Law Volunteer Work

Participants volunteer with legal professionals, practitioners and legal Chambers. This placement is for law students. Work involves general office work at legal chambers and observing work activities at law courts. Volunteers and intern-student volunteers are welcome.

Sports and Fitness Volunteer Work

Participants volunteer by teaching soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, swimming and a variety of other sports to local talents at schools and communities.

Christian Religion/Church Voluntary Work Program

(a) Volunteers from any Christian denomination are welcome to serve as singers, musical instrumentalists, prayer warriors, announcement presenters, praises and worship leaders and as part of hospital prayer visitation group. (b)Volunteers who are Christian pastors and ministers from reputable churches worldwide will assist in church work as pastors, prophets, deliverance ministers, preachers and counselors at churches in Ghana and work alongside local Christian ministers. (c) Non-Christians who are willing to learn about the Christian faith are welcome to join this program.

This program is design to enable both Christians and non-Christians to experience Christianity today and Christian ministry in a new country (Ghana) and in a new cultural environment. It is required that a group of 7 or more volunteers participate in this program. The program will occur 2 working days a week therefore participants can use the other working days the week in participating in any one of the other volunteer work programs we offer..

Highlights

Volunteers can participate in most of the programs anytime of year and can also choose their start dates and end dates of participation. Volunteers work alongside local professionals. Intern-student-volunteers observe and assist the local professionals and serve under the supervision of the professionals. People without special skills, professional qualifications or previous experience also volunteer in some of our programs in Ghana.

The number of daily working hours and weekly working days of the volunteers is flexible. Volunteers work 2 to 8 hours a day, depending on the number of hours they would like to work in a day. Volunteers work 3 to 7 days a week, depending the number of days they would like to work in a week. Participants of the orphanage assistance, community service and Christian religious programs can stay for up to a period of 12 months. Participants of our other programs can stay for a period of up to 12 weeks. Participants stay with host families (home-stay). The host families are carefully selected, well screened, respectable, caring and friendly people with many years of good reputation. Three meals and two maximum bottled water are provided to each volunteer daily. Room accommodation with lock and bed are provided to the volunteers throughout their visit/stay.

A large group of volunteers with a number of 50 or more people who want to stay together at one house can be accommodated at high school dormitories in Ghana during high school vacations/holidays periods if they wish. An average high school dormitory in Ghana can accommodate as many as 500 to 900 volunteers at a time. It is however not obligatory and compulsory for a group of that size to be accommodated at high school dorms.

The volunteer work and home stays are in the Greater-Accra, Eastern, Central, Ashanti and the Western Regions of Ghana and not more than 200 miles from Accra. Volunteers should be 18 to 70 years of age. Children below the age of 18 who wish to volunteer in our program should have permission from their parents to do so. Children below the age of 16 must be accompanied by one or both of their parents to our program. Three or more days notice is needed by us to organize a volunteer work placement and home-stay accommodation for the volunteers.

Enhancing Your Curriculum Vitae

Are you looking for ways to make a difference while gaining relevant work experience to add to your resume? Do you want to learn new skills? Do you want to explore potential career areas? You can accomplish all of this, and more, by becoming a volunteer in Africa! Doing volunteer work in Africa can be one of the most rewarding and best investments you can make with your time. A volunteer is someone who performs a service for free. Although the type of service can vary widely, many volunteer opportunities provide a vital benefit to the community and to the individual organizations assisted, since without the support of volunteers, a lot of programs or services could not take place.

Helping Others

People have many reasons for doing volunteer work in Africa. Many want to help others and some are looking for ways to be involved or to make the world a better place. Desires for activism, community building, and self-exploration can also be fulfilled through volunteering. Connect with the African community and be a part of the various cultures, activities, issues, etc. that you may never experience otherwise. Perhaps you have a cause you feel strongly about: put your beliefs into action by volunteering your time and efforts toward that cause. Some people volunteer formally through a profit, non-profit, or charity organization, while others volunteer informally by helping a sick neighbor or tutoring a friend. People who do volunteer work in Africa get first hand information about the problems facing Africa like poverty, hunger, malnutrition, disease, unemployment and environmental degradation. This has been caused by illiteracy, ignorance, high population growth rate, declined rate of manufacturing, excessive exportation of raw materials, unfair international trade, primitive and un-mechanized methods of agriculture, corruption, political instabilities and unjust world economic order. The first hand information of previous volunteers in Africa has contributed immensely to the recent cancellation of Africa's foreign debts of multi-billions of US Dollars by the G-8 rich countries.

Personal Growth and Satisfaction

Besides helping others, as a volunteer you will contribute considerably to your own career development. Volunteer work in Africa can help you more clearly define your career path, while enhancing existing skills or developing a variety of new skills. In today's world of rapid change, there are always new and necessary skills to learn and build. You will also gain hands-on experience and expand your horizons as you become more knowledgeable in the field in which you volunteer. In addition, you will make numerous interesting and valuable contacts that may be instrumental in your job search later on. Last but not least! personal satisfaction, a strengthened sense of personal achievement and value, and increased confidence often result from making a positive impact on an organization or directly on a person's life. Some people do volunteer work in Africa because they finds it a pleasure and satisfaction in giving back to the world by traveling to another part of it to volunteer their time, skills and various other efforts to help improve the living standards of the people there.

Farther Field

If you enjoy traveling around the world, trying new things, and exploring various cultures, you might consider volunteering in Africa. Similar to working abroad, you will have the opportunity to see the world with a purpose while changing it for the better. Unlike paid employment, volunteering provides a more flexible schedule and varying time commitments. International volunteer projects generally fall under four main categories: community development, education, eco-environmental work and social welfare. By volunteering in Africa, you may learn a new language or experience a new culture and way of life.

People who volunteer in Africa get the opportunity of learning about the rich culture of Africa and the unique hospitality of Ghanaians since they stay with host families and are treated as members of the family and not just traditional tourists. Our culture includes the kind of food we eat and the dresses we wear, our traditional methods of farming, marriage, herbal medicines, our traditional beliefs, fears, dreams and hopes. Volunteers get the opportunity of adopting a whole or part of a new culture that will benefit them in the area of personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet.

Volunteering in Africa may enable you have a cross-cultural exposure and responsible eco-tourism including taking part in initiatives that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhancing the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluation environmental and cultural factors, the initiatives promote recycling, energy efficiency, water reuse, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities. This is an integral part of eco-tourism.

It is more interesting traveling in a group than traveling alone since some people have fears of traveling alone thousands of miles away from their homelands. Volunteering in Africa offers you the opportunity in meeting other volunteers and becoming travel companions for traveling together in a new country.

Networking

Maintaining contacts with the people you meet while volunteering is critical to maintaining a strong and effective network. As you make connections with others, you will uncover opportunities you may never have otherwise discovered, because every person you meet is a potential lead to new career prospects.

Volunteering in Africa is a win-win situation: you are not only helping yourself, but you are helping others as well. As a volunteer, you can make a difference!

Travel Types

• Camping
• Dancing
• Fishing
• Homestay
• Mountaineering
• Nature Tours
• RainForest Tours
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Volunteering

Qualifications

People with the initiative, drive and compassion to help the under-privileged in overcoming their challenges and their struggle for dignity and experience foreign cultures are welcome to participate in the programs. Volunteers should have strong work ethic, ability to work independently or as part of a team, and willingness to follow direction; and good interpersonal skills, flexibility, and a sense of humor. Their educational level should be at least at the high/secondary school level and should be able to speak English.

Intern Types

• Law

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration
• Student Tours

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

377

Cost Includes:

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

Program Fees Include:

Participants make payment of their fees within 18 hours after their arrival in Ghana. It is payable in US Dollars, Ghana Cedi, Euros or British pounds equivalent. The participation fee for the volunteering or internship-volunteering program we offer in Ghana is as follows:-

(a) USD 377 for 1 week
(b) USD 477 for 2 weeks
(c) USD 577 for 3 weeks
(d) USD 677 for 4 weeks
(e) USD 77 weekly after the volunteer's first 4 weeks in the program

As part of the participation fees, participants will be provided with volunteer work or volunteer internship opportunity, cultural immersion and cross-cultural exposure, 3 meals daily, two maximum bottled water daily, accommodation, airport pick ups and drop offs, in-country orientation upon arrival, 24 hour x 7 days a week staff support. The participation fee excludes the cost of visa, vaccination and transportation to and from Ghana.

After the volunteer's first 4 weeks of participation in the program they can continue participating in it for a longer period if they wish to do so. They can participate in it for a period of up to 12 months in the social, community development and Christian religious programs and 12 weeks in the other programs. They are to pay USD 77 weekly after their first 4 weeks in the program if they wish to continue participating in it after that time.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

17 to 60

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 10

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Volunteer in Africa's Mission Statement

Volunteer in Africa is an organization dedicated to disseminating information on volunteer work programs in Africa and organizing a wide range of volunteer work, internship-volunteering and group volunteer-tourism programs in Ghana. Our work promotes international co-operation, friendship, cross-cultural exposure, cultural immersion, peace, understanding, solidarity and breaks new grounds for sustainable socio-economic development through voluntary work, volunteering-internships and group volunteer-tourism programs in Ghana. We therefore welcome you to participate in our programs and we will be honored by your participation.

Year Founded

1998