Volunteer at Lotus Childrens Centre in Accra, Ghana

  Ghana

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks

Description: Lartebiokorshie, the area in which Lotus Childrens Centre is located, is a lower middle class area, near the centre of Accra. The streets are a rough, untarsealed and sandy maze, with little drainage in the rainy season. Palm and papaya trees decorate the otherwise barren gardens; despite it being the city, goats and chickens wander about everywhere.

You will be engaged in various activities, mainly teaching in the nursery school and helping out in the childrens home. As the girls are now teenagers, it may take time however to get on side with them, so patience and a good sense of humour are an asset.

Besides this, on holidays, you can organise special activities in the library, such as art classes, recorder lessons, tutoring reading etc.

In addition to being at the house, volunteers will either be assigned to help out at Lotus nursery school or at Korlegonno (10 minutes bike ride away). In both cases, you will teach classes of around 10-15 children. We encourage volunteers to focus on teaching remedial reading and writing and working with arts and crafts with the children. Although there are many arts and crafts supplies brought from volunteers at the centre, we rely on the volunteers to utilise these items. Local teachers do not understand the value of arts education and are embarrassed by the childrens efforts, which look less than perfect.

Your mornings will involve working in the kindergarten, and after lunch having your free time, or engaging yourself in the childrens' home or the library.

Qualifications: We are looking for female volunteers who love working with children and have a flair for creativity. You will teach small classes in our nursery school in Korlegonno and help out in the childrens home. Qualified teachers and general volunteers are all welcome.

Cost in US$: First month $350, Subsequent months $100 each

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Kids Worldwide is looing for all types of people to volunteer. No experience or expertise is neccessary. We trust that you are someone who loves to work with children and is happy to give their time for them. Each volunteer shares with other volunteers and the children their own talents and gifts.

Age Range: 18 and up (unless accompanied by an adult)

Participants Travel to Ghana Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

KIDS Worldwide's Mission Statement: Kids Worldwide seeks to improve the quality of life for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We provide nurturing care and educational programmes based upon the universal concepts of Neo-Humanism, which are tailored to the needs of the children in our projects. We run orphanages as well as provide services to already established orphanages and childrens' projects (such as struggling primary schools and kindergartens) through our volunteer outreach programs. Our volunteer programs are notable in that we only request a small donation for food and accommodation that is paid directly to the project itself when the volunteer arrives. There is no administration fee requested to sign up through the program as we have volunteers doing all the web design and co-ordination for free. We ask that each volunteer give US $350 for their first month's food and accomodation and $100 thereafter. That is all - compare this to other volunteering sites on the internet!