|
 |
 |
 |
|
Where we do it > Ghana
| Population: |
21.6 million |
| Capital city: |
Accra |
| GDP per capita: |
$2,240 |
| HDI ranking: |
136 out of 177 countries * |
| Life expectancy: |
56 |
|
|
|
* The UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) measures a country's achievements
in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income.
Country backgroundVSO Ghana volunteers work in the areas of disability, education and secure livelihoods.
VSO Ghana has gained recognition for its work in disability through the production of Protect Yourself, the first ever HIV & AIDS awareness video for both deaf and hearing people. VSO has also supported the Special Education Division (SPED) of the government to develop a strategic plan and a draft policy on special needs education in Ghana. Volunteers are working with community-based organisations that promote livelihood options for people with disabilities, access to quality basic education by children with disabilities and the rights of women with disabilities. Volunteers focus their activity on improving management structures of institutions and community organisations and developing networking, awareness raising and advocacy activities.
For many years education volunteers in Ghana were mainly fulfilling classroom teaching roles, but in recent years there has been a shift to placing volunteers in management and training roles within district education offices and teacher training colleges. These volunteers are working to improve the quality of teaching; supporting Ghana Education Service staff and head teachers to establish and implement school management systems; supporting civil society organisations to advocate on educational issues; encouraging community involvement in school issues and improving awareness of the need for HIV and AIDS prevention training in school and the right of girls to receive an education.
The shortage of classroom teachers continues to be addressed through our national volunteering programme. VSO Ghana has been working with the National Service Secretariat to offer support and guidance as they develop the Ghana National Volunteer Programme to recruit newly qualified Ghanaian teachers from urban areas to volunteer in rural areas. When the programme was launched in 2003, 54 teachers took part; When the programme was launched in 2003, 54 volunteer teachers took part; in 2006/07 more than 8,000 volunteers participated.
Secure livelihoods is VSO Ghana’s newest area of work and focuses on reducing poverty in four of the poorest regions of Ghana by increasing the opportunities for individuals and communities to earn an income. Volunteers with organisational development and management backgrounds are working with government offices, local non-governmental organisations and community based organisations to improve their ability to provide efficient services and support for disadvantaged communities. Volunteers are also supporting vocational training and enterprise development programmes and providing technical support to farmers.
| |
Ghana: Programme Summaries |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
