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Development in Focus
The mission of the organization is to mobilize resource and stakeholders to empower poor vulnerable women, youth and children, to realize their own development. Integrated Development in Focus (DIF) was formed and inaugurated as a capacity building social development agency involved primarily in poverty reduction, preventive health education, reproductive health, rural/urban development, capacity building and the development of networks.
Its mission is to mobilize resources and stakeholders to empower poor vulnerable women, youth and children to realize their own development, know about themselves and become responsible adults. The organization is interested in the health, socio-economic needs and ensuring the future of children, youth and poor women in deprived, underserved and hard to reach areas, locally and internationally.
It promotes models of participatory, sustainable and self-reliant development through action-research. This is mostly achieved through community education, behavioural change communication (BCC), training, outreach activities, skills development and peer education, using drumming, dancing and interactive drama/theatre as a means of communication to transfer information on women, children and youth issues as well as sensitize stakeholders on factual reproductive health issues and preventive health.
Currently, DIF is undertaking an HIV/AIDS Peer Education campaign to increase the knowledge and awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic especially among the youth in Ghana. Training programmes are held in junior high schools and in the communities, with the goal of eliminating the false aura and common myths surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Read more about this organisation.
Available Positions
Students The organisation are looking for keen students to share their knowledge and support the development initatives. Code: DIF01 |
Child Rights Educator A Child Rights Educator is required to help run workshops and to review and develop current activities and programs. Code: DIF02 |
Social Worker A social worker is required to mobilise, organise and sensitise local authorities to support ongoing TB and HIV/AIDS projects. Code: DIF03 |
Development Project Assistants The organisation is looking for volunteers with an interest in project coordination to assist with ongoing efforts in HIV/AIDS education. Code: DIF04 |
Community Sanitation Officer You will be require to develop and run community cleaning projects and hold educational workshops for schools and community groups. Code: DIF05 |
Development Fundraising Officer A Fundraising Officer is required to develop grant proposals for review by organisations such as the World Bank and the UNDP. Code: DIF06 |
To maintain the high performance and sustainability of projects all Volunteers and Interns are required to submit a handover document for future volunteers.
Requirements:
- 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 Development issues.
- 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.
Documentation Requirements:
- A completed application form - required for application.
- A personal or professional reference given by an employer, teacher, lawyer or doctor. This reference must include detail of the context in which the referee knows you, and stating that he/she knows of no reason why you should not volunteer. The referee should also provide their contact details in order that Ikando can contact them prior to your departure to confirm the reference given. References cannot be family members. This reference should be emailed by the referee to info [at] ikando.org.
- A copy by email to info [at] ikando.org of your travel (including medical) insurance certificates.
- Information on your travel arrangements (flight number, airline, arrival and departure time and dates). We always recommend volunteers who book online to email us their booking.
- A copy of the photo page of your passport to be emailed to info [at] ikando.org.
All Documentation must be sent to us at least two weeks before arrival.
Academic credit is available for this placement. Email us for more information.
Important Details
| Project Duration | Minimum Duration 4 weeks - Maximum Duration 26 weeks (can be extended in-country) |
| Dates | You can volunteer at any time throughout the year. |
| Pricing | £ 715 for 4 weeks, £92 per week thereafter. For prices in your local currency click here. |
| Deposit | £ 150 (included in total price) |
| Location | Accra |
| Airport to fly into | Accra Airport (ACC) - (also known as Kotoka International Airport) |
| In-country Budget | From $50 on a tight budget to $150 p/week if you wish to explore Ghana. Read more... |
Click here for more information on our pricing.
What’s included in the project fees?
• Accommodation
• Welcome pack
• In-country introduction to life in Ghana.
• Airport pick-up & drop-off
• $100 Donation to Partner Organisation
• 24/7 Emergency support.
What’s not included?
• Flights & Visa
• Vaccinations (please speak to your local GP)
• Insurance (required)
Health and Safety
Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. In the Global Peace Index it is ranked above both the United Kingdom and the US. It is the perfect introduction for first time volunteers to Africa. It has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. Our ten-strong team in Ghana is there to ensure your health and safety at all times and you'll have emergency support 24/7.
Accommodation
The volunteer will be housed in our accommodation in the centre of town, with it possible to walk from the accommodation to nearby shops, communication centres, bars and restaurants. The spacious accommodation with a fully furnished kitchen is well maintained and has live-in staff to ensure you are well looked after. The surrounding garden and balconies overlooking Accra are perfect for chill out sessions with fellow volunteer housemates.
Food
Food is not included in our placements as in our experience volunteers prefer to cater for themselves. We have a fully furnished kitchen and our staff will show you where you can do your shopping. Western-style supermarkets and the bustling markets can be found nearby. A weekly vegetable & fruit shop can cost as little at $10, however shopping at the western-style supermarkets can be quite dear as most goods are imported.
"Quarshi (Ikando Staff) will introduce you to a woman named Felicia who sells mangos and bananas. Her mangos may very well be the sweetest in town. And, you will love shopping in the market." Elise Wray.
Airport Pick up
An Ikando member of staff will be at the airport arrivals to meet you and take you to the Accra accommodation. Please be aware that arrivals is located outside the airport, just keep an eye out for a sign with your name on it. Please ensure you send us your flight details two weeks before arrival.
Flights
Volunteers must arrange their own flights to Accra Airport (ACC). Please be aware that you should aim to arrive on the day your placement is due to start. If you are unable to do so please just check first with your volunteer coordinator whether the new dates also work for us. The following airlines fly into Accra:
- Alitalia (Lagos, Rome-Fiumicino)
- British Airways (London-Heathrow)
- Delta Air Lines (New York-JFK)
- EgyptAir (Cairo)
- Emirates (Abidjan, Dubai)
- Ethiopian Airlines (Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Lome)
- Ghana International Airlines (London-Gatwick, Dusseldorf)
- Kenya Airways (Nairobi, Freetown, Monrovia)
- KLM (Amsterdam)
- Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Lagos)
- South African Airways (Johannesburg)
