| Volunteer at Country-Side Children's Home in Ghana |
| FAQ |
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| Would I be met at the airport and be accompanied by someone from CATO upon arrival? What happens when I arrive in Accra? |
| Of Course yes. Our programme fee includes but not limited to airport pickup and drop-off, transfer to orphanage, bed and breakfast in a hotel in Accra when you arrive after 6pm, dormitory style accommodation, meals and support from CATO staff. Upon your arrival at the airport, CATO staff will bear a placard bearing your name. You are given prior instructions by email of how to meet a CATO representative at the airport without hassle. |
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| You mentioned that volunteers at this particular orphanage stay in rented apartments 2-4 minutes from the centre. What are the living conditions in these apartments? i.e. are there showers, hot water, flushable toilets, electricity in the rooms? |
| These apartment is rented to house volunteers. They have pit toilet. Hot water can be arranged. Bathing is done by using buckets of water which is provided. Electricity is available at the orphanage. Bottled or bagged mineral water can be purchased not too far away. Medical help is usually in the form of community health nurses. For a Physician, you may have to go to the nearest major town (Accra 60km and Agona Swedru 20km). For telephones, you would have to go to the nearest bigger town (Agona Swedru 20km). A cell phone is available in the dormitory |
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| Is it necessary to share a room with other volunteers, or are single rooms available? Also, are the rooms lockable and are there some kind of safes or lockers to put valuables like money, passport etc.? |
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| These rooms are dormitory style accommodation, thus you have to share with other volunteers. The rooms are lockable and we provide lockers to lock your valuables. CATO also has a safe locker in their offices in Accra to keep you passports and other valuables if you choose this option. We will insure the safety of your valuables. |
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| At present how many volunteers do you have? Where are the volunteers from? Will there be any British, American or European volunteers there? If so, how many? |
| We receive volunteer applications from all over the world. Our volunteers come mainly from Europe and the USA and few from Asia. |
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| You mentioned that volunteers work 4 hours per day. Is the rest of the time your own do spend as you wish? Do volunteers have weekends off? |
| We expect the volunteers to work AT LEAST, 4 hours every day, Monday to Friday. Volunteers may choose to do whatever with the rest of the time. Typically, our volunteers work about 8-9 hours Monday through Friday and them take weekends of to go to Accra (main city - 60km) or Agona Swedru (25km) for some entertainment. Our staff can help on weekends with your entertainment plans. |
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| For safety, are there doctors/hospitals within the vicinity? Or first aides at the centre? |
| The centre has no doctors. They have a resident nurse and an infirmary for first aid etc. Accra (60km) has hospitals with doctors and Agona Swedru (25km) has community hospitals with nurses and doctors. |
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| I know you said there is no Internet access at the centre. However, for contacting home, are there phones at the centre? |
| The centre itself has no Internet access but Accra (60km) and Agona Swedru (25km) has Internet access. The care taker at the home has a cell phone. It is with these phone that volunteers normally use to receive calls from home. Volunteers do also buy phone cards and use the cell phone available to make calls home. Volunteers also travel 25km to Agona Swedru to call centres to make calls home or use the Internet The orphanage is working around the clock to have phone and Internet service at the home. |
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| What Kind of Meals are Served? |
| You will be given at least three meals a day (local food like rice, banku, yam or kenkey with stew or soup plus fruits. |
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| If I was to bring a friend, would it be possible that we shared a room? |
| Off Course yes. Since it is a dormitory style accommodation, you share your room with your friends. |
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| What Qualifications Do I need? |
| The only qualification you need is a desire to learn a new culture and must be at least 17 years of age. Under 17 years must be accompanied by an adult. |
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| Do I pay any Fees? |
| Yes, the programme fees are available on the programme details page on our website. |
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| What does the programme fee includes? |
| The Programme Fee includes the following: |
| Airport pick-up. |
| First Night's Bed and Breakfast. |
| Transportation to placement. |
| Dormitory Style accommodation. |
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. |
| Monthly check-up visits from CATO officials. |
| Airport drop-off from any place in Accra. |
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| What is not included in the programme Fee? |
| Programme Fees does not include: |
| Airline Ticket. |
| Visa application fee. |
| Bottled Water. Entertainment. Sight seeing tours and other personal needs. |
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| What Subjects can I teach if I choose to teach? |
| You can teach any one or more of these: English, Math, Social Studies, Life Skills, Religious and Moral Studies, Technical Skills, Basic Computer Skills, Fine Art, Environmental studies, Agricultural Science, Integrated Science and so on. |
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| Can I come at anytime of the year? |
| Of Course Yes. But if you're interested in teaching and due to the school calendar in Ghana, we can place volunteer teachers only within the following periods (terms) in the year: |
| 15th SEPTEMBER to 15th DECEMBER (1st School Term) |
| 15th JANUARY to 31st MARCH (2nd School Term) |
| 15th MAY to 15th AUGUST (3rd School Term) |
| In between these periods, volunteers can do any of the following: |
| Taking children out for walks and places of interest. |
| Helping with home work. Sports. |
| Creativity. |
| Mending of clothes, furniture, etc., |
| Painting. Washing, playing and feeding of babies. |
| School Farm. School Clinic (infirmary) |
| Providing love and attention |
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| What are the School Hours? |
| Most schools start at 08.00hrs and end at 15.00hrs GMT/UTC. |
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| What is the accommodation Like? |
| You will be staying in a dormitory style accommodation. There are always other people in the house as well; and they would be willing to provide you all the necessary assistance you require. In your dormitory room will be a bed with a mattress and in most cases a table and chair. You may choose to bring along a mosquito net and a spare bed sheet. I am interested in your programme. |
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| How Do I Apply? |
| Fill out and submit the Application Form as soon as possible. You'll be assigned a placement, provisionally, within 5 days. Your placement will become secured only after you've paid a non-refundable application fee of $100 that goes towards the cost of the programme if you enrol. |
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| Can you give me an idea about the cost of living in Ghana? |
| A 1.5 litre bottle of mineral water costs $0.60. A plate of say Fried Rice with chicken from most Fast Food joints costs $2. Transport within town is mainly by small minibuses seating about 16 passengers and taxis. Fares on minibuses are very low: less than $0.50 per hour. An hour's ride on a taxi costs about $3. Refer to our Ghana Budget for detailed cost information. |
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| Do I get placement with other volunteers? |
| This depends on when other volunteers around the world are interested in volunteering. We have had circumstances where we had 10 volunteers volunteering in the same month and a circumstance where only one volunteer volunteered in a month. |
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| What training is provided? |
| Country and orphanage orientation will be provided by CATO staff, Orphanage staff or host family upon arrival in Ghana. |
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| What would a typical day be like? |
| Wake at say 6.30am, bath, breakfast. Then to school at 7.30-8.00. Volunteer as your volunteer schedule provides. Lunch around 12noon. Return to volunteer till 2 or 4pm. After scheduled hours it's up to the volunteer to plan the remainder of the day. About 6pm: Supper is served. |
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| Can I use my Visa, Mastercard, travellers check in the village? |
| You can only use these in Accra but not Bawjiase, where the orphanage is located. In Accra and other big cities, you can cash your VISA, MasterCard and JCB credit/debit cards and Travellers Checks in any branch of Barclays Bank (all regional capitals). Standard Chartered Bank also accepts VISA card at all branches. Several other banks also accept VISA card and Travellers Checks. You can even draw on your VISA card through many ATMs in Accra and other large cities in Ghana, 24 hours a day, any day. |
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| How long can I volunteer? |
| Volunteer placement is for any length of time between of 1 month and six months. This can be extended if you so desire. |
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| Do I need any shots, vaccination etc.? |
| Obligatory for all visitors to Ghana is the YELLOW FEVER inoculation. The vaccination must be taken at least 10 days before the journey. We recommend (not required) We recommend you consider vaccinations for Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, Typhoid, Tetanus and anti-malaria medications. |
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| Are there any risk involved? |
| International travel inherently has risks. Ghana is considered to be one of the safer countries one can visit in Africa. You must however take necessary precautions to protect yourself against illness and other travel-related risks. We also assist you to take necessary precautions to protect yourself from theft etc. |
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| How may I reduce my chances of getting ill? |
| It's advisable to consult your physician about 6 weeks before your travel date for any needed vaccinations and a prescription for an anti-malarial medicine. Sleeping under a mosquito net is also necessary whilst in Ghana. We recommend our programme participants drink bottled water. |
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