Volunteering Opportunities

Construction Program- Schools and Health Posts


Most of the schools in Ghana do not have basic physical infrastructures like toilets, proper classrooms, playgrounds, libraries, or even drinking water. Therefore,
students are facing many problems and often find it difficult to continue their studies. RCV has been working very hard to provide interested schools with volunteers who are ready to help construct basic infrastructures and other desperately needed improvements.


In this program interested individuals, students, tourists, professionals, organizations, and other groups can give support by contributing funds and materials or by getting involved themselves in construction program, whilst simultaneously touring different areas of Ghana.

When the volunteers first arrive in Ghana they may enjoy sight seeing or some light trekking for few a days. Upon their return to HO, they will travel to schools /health posts in rural areas to construct physical infrastructures-- e.g. toilets, libraries, class-rooms, compound walls, water supplies, garden and play-grounds etc. Once stationed, the groups will work there between one and two weeks.

Volunteers do not have to have any skills or knowledge about construction, as they will mainly be doing unskilled work such as digging, mixing sand and cement, carrying rocks, sand and bricks, fetching water, and painting the school buildings. They will be led by skilled Nepali and work together with local people who will b providing free labor for the betterment of their communities.

Volunteers who wish to stay for longer periods may participate in our other volunteer programs– e.g. teaching in schools, community education and environmental program, working in orphanages and Anthropology and cultural stay program.
If enough volunteers participate at any given time, RCV can organize appropriate, utilizing Nepali skilled-laborers and their own knowledge where applicable.

Some volunteers at work in a construction site.

VOLUNTEERING IN TEACHING AND OTHER SUBJECTS

Schools in Ghana often lack appropriate funding and resources to adequately teach children. As English is an international language, it is becoming more and more of a required skill for job placement, educational advancement and future success. Many classes are delivered in English by Ghana teachers, who frequently have only a basic knowledge of English themselves. Therefore, there is limited opportunity for Ghana students to expand their knowledge and use of the English language without direct contact with a teacher fluent in English.

In this program volunteer teachers participate in teaching activities in Ghana schools by delivering conversational English and reading classes to Nepali children. To teach English at a Ghana school volunteers don't need to have formal teaching qualifications. You will need a good command of written and spoken English, plenty of enthusiasm and a lot of patience.

For volunteer teachers who do not have previous teaching experience, RCV provides intensive teacher training by the training experts. After the training, the first few days of volunteering are spent observing the Ghanai teachers or other overseas volunteer teachers classes. After observing a few classes, volunteers will start supporting the local teachers and take part in some classes. Later, when the volunteers feel comfortable, they can start teaching classes of their own.

Volunteer teachers, who are professional certified teachers or have previous teaching experience and TEFL certification, may train the local teacher as most of the Ghana teachers lack training and experience.

Children are approximately between five and 16 years of age and volunteers will teach three to four hours per day. Schools are open six days a week, Saturday being the day off. Class sizes range from ten to fifty students. Besides formal teaching, volunteers may get involved in organising activities which encourage the personal development of students, using their initiative to learn life skills.

Volunteer teachers may form student groups, which allow further educational experiences for the children, with a particular focus on capacity-building. These groups are also useful for disseminating information on children rights, sanitation and hygiene, and adolescent health issues through various informal activities such as debates, quiz contests, art competitions, folk song competitions, street dramas, etc. Volunteers will focus a great deal of their time teaching groups before and after school.

RCV Ghana can also provide opportunities for interested volunteers to teach subjects such as mathematics, environmental science, pure science, international history, computer science, art, music, sports, P.E. and other vocational subjects.