About the Program
The school caters for children with mild disability to more severe
cases. The school provides a variety of support services to the
students, which largely focus on basic education and life skills
classes, vocational training, speech and physical therapy, and physical
exercise. We place volunteers at a government school for children who
are intellectually challenged. The children have different conditions
and needs. The students range from 6 to 25 years of age.
Whilst the government is making steps to support people with special
needs, the facilities that support them are understaffed and families
often do not have the means to give their child the support they need.
Approximately five million people in Ghana live with disability, which
is approximately a fifth of the population.
If you do not have specific qualifications or experience, then you
will be placed within the classrooms to assist the local teachers with
their classes since volunteers assist in a number of capacities. Those
with experience or a specific area of interest can get involved in the
physical and speech therapy sessions. This involves giving additional
support for the students with more severe needs and supervising the
students with their activities. It is also appreciated if volunteers can
assist in the feeding of children during meal times.
Volunteers are needed to help feed the children and look after them. A
lack of staff, particularly specialized staff, results in the children
receiving very little attention and support. The local staff will do
their best to support you but there maybe times where you have to work
with the children independently, so you should prepare basic activities
in advance. By spending time interacting with the children whether
you're playing games or teaching them basic life skills, you will be
making a real impact in improving their quality of life. The children
suffer from a range of intellectual and physical disabilities.
You will need to be enthusiastic and patient in order to succeed in this role since working with disabled children is hard work.
Location
Ghana is a peaceful and welcoming country; Ghana satisfies one's appetite for both modern and traditional life. Its wide valleys, low-lying coastal plains, and thick rainforests resound with the beat of traditional rituals, while her cities glow and vibrate with all the bustle of the modern world. The Ghanaians are the friendliest people in West Africa: warm, proud yet humble with a contagious and calming sense of funniness.
Ghana is hot. It is always hot. What’s more, it's always humid. Humidity usually lingers between 95 and 100 percent. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-November - sometimes. The rain provides a little respite from the intense heat, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The south of the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during September.
Please note that the special needs school is closed during the following dates:
- 13th December to 6th January
- 18th April to 12th May
- 25th July to 8th September
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