Lotus Centre

Introduction

Lotus Childrens Centre was started in 1993. It runs under the umbrella of an internationally recognised NGO called AMURT. Currently we have 8 girls in our full-time care ranging from 12-18 years old. Besides this, we run 2 nursery school programmes and a childrens library at the centre.

Who do we need?

We are looking for female volunteers who love working with children and have a flair for creativity. You will teach small classes in either our nursery on site or our sister school in Korlegonno. Qualified teachers and general volunteers are all welcome.

Project Manager

Didi Ananda Shanta, is a missionary worker for Ananda Marga. Originally from the Philippines, Didi has lived in Africa for 12 years now.

The Environment:

Lartebiokorshie, the area in which Lotus Childrens Centre is located, is a lower middle class area, near the centre of Accra. The streets are a rough, untarsealed and sandy maze. Palm and papaya trees decorate the otherwise barren gardens; despite it being the city, goats and chickens wander about everywhere.

Background to the Library

We decided to open the library to help to remedy the lack of educational resources available to primary aged children. Many children have never seen books written especially for kids in their life, apart from the compulsory school text books (which even then many don't have).

The library began in 2001 after we received a donation shipment of books from Erin Peterson, a former Lotus volunteer who took the project to heart and single-handedly arranged all the books on her return to the USA.

Early Childhood Education

Nursery schools are generally run in the backyards of family houses and have a scarcity of educational materials. Little attention is paid to the standard of the facilities and the educational training of teachers. Parents are relatively uneducated and have very low expectations from a pre-school. At Korlegonno Nursery school and Lotus, we are trying to change this. Our volunteers are involved in running arts and crafts classes as well as story-reading and other creative activities.

Accommodation

You will be accommodated in our childrens home. Accomodation is simple but spacious and basic vegetarian food is provided in the volunteer fee.

Your Job at Lotus:

You will be engaged in various activities, mainly teaching in the nursery school and helping out in the childrens home. As the girls are now teenagers, it may take time however to get on side with them, so patience and a good sense of humour are an asset.

Besides this, on holidays, you can organise special activities in the library, such as art classes, recorder lessons, tutoring reading etc.

Volunteers will either be assigned to help out at Lotus nursery school or at Korlegonno (10 minutes bike ride away). In both cases, you will teach classes of around 10-15 children. We encourage volunteers to focus on teaching remedial reading and writing and working with arts and crafts with the children. Although there are many arts and crafts supplies brought from volunteers at the centre, we rely on the volunteers to utilise these items. Local teachers do not understand the value of arts education and are embarrassed by the childrens efforts, which look less than perfect.

Your mornings will involve working in the kindergarten, and after lunch having your free time, or engaging yourself in the childrens' home or the library.

Volunteer Vacancies:

2 Volunteers at any one time. Females only.