Ghana Red Cross Society

  Ghana

Accra

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: The Ghana Red Cross Society was founded in 1958 with the objective of becoming the leading humanitarian relief organization in Ghana. Their mission is to alleviate human suffering at all times. Since its founding, the Ghana Red Cross has proven to be Ghana's premier emergency response organization. The Ghana Red Cross work focuses on four core areas: promoting humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, and health and community care.

The Ghana Red Cross Society currently has a fifty-strong workforce, supported by over 56,000 volunteers across the length and breadth of Ghana. To effectively coordinate its activities, the Ghana Red Cross Society funds and trains the work of local chapters. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of disasters, often floods and fires, turn to help offered by Red Cross volunteers to reunite families and rebuild what is lost. Through the over 300 locally supported chapters, more than 7 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes and communities.

In Ghana, a main cause of human suffering and anxiety are road traffic accidents. According to the National Road Safety Commission, on average, 10,000 road traffic accidents occur annually, often leading to numerous fatalities (click here). In line with its mission to alleviate human suffering at all times, the Ghana Red Cross Society has launched a nationwide education campaign to educate drivers, pedestrians and all other road users in basic first aid techniques in order to reduce the increasing number of fatalities on Ghanaian roads. Beginning in January 2010, the Red Cross Society has implemented community sensitisation programmes in each district of Ghana. To sustain these campaigns, the Red Cross plans to organise monthly fundraising activities.

* Project Assistant - Disaster Preparedness

The Red Cross requires the services of a project assistant to coordinate activities aimed at improving the disaster preparedness of communities.

* First Aid Instructor

The Red Cross requires the services of a First Aid Instructor to teach basic first aid techniques to students, drivers and members of the community.

* Project Assistant - School Links Project

A project assistant is required by the Red Cross Society to support efforts to take health and first aid education to educational institutions in Ghana.

* Health Educator

A health educator is needed to help teach members of the community about health issues such as hygiene, sanitation and STDs. The ideal volunteer will also be able to teach basic first aid.

* Admin & Accounts Officer

An administrative and accounts officer is needed by the Society to help maintain the accounts of our Accra regional office and assist with administrative tasks around the office.

* Fundraising Officer

They require a fundraiser to formulate and implement a viable, long-term, sustainable fundraising initiative, contacting and meeting potential donors to help raise funds for the Society.

Qualifications:
* You must be at least 18 years of age upon application.
* You must have a background of relevance to the individual position and have a strong interest in Disaster Relief and Development.
* In order to maintain the sustainability and high performance of this project all volunteers are required to complete a detailed hand-over document for successive volunteers.
* You will need to be flexible and tolerant, show initiative and enthusiasm to face the many hurdles and challenges that you will encounter.
* The roles will be quite hectic with a minimum working day of 8hrs required. All interns will be required to act professionally and dress appropriately (jackets will need to be on stand-by).

Cost in US$: GBP 655 for 4 weeks, GBP 87 per week thereafter.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-65

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ghana Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Ikando's Mission Statement: Ikando looks to support local community organisations through the placement of international volunteers. We seek to offer volunteers affordable, quality and skill specific placements with organisations that require their help. We believe our volunteers can be catalysts for change within these organisations. Ikando aims to communicate through its volunteers the positive story coming out of Africa.

Year Founded: 2004