Still to be Done ..
While we are not invited to Volta Home to make changes to the cultural life of these people, there is much we can do to improve the cruel effects of poverty.
Some problems that we hope to address in the next few years:
Half the children sleep in the barn, while others are huddled together in rooms with no ventilation, and no appropriate bedding or furniture. Sleeping on the floor is not unusual in this part of Africa, but sleeping without comfotable bedding or protection from mosquitos, it not usual in most homes.
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Because there is no money to pay for adult helpers, the children do most of the work themselves. They prepare food; cook food and do all their own washing. They also work on the farm, tending the animals and working the corn field. For the older children there is little time for homework or play - and they often miss school because they are busy doing the work which could be done by hired women helpers.
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There are no secure clean areas to store books or belongings. . The school has very few desks and almost no teaching aids and there is rarely enough money to pay the teachers their $10 per week salary.
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This little girl has ringworm on her forehead. Many - indeed most of these children have ringworm. Ringworm is a fungus, not a worm, and will often become infected because of the scratching. It could be easily treated with some over-the-counter fungal cream, if there was money! Most of the children, and their teachers, suffer the fevers of maleria two or three times each year and there is rarely money for medication.
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In 2011 we are targeting dental health and the continual cycle of ringworm.
100% of all money donated goes directly to the Volta Home and all administrative costs are covered by volunteers ed by volunteers