Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS A WORK CAMP?

  A work camp is a place where people of all races, ideologies ,religious beliefs and nationalities live and work together for a period of time, usually from 2 -4 weeks ,on locally defined project's) organized by host organization. In General, a work camp consist of around 6-20 participants ;it brings people together from different cultural ,social, economic ,and educational background in a situation ,which can be referred to as “extraordinary”. Work camp provides an opportunity for people to meet, socialize, exchange ideas (intercultural exchange) and combine their energies together to address problems and issues of their concern.

They are a multicultural and voluntary workforce.

  WHAT IT MEANS TO PARTICIPATE IN A WORK CAMP

  To participate in a work camp means:

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

  The element of cultural exchange is one of the most essential parts of a work camp. In that perspective, the different activities undertaken during the work cap should merely be viewed as the facilitator of the cultural ex change process and not as a goal for the work camp.

VOLUNTARISM

  Work camp is based on the idea of voluntarism. Work camps are unique forms of voluntary service, offering a positive and practical way if breaking down the barriers and fostering tolerance and understanding while assisting in the project.

  FINANCES

Every volunteer is charged a certain amount of money (participation fee) which will cover for his/her expense(s) for accommodation and food during the work.

  WHO IS A VOLUNTEER?

  A volunteer is a person who offers to devote his/her knowledge ,time and energy within the framework of a collective social effort to work actively for the general interest of the community as an activist and with no negative effect or paid employment.

  WORK CAMP ACTIVITIES

  Every single work camp is divided into four (4) sessions:

  1/Work

This will involve physical work. This normally will take place 3-4 hours in the morning before lunch (Monday-Friday).Detailed information about the work will be sent to all organizations /individuals before the camp starts.

 
2/Study

Two to three hours after lunch (Monday-Friday) is allocated for discussion, seminars etc..

Sometimes we will have invited guest’s speakers to present for discussion but most of the time volunteers will facilitate the discussions. We have selected topics for each camp but volunteers can add new topics of their interest .Please be informed and prepared for discussions.

3/Cultural Nights

Each country represented in the camp normally has one night to present their culture. Obviously, we do not have enough countries for the stay ,so some evenings are free.

4/Excursions

These trips are organized depending on the possibilities for recreation existing in each area as well as the interest and need of each of them. This is normally done on weekends but in special case, weekdays.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WOSOVO ORGANIZES?

A/ Short Term Program

WOSOVO offers short term programs commonly referred to as International Voluntary Workcamps (Community Development Projects). WOSOVO organizes International Work camps in various parts of  Ghana  where volunteers ,mostly from different countries ,come together and work on a common project towards a common objective for the benefit of local population. In this setting, volunteers are able to face ,experience and deal with each others differences which will eventually end up in understanding friendship and peaceful co-existence between people of different nationality ,races and colour.

These are programs prepared and planned together with the host community or institution in marginalized areas.

Activities range from :

·        Construction of social amenities for communities (water-tank construction, construction of schools, hospitals etc…)

·        Agriculture enhancement programs (farming, harvesting among others)

·        Community services in children orphanages or homes for the aged

·        Rehabilitation of rundown community facilities.

We also hold workshops, cultural festival, outings/visits entertainment and experiencing the rural setup or way of life.

This project helps both the local and the international participants to get exposed to development issues, acquire a wide perception of world issues and also develop leadership acumen, project management skills and Inter-cultural exchange between people of different political, social and economic background.

Applications should be received four weeks in advance and we encourage volunteers to come two days earlier to familiarize themselves with the Ghanaian city. A work camp takes a period of 3 to 4 weeks depending on the nature of the project.

Our work camps are held during the months of December, January,June ,July, August and September. Our camps accommodate 15-30 volunteers with the number of international volunteers being  half of the total volunteers.

B/ Education Exchange and Internship

WOSOVO also organizes mid and long-term project attachment, which takes a minimum of 2 to 6 months. This is mainly for volunteers who seek to sharpen their skills or do research while at the same time helping local communities in the area of their training/interests. This is done upon request from the volunteers. Some of the areas/fields of internship WOSOVO organizes are:

·  Social Work

·  Health Services

·  Youth Development

·  Education and Training

·  Research

·  Agricultural Development

This programme is designed to give the volunteer comprehensive field experience in their area of expertise/training.

WOSOVO also offers exchange programs where the volunteers  work in desired projects in Ghana. The program can go for 2 to 6 months in Ghana. Use of volunteers skills i.e. Teaching, Medicine, Agriculture, etc…to serve in the community.

 This program is carried out in collaboration with:

·  Children orphanages, Aged homes and Lepers homes,

·  Hospitals,

·  Schools etc…

 Participants gain a deeper understanding of the community with which they are involved in by working hand in hand with the local community. Most of the projects require unskilled labor though WOSOVO encourages the volunteers to provide their services in the area of their expertise training.

NOTE: The programs are organized in different locations in partnership with local authorities, other NGO’s etc…The location, project activities are subject to changes so please, be flexible.