Admission
criteria
If
you want to take part in OCEP, you can apply using the online application
form found here. Below is a list of the criteria
we use when considering your
application.
(1) |
You are 20 years of age or older |
(2) |
You are strongly motivated to make your stay in Ghana a success |
(3) |
Your English is sufficient to communicate with Ghanaians. It does not have to be perfect, however. |
(4) |
You know how to cope with changing conditions |
(5) |
You are independent |
(6) |
You are prepared to work for a minimum period of 2 months |
(7) |
You preferably have some work and/or travel experience |
Expenses
Your
expenses for the total volunteer programme depend on how long you stay.
Using the overview below, you can calculate how much it will cost you
to do volunteer work in Ghana.
Overview
| OCEP fee | 210 euros |
(1) |
| Stay at host family or room | 70-100 euros a month | (2) |
| Meals | 5 euros a day | (3) |
Remarks
| (1) | You will be asked to pay this fee into OCEP's bank account upon acceptance of your application. | |
| (2) | You will be hosted in a host family
or in separately arranged accommodation. In both cases, we ask you
to contribute a monthly amount to cover the cost. You can see the charges at the project page. The accommodation cost for your entire stay will be payable in cash to the respective OCEP office closest to your project upon arrival. You will be issued a receipt. |
|
| (3) | Depending on your particular project, your host family can prepare 3 meals for you for 5 euros per day, or you can cook your own meals. You could also choose to eat in restaurants. If you cook for yourself, please do offer to reimburse your host family / accomodation provider for expenses in gas used for your cooking. The feeding during weekdays for your entire stay (100 EUR/month) is payable in cash to the respective OCEP office closest to your project upon arrival. You will be issued a receipt. | |
| (4) | Other major expenses (your own responsibility) include: the flight ticket, (obligatory) travel insurance, visa and inoculations |
Admission process
Please apply at least three months before your planned date of departure. After you have filled out the online application form, OCEP will take up to two weeks to evaluate your application. Part of this evaluation process is that we will have a phone interview with you, or if you live close to one of us, to pay us a short visit.
If you are accepted, you will receive an e-mail with payment details and two declarations to be signed. After we have received your payment and signed declarations, your placement is confirmed and we will send you our preparation package by e-mail.
From the moment you receive the preparation package by e-mail, we will take up to another two weeks to find a project placement for you and inform you about it by e-mail. This e-mail will also include the date at which we suggest you arrive.
We assume you have the skills to arrange the travel preparation yourself with the help of the package. Should you however have questions during the process of preparing to which the answers are not mentioned in the package, please feel free to e-mail us for questions regarding the preparation of your journey.
© OCEP Foundation
What will you get for your OCEP fee?
An OCEP preparation package. OCEP has prepared a document with useful hints for your preparations. We will send it to you by e-mail after you have been admitted to the programme. And should you still have questions, you are welcome to send us an e-mail.
Airport pick up. When you arrive in Ghana, OCEP staff will be there to pick you up and take you to your accommodation by taxi. So no worries about Ghanaian taxi prices and no need to arrange an expensive hotel for the night you arrive.
An introduction to Ghana. The first day or two, someone from OCEP will take you around and make you a little familiar with Ghana, Accra in particular. The transport system will be explained and you may be taken to some of Accra's interesting places or the beach. Moreover, if you are interested, OCEP staff will provide you with the contact details of fellow OCEP volunteers so that you can meet with them in weekends.
A volunteer placement. OCEP visits the schools, orphanages, and other projects before it sends any volunteers to see if they can be accomodated.. Of course, it could still happen that you are placed on a project which you don't like. In such a case, OCEP will try to find a more suitable workplace for you.
OCEP staff to rely on. Should any trouble arise, OCEP staff is just a phone call away to help you out.
A certificate. After you complete your volunteer placement successfully.