A PDF of these steps can be printed from a link at the bottom of this page

Required skills for a volunteer at the Volta Home Orphanage:   

• No skills are required but you must speak some English. The work is suitable for all ages and volunteers are warmly welcomed at all times of the year.  
• Volunteers will usually assist the untrained teaching staff and the two orphanage “mothers”,   plus contribute to the general interaction with the 45 children at the home. These children crave contact with the outside world, and the little ones desperately need help because there are too few adult staff members to cover their everyday needs.  
• You will be living on the farm with the children and their carers so your hours must be flexible:  the busy times are outside of school hours.
• There are no restrictions on time taken away to explore the local area and enjoy tourist attractions.

Volunteers will enjoy their stay far more if they are acquainted with the cultural differences and the difficulties faced by everyone living in this environment so we suggest you print out the advice for volunteers at the bottom of this page

Formalities: Placement forms etc.

• The management at Volta Home do not do paper work; booking forms; instructions; documents; duty rosters or questionnaires.  Your itinerary and daily schedule is totally up to you. 
• It is useful to contact previous volunteers or check the blogs on the website so that you can give some thought to what you might like to contribute

Fees

• 200 cedis - (the local currency) is payable on arrival and covers the accommodation and all meals for any volunteer accommodation up to and including 2 weeks.  After 2 weeks the cost for accommodation and meals is 100 cedis per week, or for part of any extra week. 
• A donation of 20 cedis ($15) is traditionally given to Mrs Annabi on arrival. This will be used to supplement the wage of any female helpers This will not be paid for you by your agency (if you are using an agency) so be prepared to pay it yourself if you want to be respected by the cook !
• The fees at Volta Home are low in comparison to other orpahanges.  This is because it is expected that volunteers will contirbute towards some of the basic expenses needed at the orphanage like medication; fruit and eggs; clothings etc.  Extra money paid to Pastor Annibi will not necessarily be used for these purposes and that is why it is traditional for volunteers to help cover some of these basic expenses.

Accommodation

• Volunteers are housed on the premises in a building that was built especially for this purpose.  It has 3 bedrooms with basic furniture and electricity. 
• There is no running water at Volta Home but volunteers have their own toilet and shower block which is similar to that used by most families in this area.

When you are decided:

• Email info@volthome.org and give details of your planned dates for volunteering at the orphanage:
• Feel free to ask questions or request to be given contact with a previous volunteer.
• You will then be directed to leave a message for Pastor Annabi on  isaac.mawuena@yahoo.com  giving him details of your plans; date of arrival and your concent to pay the accommodation fees given here.  

To be better Prepared:

• Check through the website thoroughly and read any blogs for a better understanding of the orphanage. 
• Print the "cultural help " blurb via a prompt at the end of this page.
• Contact other volunteers for further information so you are better prepared for the more negative aspects of the Home in the areas of management; nutrition; discipline (beatings); childcare and visitor relationships. We get regular feedback from volunteers who are confronted and angry because they are not well prepared for the problems relating to poor management and cruelty.  
• Use “google” to check the local (Hohoe) attractions. Plan to spend a few days on the Cape Coast before you leave Ghana.
• Consult your local medical practice about any necessary vaccinations.
• Apply for your visitors visa at least 3 weeks before leaving.
• Be sure that you have a visa card as most other credit or debit cardsare useless in Ghana

If you speak English you will find travelling in Ghana is easy.  

• It is quite simple to travel from Accra to Vedeme Junction or to Hohoe by bus and we suggest you make these arrangements after enjoying a night or two in Accra. The Lonely Planet offers the best advice re accommodation and transport in Western Africa, so we suggest you download the Ghana section from the internet before you travel.  
• No airport tax is required in Ghana.
• No one at Volta Home drives a car or has a license, so it is best you make arrangements to get to Accra and then to Volta Home by yourself.  They may offer to meet you, but you will pay for their bus journey and their meal etc. and it is not necessary.  Anyone in Accra will be happy to direct you and help you to find your way, and most people will speak some English. 
• Take a few US dollars with you as these will always be accepted and will get you by until you find an eftpos machine. There are many.  A taxi or bus to Osu will cost less than $5 but you must haggle.  In Osu you will find a comfortable place to stay for less than $30 per night.
• Buses leave regularly from the Tudu Lorry Station and take from 5 to 6 hours to get to Vedeme Junction but the buses leave when they are full - or ready!  The cost of this trip is less than $5
• Be sure to get to the station early and get an early bus.  It could be difficult finding your way to Volta Home in the dark. * 
• Tell the driver to set you down at Ve-Deme Junction  

Once at Vedeme Junction the Volta Home is just 3 minutes walk.  Hohoe is just 25 minutes further on the bus and it's a great little town.  You might choose to go on and spend a night before joining the children at Volta Home the next day.  Be sure to let "Gran'pa" know your plans.

Things to pack   -   or to buy before you reach the orphanage:

• A sleeping bag and light sheet.
• Long sleeved shirts and trousers for protection from mosquitos in the evening
• Clothing: check www.weatherbase.com for seasonal weather temperatures.
• A torch
• An appropriate plug adaptor for your electricity appliances
• Note the liquid restriction on planes and plan to buy most of your supples in Ghana
• Gifts for the children can better be bought in Hohoe where they are lifestyle related: eggs (one each is a winner !) and fruit (an orange each) ; medications; vitimins; school books  etc
• In Accra you can buy a $2 SIM card and some pre-paid credit for your mobile
• In Accra buy a few newspapers for the teachers   -   they will be very much appreciated

Other supples to buy in Accra: water; biscuits; soap; washing powder; toilet paper; a towel; a bucket; extra mosquito repellent; dettol (or similar disinfectant) to add to your shower water; bottles (or bags) of drinking water You can buy cheap, safe drinking water at Vedeme Junction