PHILANTHROPY HOST FAMILY SERVICE (PHFS)

ABOUT US
Philanthropy Host Family Service (PHFS) is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation through which volunteers provide direct service to communities, disadvantaged women, children and all people in need so as to help them become self-sufficient.

PHFS volunteers have a choice of living with one another in a community setting or with host families.  Our programms are year round, generally lasting 3 to 4 weeks with longer stays possible.

PHFS programms are designed to bring volunteers of all ages together from different backgrounds, placing them in the community and enabling them to respect and learn about each other’s culture and share their experiences.

LEGAL STATUS
PHFS is incorporated as a non-profit and non-governmental organisation under the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) with registration number G 3,058.  In addition, PHFS is recognised by the Department of Social/Welfare with Registration number D.S.W/1406.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Poverty, due to lack of access to materials, funds, organisation and training, ignorance and moral decadence is destroying the fabric of life in our society. Under these circumstances many people cannot properly feed their children nor afford good education for them and many women are marginalized in the society. PHFS therefore hopes to organise the disadvantaged, deprived and marginalized in rural and urban communities to use local resources (land, local materials and their own labour) to improve their living conditions while ensuring that the environment is not compromised.

PARTICIPATION COST
Our participation fee of $800 for all programmes includes food, lodging, administration and in-country travel (in groups). Each participant is responsible for providing his or her own airfare to Ghana.  Volunteers are usually picked at the airport to the project site.




APPLICATION INFORMATION

Interested volunteers should send their application to;


1.    Philip Kitsi                                      
P. O. Box MA 378                    
Ho, Volta Region                    
Ghana, West Africa                 
Tel: +233-24-734345 (Cell)
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                     

Volunteer Opportunities/Projects
1.    HIV/AIDS/Health
2.    Constructional Workcamps
3.    Youth Camp
4.    Women projects    
-    Co-operative
-    Micro-credit
-    Sustainable Agriculture
-    Skills upgrading
5.    Environmental
6.     Education (Teaching)


PROGRAMMES FOR 2009/2010

PROGRAMME:      PHFS/01CONS:
DATE:         18TH – 31ST DECEMBER, 2009
NATURE:         CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOM BLOCK
WORK:        Both local and foreign volunteers will help the Star Senior High School construct Classroom block for the school.  The work will involve digging, mixing of concrete and mortar, carting of blocks sand, water etc.
LOCATION:         Sokode, near Ho

SIDE ATTRACTION:    Volunteers will visit Tsatsatu Waterfalls, Wli Waterfalls – the highest waterfalls in West Africa and Mount Gemi etc.



PROGRAMME:      PHFS/02 CONS
DATE:        28TH MAY – 18TH JUNE 2010
NATURE:         CONSTRUCTION OF WORKSHOP
WORK:         Volunteers will work on the construction of a workshop for three Women
Cooperative groups at Alavanyo Dzogbedze.  The workshop when completed will serve
Dressmakers, Batik Tie & Dye makers and Bread makers Women Co-operatives.  The
workshop will also serve as meeting place for the members of PHFS/Africa Alive Women
Micro-Credit Groups.  The work will involve all the components of constructional work.
LOCATION:      ALAVANYO – DZOGBEDZE

SIDE ATTRACTION: Different drumming groups will entertain the volunteers
in the evenings.  In addition volunteers will visit Tsatsadu Waterfalls (5miles away) and Wli
Waterfalls (15 miles away) – the highest waterfalls in West Africa.

PROGRAMME:      PHFS/03 SUP:
DATE:        9TH – 23RD JULY, 2010
NATURE:         SKILLS UPGRADING FOR WOMEN
WORK:        This program is designed to help small business entrepreneurs.  
The program intends to upgrade the skills for female entrepreneurs in dress making, batik tie & dye making, trading and farming to enable them improve upon their production.
The program will also include managerial training and health education.  The program therefore requires volunteers who have knowledge/experience/interest in product development and marketing, retail trade (sales), small business management, record keeping, agriculture, nutrition, health education (family planning/birth control, HIV/AIDS) etc.
LOCATION:         ALAVANYO - DZOGBEDZE


PROGRAMME:         PHF/04Y
DATE:        16TH –30TH AUGUST 2010
NATURE:        YOUTH CAMP
WORK:        This program will bring both local and foreign youths of 16-20 years old together to discuss issues pertaining to the youth – education, rights of the child, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, culture, etc.  There will be speakers to deliver papers on specific topics.  The participants form the various countries and cultures may do presentations on specific topic of their choice/interest.  The participants will also visit places of interest in Ghana.
Accommodation:  Participants will be accommodated in dormitories where there is running water, electricity and security protection throughout the project period.
LOCATION:         HO, VOLTA REGION

SIDE ATTRACTION:    Different youth cultural groups will entertain the volunteers in the evenings.  In addition volunteers will visit tourist attraction s like Boti Falls, Wli Waterfalls, Mount Afadzato-the highest mountain in Ghana, Tafi Monkey Sanctuary etc. 

PROGRAMME:    PHFS/05ENV.
DATE:        1ST JANUARY – 31ST DECEMBER, 2010
NATURE:        ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
WORK:        In this programme, volunteers will work at existing local environmental posts providing assistance in preservation of the environment, its wildlife and its natural resources.  Volunteers can also work with local communities to develop their own specific environmental programmes.

Often this programme involves addressing basic care of rivers, forests, managing bushfires (wild fires), preservation of historical artefacts, and basic health issues.

NB:    Volunteers are advised to come along with boots (Willington boots etc.), gloves etc.
LOCATION:        TAFI ATOME, GOVIEFE TODZI, ALAVANYO, WLI ETC
PROGRAMME:    PHFS/06 TEACH
DATE:        JANUARY – DECEMBER EACH YEAR
NATURE:        TEACHING
WORK:        This programme involves volunteers teaching in various levels of education in several towns in Volta Region, Ghana.

Participants can volunteer at any time throughout the year and can stay from a period of one month to six months.  The volunteers teching opportunities are available in pre-school, Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary Schools  in Volata Region.
Pre-school (Age 4 – 5 years)
Language, Numeracy, Creative Arts (Music, Dance, Art) and Physical Treaning

Primary (Age – 6 – 11 Years)
English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Creative Arts, Physical Education (P. E.) Basic Computer Skills.

Juniior High School (Age 12 – 14 Years)
English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Agricultural Science, Physical Education and I. C. T.

Seniior High School (Age – 15 – 18 Years)
English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, French and I. C. T.

Programme Schedule
Period for volunteer teachers are:    
i.     January – March
ii.      May – July
iii.    September – December

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers who want to participate in this programme must:
v    be between 18 and 65 years of age.
v    be available for a minimum of 4 weeks
v    be able to speak English fluently.
v    have at least a High School qualification to teach at Pre-school, Primary and Junior High Level and a Collage Degree to teach Senior High Level.

Volunteers who feel their experience, skills and interest do not fall under any of the above programmes could conveniently provide general office support.  Any of the following skills are valuable Computer Knowledge, Website Familiarity, Writing Skills,  Research Techniques and Proposal Writing.

Volunteers who have interest or experience in project management, administration, public health, nutrition, nursing, agriculture, community development, cooperative development could also apply.



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