| Shelter for Abused Children
The Shelter was set up and is financed
by the Department of Social Welfare, in collaboration with UNICEF and
funding from the French Embassy. The purpose of the shelter is to give
shelter, care and protection to abused children. The nature of cases that
come to the Home is: missing children, children in labour, victims of
child trafficking, defilement, physical abuse, neglect and abandonment,
HIV/AIDS and others. The children are often brought to the shelter by
the police, after being reported at the Women And Juvenile Unit (WAJU)
of the police service, or at the Department of Social Welfare.
Because the stay of a child in the shelter
is only temporary (for example until the child’s parents are located),
the number of children housed in the shelter varies a lot. Usually it
houses between 10 and 20 children who stay in the shelter for 1 day up
to 9 months. The home has a full-time staff of 1 social worker living
at the compound. A part-time social worker is available. When there are
no volunteers, the first social worker is hardly able to leave the compound
for groceries, or to go to the police to ask about investigations concerning
the children. The volunteers are more than welcome to entertain, teach
and keep an eye on the children so that staff can be fully dedicated to
counselling, interviews, administration, police contacts, housekeeping
etc.
The place has two largish bedrooms (one
for boys, one for girls) with 20 beds or more. There is also an office
with 2 desks, a television set for entertainment, some reading and study
books for the children. Finally there is a big day room, which also acts
as a dining hall, and a large courtyard to play.
Time of year
Anytime
Place
The shelter is situated in a rich district of Accra.
Rural/urban
Urban
Max. Number of volunteers
3
Volunteer Job description
Volunteers will teach the children any subject they can, as most of the
children do not go to school. Moreover, volunteers will organise games
and activities for the children. In general volunteers will help psychologically
scarred children to try and get a brighter outlook on the future.
Accommodation description
Volunteers
will
be housed nearby the shelter. The volunteers from OCEP will
share the house with volunteers from other organisations. The house has
more luxury than the ordinary volunteer houses. Volunteers will have a
bedroom with a fan as well as a living room with a fan for themselves.
There is a a proper shower and toilet with running water and
electricity. There is also a kitchen which volunteers could use,
to be
shared with other people however.
Accommodation cost
The volunteer house is located in a rich neighbourhood in Accra
and offers more luxury than other volunteer residences. This means that
accommodation cost is higher: 100 EUR per month, payable in advance for the entire duration of stay upon arrival in Ghana.
Meals
Volunteers have to prepare
their own meals. | 
