Your Role
You will be based in either a school (ages 1-4) or an orphanage (various ages) or both depending on your motivation. The school operates in the mornings only and your responsibility will be to look after pre-school kids. With your time in the school, your role will mainly not be teaching particular subjects but you'll be required to play with the kids, teach the alphabets and numbers, help them develop their writing and communication habits, tell stories and help them enjoy their time at the school. Also, with the introduction of the school feeding programme, you'll be required to help feed the kids and as well as monitor their eating habits. All volunteers are hugely appreciated as many of the teachers are overworked.
The Orphanage is about five minutes' walk from the school and it consists of about 120 kids whose ages range from four years onwards, and who are either orphans or have been drawn from the streets of Accra. The orphanage runs two sessions - the morning and the afternoon sessions. On the average, 60 kids attend each session. Unlike the school, you'll be mainly teaching subjects like Art, English, Science and Maths. These lessons should be basic as most of the kids have not had any form of formal education in their lives. With your help as a teaching assistant, staff will be able to offer the children more individual attention and care which is essential for their growth and development. As a native English speaker, volunteers will also be able to assist in English lessons, giving the children invaluable practise and added confidence with conversational and written English.
Lessons can be quite varied as each child’s needs are unique so volunteers will need to be creative during the programme. There are challenges daily and frustrating at times but the programme is highly rewarding and you will have the freedom to introduce your own teaching methods and techniques for each child. You’ll also be able to get involved in preparing and joining in with games and fun activities with the children which helps to allow them to express themselves independently. There is always work to do around the school and volunteers can also assist in general repair and maintenance such as painting and manual work around the grounds.
Optional Teaching in Ghana
In addition to the main placement, volunteers will also have the opportunity to assist in teaching classes in a school in Accra. As a native English speak with a western education, volunteers will offer a huge contribution to the standard of tuition. Subject areas include English (language and literature), science, maths, journalism, IT, business, RE and a whole variety of extra-curricular activities.
Please note: Journey times may vary from project to project. Please contact one of our Africa team for further information.
Project Cost Includes
- Airport transfers to and from Accra Airport upon your arrival and departure
- Orientation programme
- Full board and lodging, including breakfast, lunch and dinner each day
- Assistance in your projects by staff and volunteer coordinators
- Full support from your coordinator throughout your time on your Ghana placement
Project Cost Excludes
- All transport by air to Ghana
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement which must include cover for repatriation
- Soft drinks, wines and spirits
- All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing
- Email/Internet and telephone calls
- All visas for border crossings
- Transport between accommodation and placement each day
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Ghana
Prices and Durations
Ghana Orphan Care Volunteers - 4 weeks £1,099
2010 Start Dates: 06 Mar, 05 Jun, 04 Sep, 05 Dec
Ghana Orphan Care Volunteers - 8 weeks £1,649
2010 Start Dates: 08 May, 07 Aug, 06 Nov
Ghana Orphan Care Volunteers - 12 weeks £2,199
2010 Start Dates: 09 Jan, 10 Apr, 10 Jul, 09 Oct
Please Note: Additional weeks are available, please contact us for start dates.
