ORPHANAGE/CHILD CARE

The Orphanage/Child Care program is for those volunteers who are interested in training these fatherless & motherless children. Some children even have both parents, but are not being taking care of due to parental negligence or broken homes. Instead of being at school, they have been neglected and are found on the streets begging. As a result, they have been camped in centers where they receive their training and education. Some of these children lost their parents through the HIV/AIDs pandemic and also during child birth.

Program highlights include:

• Teaching English

• Working with the children on their farm land for their own consumption

• Creating activities for the students including workshops for cultural exchange

• Art & Handicraft activities

• Sports after classes

• Environmental awareness activities (Clean Up the World)

• Improving facilities at the Orphanage – particularly during school holidays time homes.

Why the project needs volunteers?

The children's homes have limited resources that cover only the basic needs; more resources are required, especially for those children who need more care and attention. Volunteers act as role models and also assist the caretakers in the home on different duties and children with their homework and recreational activities.

Project requirements

You will be required to be creative, independent and not afraid to use your own initiative. You are given a lot of freedom and flexibility to do what you see fit for the benefit of the orphans. Perhaps on your arrival you could talk to the Events Co-ordinator to sort out what you are going to do during the week, for example you could have one day dedicated to sports, one day to arts and crafts and so on.

You must have also love for the children and be committed to ensuring that they are cared for very well. You will need to be flexible and be willing to get involved in any duty required of you. You should be aware that the children you are working with can be very active and also disruptive, so you will need perseverance and tolerance in dealing with them. This area of volunteer placement requires volunteers who have kind heart for children.

Project dress code

Volunteers are expected to set example for these children. Volunteers should wear ankle-length skirts, trousers and T-shifts or shirts when working in the homes. Tank tops, miniskirts and shorts should not be worn when working. You will be working 4-7 hours a day for 5 days per week.

Proposed/Suggested resources for the program

The projects are often under resourced, but items such as exercise books, useful items and pencils .i.e. school materials. Other materials can also be bought at a very cheap price in the country. Any educational games and toys would be welcome. Basic English language resources you could bring from home would also be valued. Food and Dresses are so much needed for the children at the centers.

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