Preparing For Volunteer Work At An African Orphanage

Hannah May

Hmay2011@aol.com

Before traveling to Ghana and receiving our selected internships, I had in mind one of the main impacts I wanted to receive from this 25-day journey. I have had numerous friends and family members that have traveled to different countries in Africa working at orphanages and with young African children. When asking about their personal experiences, the only response I seemed to have received was, “You’ll just have to experience it for yourself.” This was my chance.

On our last day of orientation before flying overseas to Ghana, we met as a group to select our desired internships or places of volunteer. When in Ghana, I desired a unique experience, something far different than the student organization and internship work I have completed in the States. I saw Weep Not Child Foundation – Children’s Orphanage on the page and immediately wrote that as my top choice. Having several other students choose that as their first as well, I was ecstatic when I saw that my name was chosen with one other student to volunteer at the Foundation while in Ghana.

I have completed two full days out of four at the Weep Not Child Foundation. The learning process began within the first few seconds our car drove through the gates of the secluded orphanage. The knowledge I have gained from the two days working with the children and adults at the Weep Not Child Foundation is irreplaceable and immensely beneficial to the growth of who I am going to become as a person from here on out. Before starting at the Weep Not Child Foundation it would have been beneficial to have prior knowledge on the circumstances and emotions I was about to face. 

Things one must do in order to prepare for the first day of arrival at an orphanage:

1. Mentally prepare yourself – arriving at any orphanage is not an easy task. Contrastive to America, the conditions of some of the orphanages in countries like Ghana are sub par to say the least. You need to be aware that the bathrooms may just be dirt mounds, the live poultry squawking next to you may be fresh dinner the next day, and the showers may just be buckets of water. Aside for the conditions, you must be aware of the toll that these children will have on your heart. You will care for them immediately, you will love them like your own, and you will never want to leave their side.
2. Research – Ghana specifically is divided into different regions: Central, East, West, and Northern. Each of these regions is home to different Tribes found in Ghana. These different tribes also value different beliefs. These beliefs could contribute to how the orphanages are run, and also what the people inside of them believe. Research the orphanage you will be working with, research the location, the beliefs that area holds, research any piece of information that will make you as prepared as possible before entering the gates. This will catch you less off guard when entering the facility and hearing what the Madam has to say about the history of the orphanage and their daily activities.
3. Keep an open mind – After mental preparation and research, before stepping foot into the gates you need to remind yourself to keep an ope n mind. They will eat differently than you, cook differently, clean differently, and go about daily life differently than you. You must be able to accept and tolerate how these people live. An orphanage is the last place where judgments should be made. 

Last piece of advice: Take a step out of your comfort zone and volunteer at an African orphanage in your lifetime. Put it on your bucket list, save money, and make the trip to impact someone's life just as much as they will be impacting yours. As cheesy as it is, these children will change your life, forever.

NGO Roles in Rehabilitating Women in India’s Red Light District

By: Leisha Lininger
Produced & edited by: Molly Nocheck

Nestled in the Maharashtra district of India, Aruna of Oasis seeks to rehabilitate and free women from the bondage of sexual slavery and give them new skills so that they can leave the practice of selling their bodies. Director Sachin Kamble coordinates services for not only the women of the brothels, but also for the children of the women in the Red Light District. Volunteers come from all over the world to offer their time to these individuals and to open their minds to new cultural experiences.

Departing from their hotel, these volunteers travel via train and then they finally enter the hustle and bustle of the heart of Mumbai, just blocks away from the nationally known Red Light District. Weaving through food stands and vendors calling out for buyers, between cars angrily and incessantly honking while simultaneously braking and speeding, one follows the guide. With all the senses assaulted by the sounds of the horns, the stench of the trash, and the never-ending presence of the heats, the guide ambles on, leading the group to their destination: a non-governmental organization that works with the women in the brothels. The day is Tuesday, the day when women come over to gather for training, counseling, medical attention, and just to get a chance to leave the brothels for an hour or two.

Oasis is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that boasts branches not only in India but also in the United Kingdom, Bangledash, and around the world. According to the Oasis global website, their mission is as follows: “We're involved in anti-trafficking work, community development, housing, education, water... wherever we go we seek to extend the opportunities that we ourselves are so privileged to have.”


Sabina Kapur* speaks only Hindi and has two young children at home. Even though she does not like selling her body, she depends on the trade in order to provide for her young children. Even though she lives a life of hardship, she still delights in bringing a smile to others’ faces. Looking into the eyes of her visitors, the volunteers, she smiles and intently compliments them with phrases such as “Bahuth sunder hay,” translated, as “You are beautiful.” Her selflessness is evident in all that she does, even in a system that has taken away her freedom and away from her family.

Dimple Patel* has successfully left behind her life in the brothel system, and now volunteers with Aruna to encourage the other women and bring them out of the system. Patel helps host the weekly meeting, which entails a support group for those who have been diagnosed with AIDS.

During the support group, Shraddha Shelke, a longtime faithful employee of Aruna, gathers the women in a circle on the floor. Speaking in the mother tongue of India, Hindi, she explains how AIDS affects one’s body and charts the effects through pictures. Somber, the women listen intently. They are not alone in their struggle.

In a study written by R.D. Fowler in 2005, the Human Rights Watch reports that “more than 50% of Bombay's prostitutes are infected with HIV, with India's red-light districts the primary vector of viral spread into the general population.” Based on the number of clients that utilize the services provided in the Red Light District on a daily basis, the watch estimates that hundreds of people are infected daily with HIV, with 160 million Indians infected and the death toll 10,000 per month by 2000.