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Author Topic: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage  (Read 8084 times)

Offline zorgon

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Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« on: February 08, 2013, 06:17:08 pm »
Have you ever thought of helping out at a children's home or offering your time at a hospice? Our volunteer program offers many opportunities to volunteer in various fields. ~ Daniel Darkwa



I have done some checking around and there are several agencies that offer working volunteer travel programs to places like Ghana.

Unlike the French Foreign Legion :P or the Peace Corps, these are short term 'vacation' experiences. You get to choose the length of stay.  Though you do pay for the trip and program, the program fees only cover expenses.

I met Daniel Darkwa on facebook and offered to help promote his group via web presence and juts sharing the links.  It seems like a great way to get an inexpensive trip while getting immersed in local culture.

The orphanage also creates native goods that I plan to carry in my shop (and you can buy direct as well) I know many people do not trust sending money to Africa... so I will be doing the background checks on this group in the next few weeks and will send for some samples to test the import procedure and quality.

There are several agencies around that will place people on such tours for an added fee. But we have a direct link to this group (started in 2001)

I will repost images and information here shortly. Any one wants to help out getting background info, please jump in. It is important we do verify this but so far I see no problems.

You can contact Daniel on Facebook. Tell him I sent you :D


Daniel in the center
« Last Edit: February 08, 2013, 06:42:21 pm by zorgon »

Offline zorgon

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2013, 06:17:22 pm »
The Orphans








« Last Edit: February 08, 2013, 06:37:10 pm by zorgon »

Offline zorgon

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2013, 06:17:35 pm »
The Volunteers









« Last Edit: February 08, 2013, 06:34:56 pm by zorgon »

Offline zorgon

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2013, 06:23:24 pm »
Programme Fees
Friday 08 February 2013


Program fees and details of support and services we provide volunteers apply to all projects except the community work and Travel Program. Below is the duration and price list. This is Fee for all SAVO programs in 2013.

Below is  the duration and price list.


   
MODE OF PAYMENT
BANK NAME:    ECOBANK GHANA,
ACCOUNT NAME    SAMBA AFRICA VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION
ACCOUNT NO    0481084472521301
BRANCH    ECOBANK SAFEBOND TEMA COUNTRY: GHANA
BENEFICIARY ADDRESS    B PRISCILLA (SAVO) PO.BOX KF2036 KOFORIDUA-GHANA.
TEL: 00233242383684

2-Weeks - Language and Cultural Program - 3050 USD

The program fee covers:
1. Registration fees, has now been reduced to insignificant quota due to our effort to balance the sheet between rising air-travel cost and the continuing global financial problems - Registration fee cover administrative expenses and support services. Though considerably cut down, same high quality service is assured.
2. Airport pickup upon arrival.
3. Accommodation and meals in Accra upon arrival, before transfer to project site.
4. Transportation to project site first day.
5. Accommodation and meals in Accra prior to departure.
6. Drop-off at airport on departure day.
7. Accommodation
8. Utilities
9. Meals - Breakfast, lunch and super
10. Letter of recommendation and/or certificate of participation after completion of program.

The program fee does not cover
1. Transportation to and from your home airport
2. Air travel cost to and from Ghana
3. Holiday to places and events of interest.
4. Any expenses including transfer from one project to another
5. Insurance cover (you need to purchase one. Most of our partners can offer you a cover)
6. Expenses on meals and drinks from restaurants during outings
7. Host family is not responsible for your feeding and accommodation cost if you travel outside home for whatever purpose. It is your own cost. If it has to do with work authorized by the local organization, the local organization shall be responsible for your feeding and accommodation.
8. And others not stated in what program fees covers

About Accommodation
The accommodation type we arrange for volunteers is the family stay type. This means that volunteers stay with a family as their host. Staying with a host family is very ideal and cost saving for both the volunteer and SAVO-Ghana. The volunteer gets to experience the culture closely and better whilst SAVO-Ghana also comfortably manages the security and safety of the volunteer and properties. In a room, each volunteer has to his/her own, a bed, pillow and bedspread.

In the home of the host family, volunteers have access to toilet and bath, kitchen, lounge, television, radio, electricity, water, dinning table and table sets. We pick families with children in the house. There are some places of work and residence without electricity and running water so you may do without television, and the likes. However the volunteer's safe health is well guided. The cost of accommodation is part of the total program fee. In most cases, it's one volunteer to one room.

Occasionally, there may be two volunteers to one room. Matching volunteers to host families and pairing volunteers in a room is done by picking needed information from the volunteers. The host families are consistently screened with their information updated on regular basis to make sure they meet our standards and also match to volunteers we send over to them. About the food Host families are responsible for providing the volunteer breakfast, lunch and dinner all days.

In some instances, due to the distance between project site and home, volunteers go along with a lunch pack. The foods served are mainly continental dishes comprising rice, chicken, beef, tea, coffee, bread, eggs, soup, potato, oaths, fruits, fish, etc. local foods are served alongside and are made mainly from the above, tubers, beans and/or maize. We have to mention that it is very common for a volunteer to find a familiar dish in a restaurant in the cities. Drinking Water Drinking water for our volunteers is an issue we take seriously and make sure that volunteers drink well treated water.

Some companies are into the manufacture of such water that are well treated and hygienically bottled or bagged. Laundry

Generally, your host brother, sister or mother assist you with your laundry but it is not an obligation, learn to wash your clothing’s with your hands in several buckets, enjoy the sun drying your clothes and smell the African aroma in your clothes General living You might find yourself washing clothes with your hands, cooking with a firewood and discussing politics or religion behind candlelight. It is a unique opportunity to become deeply immersed in Ghanaian culture. Stay in hostels and dormitories are organized for volunteers who so desire but in groups of not less than six working on similar project(s). After you have compared figures and services with other program offered by other companies /organizations, speaking with past volunteers, you shall come to conclusion that, our services /programs are far better, well packaged, organised and affordable for volunteers.

Unlike others, there are no extra fees to be paid upon arrival in Ghana. A volunteer does not end up spending beyond what He/She has budgeted for after signing up with us and arriving in the country. This is a relief and welcoming news for many volunteers. Comparatively, you eventually spend less in Ghana on our program. Accommodation and feeding is pre-arranged for all volunteers by SAVO. The cost of accommodation and feeding are part of the total program fee to be paid.

The accommodation type arranged for volunteers are the family stays /home stay type. This means that volunteers stay with a family as their host. The families offer volunteers their own private room in the family house, and provide breakfast, lunch and dinner all days for the volunteers. In some instances, due to the distance between project site and home, volunteers go along with a lunch pack. In most cases, it's one volunteer to one room. Other times, there may be two volunteers to one room. Matching volunteers to host families and pairing volunteers in a room is done by picking needed information from the volunteers.

The host families are consistently screened with their information updated on regular basis to make sure they meet our standards and also match to volunteers we send over to them.

The foods served are mainly international dishes comprising rice, chicken, beef, tea, coffee, bread, eggs, soup, potato, oaths, fruits, fish, etc. local foods are served alongside and are made mainly from the above, tubers, beans and/or maize. We have to mention that it is very common to find dishes volunteers are familiar with in a restaurant in the cities. Staying with a host family is very ideal and cost saving for both the volunteers and SAVO. The volunteers get to experience the culture closely and better whilst SAVO also comfortably manages the security and safety of the volunteer and properties. In a room, each volunteer has to his/her own, a bed, pillow and bedspread. In the home of the host family, volunteers have access to toilet and bath, kitchen, lounge, television, radio, electricity, water, dinning table and table sets. We pick families with a man, wife and children.

There are some places of work and residence without electricity and running water. However the volunteer's safe health is well guided Sometimes volunteers could request to be paired in the same room or host family. You might find yourself washing clothes with your hands, cooking with a firewood and discussing politics or religion behind candlelight. It is a unique opportunity to become deeply immersed with Ghanaian culture. Drinking water for our volunteers is an issue we take seriously and make sure that volunteers drink well treated water. Some companies are into the manufacture of such water that are well treated and hygienically bottled.

The benefits to you An SAVO travel experience offers you much more than the opportunity to work on a volunteer project overseas. It offers you the simplicity of a package holiday with all the rewards of independent travel. Safety and support When you pay for the services of an organization like the SAVO, you can be sure that whatever happens, there’ll be someone nearby to help you out. This means that you can travel with confidence to Ghana that you might not otherwise have considered. Save time Finding a suitable project where you can assist takes time and is often impossible to do from home. This can be frustrating, especially if you only have several weeks or months in the country. Because of our constant relationship with the projects, we can ensure you hit the ground running and make full use of your time abroad.


http://sambaafricavoluntary.org/programFee.php

Offline zorgon

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2013, 06:25:12 pm »
Products










The DRUMS  This is what caught my attention in the first place :D

« Last Edit: February 08, 2013, 06:28:43 pm by zorgon »

Offline zorgon

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2013, 06:36:21 pm »
The Scenery






Offline zorgon

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2013, 12:13:54 am »
USED LAPTOPS WANTED

Yup makes sense... they could sure use those for the schools.   Toys, Games and clothing too... I would assume new... will have to check export laws on that

BENEFICIARY ADDRESS
B PRISCILLA (SAVO) PO.BOX KF2036
KOFORIDUA-GHANA.
TEL: 00233242383684

How much does it cost to ship a single laptop to Ghana?

Checking that now...

Okay that is for containers   :o

So Used toys and clothes are okay... a small laptop would fit into a  flat rate box, USPS-Produced Box: 13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" Maximum weight 20 pounds. for $59.95 much better. If it doesn't fit, regular Priority for up to 5lbs is about the same

Dang shipping charges are a killer these days. And USPS just raised their rate AND are cutting off Saturday delivery as of Aug 5th   >:(
« Last Edit: February 09, 2013, 12:25:12 am by zorgon »

Offline Somamech

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Re: Volunteer Vacations at a Ghana Orphanage
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2013, 10:25:45 am »
This reminds me a lot about WOOF programs and how brilliant that can be for someone travelling with Desire and a little cash.

It also reminds me of the Rocket Stove Project I saw online a couple of years ago when I was going all Ghetto building a coffee tin and vermiculite Rocket Stove to prove the concept to myself.  They Dang work !!!

So a general Gist of the Rocket Stove Project is here:

http://www.treehugger.com/culture/bringing-5-million-rocket-stoves-to-women-worldwide-the-paradigm-project.html

http://theparadigmproject.org/the-stoves/ 





 


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