Hand in Hand, Nkoranza, Ghana (UK Support)

Volunteering

Are you thinking about a gap year? Do you just fancy a few months away and want to spend your time meaningfully? Or perhaps you are considering a VSO placement and want to try out Ghana before you commit? As long as you are aged 18 years old or above (as much above as you like!) Hand in Hand UK would like to hear from you.

A summary of the programme from the Hand in Hand Ghana website:
www.operationhandinhand.nl

The purpose of the program is:
- To invite volunteers to share their knowledge, experience and creativity in working with our   special children.
- To provide interested persons the possibility for more intense cross-cultural experiences.
- Stay is 3 months minimum, working Monday-Friday (8 hours per day).

Duties:
We need people who can create a good atmosphere around them, know how to relate with children and who are well motivated to help with learning and development schemes. Each volunteer should apply with a letter, preferably by email, with CV attached. If possible an interview will take place in the United Kingdom for UK volunteers.

Assistance is particularly needed at the sheltered workshop and at the newly created ‘Nana Yaw Hall’ where we work with children on the autism spectrum. Volunteers assist in the various day programmes and are allocated one-to-one time with some of the children and young people with greater needs. These children are taken out daily by ‘their volunteer’ for walks, games, singing or other therapies. There are special speech classes and other activities arranged in mutual agreement with the coordinator

Prices and Accomodation:
Volunteers can live in the volunteer house, in one of the guesthouses on the compound or with a family in the village. The volunteer house is a nice little house on the compound with four rooms, a kitchen, shower and toilet. Most of the volunteers choose to live at the volunteer house. The daily rent for a single room in the volunteer house is 4 Cedis (in 2008 a Cedi equaled more or less a Dollar). If you share your room with another volunteer the cost per room is 6 Cedis. If someone stays with a host family the cost is usually around £150 per month. This usually includes breakfast and an evening meal. At the volunteer house the shopping and cooking is done by the volunteers themselves. Along with your flights, visa and medical expenses, accommodation is the only cost of your placement. There are no hidden charges or administrative fees.