Volunteer at Christ Outreach Orphanage and School in Ghana
Volunteer at Christ Outreach Orphanage and School in Ghana
It takes a very special kind of person to volunteer in an orphanage. For many people, the idea of leaving their country, family, friends and everything else familiar behind is scary. Foregoing comforts such as televisions, comfortable beds, water in abundance and fast food is difficult, and a lot of people would never try it. But for those who do give it a go, volunteering at Christ Outreach Orphanage and School has rewards that cannot be measured. Smiles on children's faces and memories of songs and laughs and small joys last a lifetime, and knowing you made a differencehowever small or largeis something money could never buy, and is worth more than any luxury could ever equal.
Compassionate Journeys volunteers have an opportunity to work in an orphanage in Kasoa, a village in the Greater Accra area, called Christ Outreach Orphanage and School . The number of orphans in the facility varies, but there are about 120 students enrolled in the school. The students come from the area surrounding the orphanage. All of them are very poor, but are all eager to learn.
A stout woman named Rose Abekah, or Auntie Rose, as she's called by most, started the orphanage. She still lives in a small room there, sleeping on a mattress on the floor. She is humble and strong.
Auntie Rose started the orphanage and school over a decade ago. At the time, she was relatively rich by Ghana standards, and she felt a great deal of compassion for children who did not have the opportunities her own children had. She put everything she had into the orphanage, and still does. Today, she is money poor but rich in spirit. She is overwhelmed at times, and often worries about how she will continue to care for the children, but with the help of volunteers and the teaching staff, every month she manages to keep going. Sometimes the children only eat one meal a day; other times teachers don't get paid for months at a time. But Auntie Rose keeps trying and is quick to credit her faith in God for her continued hope.
As a volunteer, you will be given the choice of doing free-play activities with younger children, doing maintenance around the building, or you can teach in one of the primary school classrooms. We would like you to use your own individual talents and passions in whatever way you'd like.
The first day or two of teaching can feel terribly daunting, but you'll quickly learn to write the lesson on the chalkboard so the children can copy it verbatim, as is the standard in Ghana schools, and also learn to understand the children's English, which sounds very different than American English. It may impress you to know that the children must learn at least four languages: Twi, Fante, English and French.
The day's schedule is usually posted on a wall, so following the routine is simple. School starts at 8am and finishes at about 3pm. Children break for lunch, and you can often find them out at the nearby football (soccer) field. After school, you are welcome to stay and interact with the kids, visit friends or go back to the hostel and relax.
The heart of the experience is not simply standing in front of a class full of bright-eyed children. The relationships you will inevitably build with these children are so wonderful! There will be children you bond with right away, and others who are more shy. They enjoy volunteers just as much as volunteers enjoy them. The joy of watching them learn new things, and also the fun in learning new things from them, is something you will never forget.
What's more, when you volunteer with Compassionate Journeys , 80 percent of your volunteer fee goes directly to the orphanage. This pays for food for the children, teaching supplies, teacher salaries, or anything else Auntie needs at the time - and there is always need.
Volunteers stay in a safe hostel nearby with a ground coordinator available 24 hours a day. You can read more on what to expect HERE. You will receive two meals a day at the hostel, and the third will be made for you by Auntie Rose or other orphanage staff. Much of the experience is up to youyou will get out of it just as much as you put into it, and the memories will last forever!
Volunteering is easier than you think! If you're looking for a meaningful experience, volunteer at Christ Outreach Orphanage and School!
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