Volunteer at Tamale Children's Home
Tamale,
Ghana
Would you like to become a Volunteer in
Tamale Children's Home and orphanage?
While Ghana is one of the more
successful of the African nations, the northern part of the
country still has a poverty level above 80%, with all the
associated health problems poverty brings with it.
Tamale Children's Home is located
in the Northern Region of Ghana. After about nine hours on the
road from Accra (the capital) and a brief stop in Kumasi, you
will arrive in Tamale, capital of the Northern Region to make
a difference in the lives of the orphans at the Tamale
Children's Home. There are about 30 children from one week old
living in the Tamale orphanage and two permanent Ghanaian
employees. Volunteers are needed to make a difference in the
lives of the children. Normally volunteers work during the
morning or the afternoon. The work responsibilities of
volunteers include picking the children up from bed, feeding,
bathing and dressing. Volunteers also help the staff with
cleaning, entertaining and taking the sick children to the
hospital.
Tamale
Children's Home: A Special Home for abandoned
babies and children in the Rural area of Ghana. These children
are not only orphans but also have no extended families to go
to as is the normal situation in Ghana.
The Tamale Children's Home is
really a long way from being called a Children's Home. You are
bound to have sleepless nights just thinking about its
numerous problems. This is an orphanage established in 1969,
by the Department of Social Welfare to cater to abandoned
children and orphans, but, unlike other orphanages set up in
the big cities (e.g. OSU, S.O.S. in Accra and Tema) which more
frequently enjoy philanthropic services, the Tamale children's
home is rarely heard of and does not enjoy such support.
Perhaps because the Tamale community is predominantly poor,
and has a disadvantageous location (13hrs drive from Accra)
there is a lack of media interest; as such the home which
serves the entire Northern region and a significant part of
the Brong Ahafo region, has remained largely anonymous since
its establishment. Can you picture a foster home with no donor
support? Apart from one Catholic Rev. Father by the name of
Martin who lends a hand from time to time, the children remain
abandoned even in the foster home.
Tamale is the capital of the
Northern Region. Residents of the surrounding savanna area are
chiefly engaged in the activities of cattle raising, farming,
and cotton growing. The city, which is a road hub and trade
centre, contains cotton- and shea-nut-processing industries,
and handicrafts, especially baskets, are made here. Tamale is
the site of two government teacher-training colleges and of a
technical institute. Tamale was founded in the early 1900s by
the British as an administrative centre for the Northern
Territories protectorate of the Gold Coast. Population (1988
estimate) 151,100. Learn more >>
Volunteers are
accepted from all over the world through organisations such as
ours, Cultural & Academic Travel Organisation
(www.catointl.org). Supervision for volunteers is provided by
the home. Volunteers are expected to assist in areas of:
 Teaching |
| 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 |
| Providing love and
attention |
|
| If you would like
to come with something for the children, please you can,
of course, items like clothing, shoes and sandals, pens,
pencils, books and other learning and teaching
materials. |
|
| ACCOMMODATION |
| Accommodation is
usually with a host family and are included in the cost
of the programme. |
| |
| QUALIFICATION
/SKILLS |
| Volunteers must
have at least a high school certificate. Teacher
certification helpful but not required. |
| |
| ORIENTATION |
| Each programme
begins with an orientation. Talks will be on African
topics, CATO staff or host family explains culture; currency and local
students describe the social scene. Language training
begins. Orientation includes talks about African
values. |
| |
| CITY
TOURS |
All programme participants
will have the opportunity to embark on an OPTIONAL full
day tour of one of the most beautiful cities in Africa, Accra. Accra reflects
its transition from a 19th-century suburb of
Victoriasburg to today's bustling modern metropolis.
Participants will visit the W.E.B. Dubois memorial
centre for Pan African culture, Independence Square, the
state ceremonial grounds, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the
National Museum with its splendid display of the
exhibits that reflect the heritage of Ghana from
prehistoric to modern times, the Arts Centre.
Participants will have the
opportunity to buy African handicraft and clothes at the
National Arts Centre. The cost of these city tour are
NOT included in the programme cost. |
| |
| Prerequisites: |
Minimum age of 16 Years |
| Dates: |
All Year |
| Work
Hours: |
25-35 hours per week |
| Accommodation: |
Host family and food 3 times
daily |
| Minimum Duration: |
1 Week |
| Fees: |
4 Weeks = US$600 |
| |
6 Weeks = US$700 |
| |
2 Months = US$800 |
| |
3 Months = US$1050 |
| |
4 Months = US$1,300 |
| |
5 Months = US$1,600 |
| |
6 Months = US$1,850 |
| |
Fee Chart >> |
| Duration: |
1 Week to 1 Year |
| Arrival
airport: |
Kotoka International airport,
Accra |
| Programme Materials: |
Download |
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| Programme Details: |
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| Programme
Fees, Historical Tours, Application Process,
Visas. |
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