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Ghana Jan-May 2010 |
 Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:54 pm |
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| Hi everyone, this is my first post!
I'm off to Ghana to teach English at Christ Outreach Orphanage near Kasoa City for three months, Jan-March 2010. After than I'm going to cycle around the country for two months. I know January is still a long way off but anyone else planning to go around then? Cheers all, Jen. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 4 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Sep 6, 2009 10:41 pm |
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| Hi Jen,
No, I'm not going then. But I've registered just now, because I went in 2006 and loved it so much that I visited there again in 2007. I'm also going to visit them this November, and hopefully next year too. So I know the lady who runs the orphanage and some of the children, their local surroundings and places to stay etc. So if you'd like any help or advice, I'd be honoured if you'd ask. I am also in touch with 4 young men who lived at the orphanage during my placement there in 06. They go back in their school holidays. Are you going with a company? How long will you be there for? And where will you be staying? Please reply, ghanascouse xXx |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 7 Posts |
| Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:55 pm |
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| A reply! Oh goody!
I'm going with IFRE volunteers. I flirted with the idea of just turning up and not going with an organisation, but I've not done anything like this before so I chickened out  . I'm going to be staying at a place that IFRE provides and it's about a mile away from the orphanage. I was originally going to go cycling around Ghana for a couple of months after the placement but a load of complete crap has happened family-wise in the last month and the end result is that I'm down on quite a bit of money now. But I'm telling myself that this means that I'll focus on the kids better.
Questions! (I have many!). I'm still not sure where abouts Christ Outreach Orphanage is. All i know is that it's near Kasoa city, but I can't find it on a map. Where abouts is it? What sort of items do you think I should bring to donate to the orphanage? Is school equipment best? So far I have collected around 20 football kits, do you think they would go down well? What kind of activities did you do with the kids and what other things did you do to help out at the orphanage? Did you do any teaching? I'm planning to do a bit of teaching with the primary kids. I want to focus on english and do creative writing/games with them. Roughly how many kids are there? Whats the surrounding area like? How much spending money did you take/ Sorry for the deluge of questions! I'm really excited and really really want to just get going! 
Thanks very much in advance for all your wonderful answers and advice
Jen x |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 4 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:51 pm |
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| No no no thank you for asking!
Firstly, itz definitely a good idea to go with a company the first time. I'm glad I did that, coz you should get an induction to the country and their customs that way. You can always return and do it yourself as I do. Lol for trying to find Kasoa on a map! I've been there twice and still can't! Itz (I think) west of Accra, but too small to beincluded on any map. Itz on the way to Swedru and Winneba and in fact the main road that is Kasoa is called Swedru / Winneba road I think, one of them. If you're staying in an IFRE place, will there be volunteers there already? If so, some of them may be working at the orphanage already when you get there. Thatz how I learned where it was, by going with other volunteers. Basically Kasoa is in a T shape. The main road from Accra comes to Kasoa Tro Tro station. From there, the road to the right is the road the orphanage is on, therez also a restaurant, a (small) hotel, petrol pumps and many many stalls. The orphanage is just before the petrol pumps, by a pink Internet Cafe. Then you have to wind down the track-like road and past a church and stalls etc and its at the end. I know you don't need this much detail. I'm half-trying to remind myself! lol Good idea to bring stuff. The more practical the better. The football kits though are brilliant cozz the kids worship English football over there. They will be made up. (Bear in mind though, I had a lot of problems with the Orphanage mother secreting away any new stuff that we gave to the kids.) Her heart's in the right place and she's given up LOADS to care for these kids, but often, she'd hide their new clothes or any toys - "to keep them nice" for if someone "important" came to visit.) She will also shamelessly take any presents she takes a fancy to, including an 11year-old birthday boy's pack of chewing gum we gave him. And NEVER donate money to the orphanage, as it will never get to where it was intended. What I did, was bond wth the older ones and kinda put them in charge of keeping packs of cards for everyone etc. Itz a bit risky, but if they trust you and they clearly want whatz best for the kids, it works. I'm gonna start a new msg-post-thing, itz gone funny coz itz so long haha! Sorry! |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 7 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:03 pm |
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| Ok! Part 2.
Yeah, practical stuff is definitely good. Exercise books, paper, pens etc, although you can buy all this really cheap in Kasoa. Obv the quality isn't as good, but they wouldn't exactly complain! What about face paints, colouring books, felt tips, crayons, plasticine, games. The orphanage kids like to be taight songs and games so you could bring something like that. Also, skipping ropes, hula hoops I guess; anything like that. You'll find kids will make amusement for themselves out of ANYTHING, itz quite inspiring. When I went in Aug-Nov 06, there were about 30 in the school, a reported 30-40 at the orphanage, but you never saw that many. Maybe 20 at most, but obv most of the orphans go to the school as well. In 2007 when I visited, it was in an evening, so I only saw about 15, lots of babies that time. I know, Madam Rose has arranged for the older girls to live with her daughter just over from the Orphanage, so maybe there aren't so many kids there anymore or maybe there are loads more. Short answer is, I don't know how many kids there are, it changes all the time. I'm hoping to visit when I go again in November, so I'll let you know then, and that should be quite accurate for when you go! Spending money is difficult. I've been wondering about that myself. I took too little when I went the first time and had to get mum snd dad to send me some, so now I always take far too much, as you can always change it back. Carry it with you all the time. Ibuy US dollars and carry that with me, then you csn change them to cedis in Forex Bureaus, which are everywhere. Take as much as you can really. It also depends on whether you will be seeing some of the sites while you are there. My fellow volunteers did, whereas I took my role very seriously and didn't. However, I've been back since and made up for it, so it depends how you feel about it all. Everything is so muc cheaper than here but itz good to be prepared. It costs roughly 41p to use the internet for an hour, so if that gives you an idea! Next! (Not much left now, I promise! I just love sharing coz it was so wonderful! |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:17 pm |
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| Lol itz difficult as there are no page numbers, but there is an article in here, from my stay over there. Photos and all.
http://www.cg.catholic.org.au/_uploads/nwslt/00220.pdf After the Bishop story, sponsorship advert, book of inspiring lives, historic mercy celebrations, almost halfway doen, is a page headed BACKGROUND in blue and black. The Australian couple work in a school and made a huge difference to the orphanage by donations and sponsorship. Incidentally, I'm in the pic too, but I didn't help as much as they did. Itz just a nice keepsake! This will show you some of the children and conditions of the classrooms etc. http://gillispiefam.blogspot.com/2008/04/childrens-home-in-kasoa-ghana.html This site is one I found this year. Likewise, it also shows the Orphanage in more detail. The first picture is my desktop! I know 3 of the kids in the pic, so thatz quite nice. I'll try and remember to let you know how many kids are there when I go, but forgive me if it slips my mind, lol. Therez so much to do to prepare isn't there! Please keep in touch and tell me your plans to possibly travel etc, and also ask any questions whenever you want. Are you on Facebook? Hope this helps and you haven't fallen asleep reading it all! Sarah xXx |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 7 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 5:26 pm |
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| Damn, I knew I'd forget something!
Yes I taught at the orphanage. I wasn't able to choose the age group though, so don't get your hopes up. I had to teach JSS (Junior Secondary School, my groups were aged 11-1  I also had the option to teach Primary 5 and 6 - roughly aged 9-12, although they're grouped by ability not age. There was a 15 year old in that group!
I taught English too. Itz from a textbook, so itz easy enough but I liked including them a bit more than they were used to. They'll enjoy the games etc. They normally just scribble down whatever the teacher tells them to. Activities with the orphans? They rarely all spent time together. I sang with the younger ones, coloured with the middly-aged ones, put the babies to bed, 'hung out' yo! with the older ones. Me and theother volunteerss took the elder 5 to the internet cafe and set them up online. It was good for their skills, but the intent was strictly selfish, as they are still in touch with me now, through emails and Facebook! On an Inset Day-occasion, we made paperchains. Whichever children didn't see friends or family were kinda stuck at the orphanage with nothing to do and no one to amuse them, so we made and hung paperchains. Also, applying fae paints is a good activity. You have a line of kids going "Madam! Me!" as they're waiting for their turn Ah, happy days! Can't wait to go back! |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 5, 2009 8:10 pm |
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| Hi again.
I leave on Saturday morning, so I'll be back - and very sad - in 3 weeks. If you're still checking. Hope your preparations are going to plan. xx |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 7 Posts |
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