Early Learning and Baby Weighing in Ghana

Volunteer role

Volunteers assist with the day to day running of the school kindergarten by organising educational activities and working with small groups of children to help them improve their individual skills. Activities that volunteers may be involved in include:

• Educational early learning lessons including phonics and numbers
• English activities and games
• Dance and group activities
• Maths lessons
• Supervising and interacting during play time
• Organising music and art activities

Baby weighing clinics take place 3 times a month and are held in surrounding villages and are attended by mothers with children who are 0-5 years old.

Volunteers support the charities handwashing projects by helping out at school health education activity sessions.

How the project is making a difference:

The charity that you will work alongside in Ghana started their work in 2006 when they completed their first well which allowed a village of more than 300 people to access safe drinking water. Since then, they have helped many other villages to alleviate poverty with the help of volunteers on projects which include building wells, a clinic, schools, toilets, improving education and health initiatives.

The team run hand washing and sanitation projects in 10 communities in Ghana. They have taught the importance of good hygiene to over 3,000 children and this also had a positive impact on the local community since now 90% of the parents of those children taught understand the importance of germs and hand washing.

Why volunteers are needed:

The kindergarten has limited staff and resources so volunteers are able to help support the local staff and provide focused education assistance to the children.

Although English is the national language of Ghana, the level of English in this area is low since many children speak local tribal languages. All Primary and Secondary school subjects in Ghana are taught in English, so a good understanding of the language is vital for furthering their education. By interacting with the young children in English volunteers are directly improving the children’s prospects.