Light For Children - Ghana

Light for Children helps volunteers find ways of working with underpriviledged children in Ghana, West Africa. LfC helps volunteers form relationships with the children, whether it is through teaching them English, taking care of them in a hospital, or becoming part of their lives at an orphanage. Light for Children provides the volunteers with a variety of projects from which to choose, such as:

* working at orphanages in Kumasi, Aboase or Mampong (feeding the children, accompanying them to school, and organizing games/activities)
* helping take care of children at St. Joseph Catholic Hospital
* teaching at a Junior Secondary School (subjects include math and science), playing games and organizing excursions
* working at a school for mentally handicapped children
* educating children about HIV/AIDS (working at clinics, helping HIV-positive children with their studies, and joining local volunteers in visiting support groups for HIV-positive people)
* working at a school for the deaf in Jumasi, teaching the children sign language

Each project enables the volunteer to both explore the fascinating and colorful culture of Ghana, and improve the quality of life in the local community. Light for Children will arrange for volunteers to stay with a host family not far from their chosen projects. Volunteers can choose the length of their service (from 2 to 12 weeks). If none of the prearranged projects listed fit the volunteer, Light for Children also offers custom-made internships in a range of subjects that include journalism, health care, law, women and youth empowerment, sports, conservation, architecture, African studies, language and cultural studies, and HIV/AIDS education. Immersion into everyday Ghanaian life, by living and eating with a host family and becoming part of the community, is part of the richness of this volunteering experience.