Working with Orphanage, Ghana

Our program is focussed on addressing the needs of the street children forced from their homes through poverty, neglect or abuse.This project presents the opportunity to help Street Children and those who have lost their parents.
You will be working at an orphanage or a day care centre for children in Ghana. The children live in the orphanage until they are adopted or placed with family members that can take better care of them. As a volunteer working on our Orphanage Program, you will be filling an important role in the lives of these needy children, as well as assisting the hardworking staff at the orphanage. You can help with all manner of tasks at the centre. Help is needed in everything from cooking and serving food to the children, to assisting with their basic education with sports and English lessons. You may also get involved with counselling sessions, so there are real prospects to make a difference.

What kind of skills require for this placement:You will need to be flexible, and have patience, compassion and enthusiasm to face the many hurdles and challenges that you will inevitably encounter within your role. To ensure that you get the most out of and contribute fully to your placement, a pro-active attitude is essential. Volunteers at this orphanage must have, above all, a love of children and a commitment to the project.
Your role as a volunteer:
The orphanage requires extra pairs of hands to help with the day-to-day running of the project, so you will be expected to assist with cleaning, cooking and serving food to the children. You will also help to provide a basic education for the children, by organising Physical Education / Sports lessons and teaching English. You may also be required to assist the staff in counselling the children.

Program Location:
Our orphanage projects are based in different town and villages in Ghana, with shops, banks & Internet cafes nearby. Volunteers stay in shared accommodation. Based in the vibrant city of Accra where visitors are always welcomed. It’s full of contrasts. Home stay accommodation is included in the placement fee.

Activities: Teaching English and Games
Working Hours: Flexible 30 - 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday)
Who Can Volunteer: Anyone from 18-65 years
Language Required: English
Program Location: Accra

Weekly Budget: You will need a weekly budget of up to US$30 to cater for all your other expenses like bottled water, personal costs, beverages and entertainment.

Project Start Dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month

Program Fees are in British Pounds

Weeks         Program Fee
1                  £299
2                  £389
3                  £479
4                  £569
5                  £659
6                  £749
7                  £839
8                  £929
9                  £1,019
10                £1,109
11                £1,199
12                £1,289
Additional Week = £90
convert our program fee into your local currency

Are you interested in our 1 week language and culture program?

WHERE THE PROGRAM FEE GOES:

Field Expenses: Food, Room, Donation to Project (42%)
Program Development (23%)
Outreach (14%)
Volunteer Coordination (11%)
Administrative Cost (10%)

What is Included in Fees?

Airport Pick Up: Upon arrival, our in country coordinator and a staff will be at the Airport to pick you up. Please do not forget to send us your flight information as we would be waiting to pick you up. We guarantee, you will never miss us at the airport.

Orientation: Orientation about the local culture, history, safety, project and other issues relating to the country.

Accommodation: You will be staying with a host family, within a rented house or a hostel and volunteer will stay either in a single or shared room. Our host families are carefully screened and must meet Volunteer and Culture Xp's requirements before being accepted as a host family. All our families are middle-class and live in safe neighbourhoods. The distance from the project varies.

Meal: In most cases your meals are cooked and provided for you by your host family. You will be getting 3 Meals per day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Traditional but very nutritious. If you're a vegetarian or have any allergies, this is taken into account when we arrange your placement.

24/7 in Country Support & Supervision: There are field offices and staffs all over our projects sites and our country co-ordinator will also be available to help you when you need it, including a 24-hour support team. Volunteers and Culture Xp is committed to making sure all participating communities and volunteers benefit from the collaboration.

Safety: Your well being while volunteering with us is our priority. We make sure your trip is safe and our in-country coordinator will provide whatever support you may need at any step along the way.

Administrative Charges: Our staff works every day to take care of our volunteers: Emails are answered; phone calls are taken; coordination occurs between projects; and most importantly volunteers are placed within areas of their interest in villages. Even though we try hard to keep these administration costs to a minimum so that your money can be used most effectively.

Arrival & Departure Airport: Kotoka International Airport (ACC)

What is NOT Included?
Flight, Airport Taxes, Visa, Immunizations, Personal expenses, Soft drinks, Mineral Water, Passport, Travel Insurance, Entrance fees and in-country travel expenses including any excursions the volunteer wishes to take whiles volunteering except our programs that include travelling.

Volunteers arriving earlier than the program start date or staying after the completion of the program may be ask to pay additional fee of £20 per day to cover their accommodation and food.

Testimonials

I want to thank Volunteer & culture Xp (VCXP) staffs and everyone involved with the organization for a wonderful experience; it was everything I was hoping for. As with anything really, I believe that you guys are working for a great cause and are making a difference daily.
Janel Longoria, Lincoln Park,

The Experience: I got home and started up with work right away and have been so busy it's nuts. Quite a change adjusting back to the daily craze after adapting to Africa time ;-) It's funny though; when I first got to Ghana I loved that I could wake up whenever I wanted and that schedules were so flexible.
Sarah Reilen, Lexington, MA. U

The Experience: The journeys I made and the memories I have made me a more open-minded individual. I came back to America with a whole new perspective on Ghanaian, culture and people in general. I wouldn’t change one thing and I recommend that everyone takes advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”
Lucy Whidden, Chicago, IL. USA