Deceiving and an overall terrible experience

I planned to go to Ghana almost a year ago and I worked at part time jobs whilst studying my masters to afford the flights and pay the program fee. I love travelling and was so excited however after just two weeks I flew home (I was supposed to stay for a month). As I was lied to and left two weeks early I did request a part refund however this was refused. I was told that the money which I gave for my food for the last two weeks had already been spent despite not buying it.

I was told I was going to be with a host family however I was put in an orphanage which I felt should have been explained before. The room also had mice and bed bugs. The children urinated everywhere and I was constantly worried about things going missing from my room. When I was teaching the children would take my room key and then sleep in my room whilst I wasn't there.

The teachers at the school regularly slept at the desk and didnt really care and the children were also regularly canned to the point where they cried. The teacher which canned the children also did so with a huge smirk on his face and seemed to enjoy the authority. Volunteers are also expected to give huge donations despite the majority being students themselves. Essentially it is not volunteers that are wanted it is just money.

Volunteers were left to teach what they like although I was again told a curriculum would be provided. I was told nothing and I had to work out what the children could and couldn't do myself which wasted precious time when I was there to trying to make a difference.

The area is not safe so every time I left the orphanage I would have to take someone (mainly the older children) with me which I was also expected to pay for (taxis, food and entrance fees).

I also discovered that the people at the orphanage owned five cars and I found this difficult to understand considering that some of the older children did not have food to eat every night. When I realised this is did share my food with the children however I also got to the point where I felt hungry myself.

Overall avoid this company as I do not feel that the money is invested appropriately and volunteer else where.