About
VOLU
The Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana (VOLU)
was founded in 1956. It is a nonpolitical, non-sectarian
voluntary organization. Its membership is open to
everyone over the age of sixteen, irrespective of
nationality, religion, race, political view, or educational
qualification. It has numerous partner organizations
in Europe, North America, and Asia.
THE AIMS OF VOLU ARE:
* To bring together all people interested in voluntary
workcamps with
the object of fostering a spirit of common
understanding among all
classes of people and to give young people
the opportunity to use
their leisure time in the service of
the community by participating in
community development schemes, such as
building of schools, health
and other Welfare Centres and generally
to organize and assist Local
and National efforts in these and similar
projects.
* To give practical assistance without regard to
national frontiers and
through cooperation with volunteers from
all countries.
* To foster in the youth of today the spirit of voluntarism
and the
"service to mankind’’.
Since its inception, VOLU has affirmed
itself as a key National Voluntary youth organization
in Ghana. It has organized over 800 workcamps and
has also run several long-term agricultural projects,
leadership training programmes and weekend activities.
Its current membership is over 13,000 and it is no
overstatement that VOLU is one of the strongest workcamp
organizations in the world.
STRUCTURE
VOLU is a non-political, non-profit
making, non-sectarian voluntary service organization.
Its membership is open to all those over the age of
16 years irrespective of nationality, religion, race,
colour, political affiliation, sex, or educational
background.
VOLU is organized at four levels:
Local Group, District, Regional and National. A minimum
of five paid-up members is required to form a local
group.
Many local groups are developing
collective farming projects, including small-scale
farms cultivating croups such as cassava, tomatoes,
pepper, cabbage and okro, oil palm plantation, cocoa
plantations and rabbit farms. As well as being as
source of food, money raised from the sale of products
is used for development schemes in the local communities.
In order to ensure success, VOLU local groups always
seek the support of the village chief and the village/Unit
Committees.
VOLU is organized through four administrative
organs; the Biennial National Congress (BNC), National
Executive Committee (NEC), Standing Committee (SC)
and National Secretariat. The BNC is the highest organ
of the association where all members meet every two
years to evaluate the past and take decisions for
future programmes of the association. The National
Executive Committee meets two times a year and the
Standing Committee meets once every month. |
