Ghana Orphan and Vulnerable Children

Work with orphans and vulnerable children and give vital love and support to young children who have lost their families.

FROM: 4 weeks: £ 499 – USD$ 725 | 8 weeks: £ 1049 – USD$ 1525 | 12 weeks: £ 1299 – USD$ 1885

Dates & Prices

4 weeks
from £499 / USD$725
8 weeks
from £1049 / USD$1525
12 weeks
from £1299 / USD$1885

What Next?

If you have made up your mind your application starts here

Interested in volunteering, but have a question then please contact us

As a volunteer, you will provide essential early developmental care and nurturing that is so important in the lives of young children. With your care their lives can be improved.

Highlights

  • Nuture young children that crave a little extra attention
  • Make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children
  • Feed, wash, change and care for babies and toddlers
  • Play with, teach and counsel young children
  • Provide essential early developmental care

Project Background

In Ghana some children’s homes are owned by the government whilst others are privately owned.

Government-owned children’s homes typically house over 150 children. This sector really struggles with very meager resources to care for the children, especially toddlers and babies. The ages of these children can range from one day old to 18 years, but all require your care and support.

Orphanages and foster homes in Ghana are basic and under resourced in both material and human resources. They have very few school supplies, toys and very little food. You will be helping to contribute to the growth and quality of the services provided by orphanages throughout the country.

Project Gallery

Project Details – Your role as a volunteer

T

he main role of a volunteer on this project is to provide love, care and attention to the vulnerable children living at the home. You may also get involved in teaching the children, as many of the children go to school during the day or attend schools attached to the orphanage.

Some of the typical activities you may be involved in include:

  • Planning and providing extra curricular activities; sports, music and culture, games
  • Extra studies and organizing excursions to the beach
  • Changing nappies
  • Bottle-feeding babies
  • Doing the children’s laundry
  • Helping the children to get ready for school and sending them back to their respective dormitories after classes
  • Help to prepare the children’s lunch
  • Teaching the children to observe personal hygiene
  • Playing with children
  • Counseling children
  • Supervising day-to-day activities such as sweeping, bathing and fetching of water etc
Sara Couse
Volunteer

I really enjoyed my time in Ghana. Had an amazing time and is definitely an experience I will never forget. The combination of being able to teach and visit the orphanage was a nice mix… ours days were always busy! At the school we were given free reign to teach or organise games. At the orphanage we got to do fun things with the kids after school or help them with their homework! The whole experience was so enjoyable. The highlight was definitely just spending time with the children. They were wonderful and full of life, they took nothing for granted and were the happiest kids I have ever met despite having so little. Being immersed in the heart of Ghana’s culture was eye opening and experiencing the African way of life was great! The accommodation was way beyond expectations. Very comfortable and host family were great. We were provided with really good meals for breakfast and dinner. We were able to try lots of traditional Ghanaian dishes.

Arrival dates are the second Friday of every month.

You should arrange your flights to arrive into and depart from Kotoka International Airport, Accra for the set dates.

During your project, you will have the fantastic opportunity to live with a local family close to where you will be working. You will find all of the families warm and welcoming, though you may be a little surprised by the accommodation standards compared to those you are used to!

Home-stays provide the unique opportunity to fully integrate and experience a cultural immersion by living with a local, English speaking Ghanaian family in their home. They will be on hand to help you and also show you around the local area and make you feel perfectly at home.

The accommodation in Ghana will vary; from very basic with outside taps and long drop toilets (possible in more rural areas), to sofas, showers and televisions. There may well be water shortages or electricity power cuts at times. All of our homes have been carefully inspected and you will have your own bedroom and a fan, though in a few instances or upon request you may also be sharing with another volunteer. When in the village, volunteers feel extremely safe and will be treated like one of the community members.

During your stay you will be provided with two meals per day, breakfast and dinner. Lunches will depend on where your project is located. If you are only a short walk from your accommodation, then your host family will be more than happy to provide food for lunch at the house. However, volunteers that need to take a taxi or short bus ride to your project, typically buy some fresh fruits and snacks from the local vendors near the project.

After your booking has been confirmed, arrange your return flights to Kotoka International Airport. You will be met at the airport and taken to your hostel or host family depending on the arrangement and project.

Throughout your stay in Ghana you will have the support and guidance of the Ghanaian project leaders and team. They will provide you with competent field support and assistance and help you with any questions, or support, you may need during your stay.

Volunteers aged 18 to 50 years will be accepted onto this programme.

Want to join this programme, but still have some questions?