WORK/PROJECT: Volunteers will be actively engaged in the completion of the construction of proposed Out Patients Department (OPD) which was started by volunteers during the recent past summer camping period. The project in addition to an existing Healthcare Centre that is woefully inadequate to meet the increasing population of the inhabitants. The project, if completed, is expected to comprehensively curb the high rate of immortality and other related reproductive health issues that confront the people.

 Volunteers’ main tasks will be focused on moulding of sandcrete blocks, filling of the base of the sub-structure with gravels, carting of coarse/fine aggregates to construction site and other materials relevant to the project. The volunteers under the supervision of the masons may be called upon to try their hands in the block laying procedures as and when the need arises. The proposed project is expected to be completed within 3 weeks of intensive work by volunteers. Beside the major assignments, campers will be requested to embark upon Tree Planting exercise in a bid to address the desertification condition of the area (in the wake of climate change and its impending vagaries). Trees will be planted along some principal streets and degraded areas of the community if time will permit.
 
ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will continue to enjoy same form of accommodation being provided by their hosts as during the last summer, at walking distance to the project site. They will be sleeping on mattresses placed on well finished cemented floor.  Alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure the provision of comfortable beddings for the campers. A warm sleeping bag is strongly recommended but optional.  Cooking may not be the sole responsibility of the volunteers as norm and tradition of our camping programme as expressed in anticipation of their willingness and eagerness to engage themselves in the cooking and provision of meals for the camp. Nevertheless, in spite of this enthusiasm of our hosts, any volunteer who may express interest learning in preparation of Ghanaian local dishes will be encouraged to do so. 

LOCATION: The project is located in a community called Chinderi. Chinderi is a small community situated in the northern zone of the Volta Region with Kete-Krachi as district capital. The community which is estimated to be about 20,000 inhabitants is composed of more than 26 other small towns and villages forming the nucleus of the Ntsunuru ethnic group. The other tribes and clans present in the area altogether gives total population of 50,000. The principal occupation of the people is farming. Primary farm produce cultivated by these farmers are yam and cassava, whilst cattle rearing is also on the increase.  But large fragment of women individuals and groups trade in fishing and processing of fish produce from the Volta Lake on commercial scale. Yam and other tubers remain the traditional cash-crop of the entire area.
The traditional area (the people of Ntsunuru) has a unique traditional festival which is celebrated annually in every April.  The festival is known as Sunkor Festival. During this rich occasion all the traditional chiefs, the elders, sons and daughters of Ntsumuru converge at an ancestral shrine in an adjacent community called Bejame (the paramount town) to perform rituals to their gods. Significantly, these rituals are performed to express gratitude to the ancestral gods for having given them protection, long life and prosperity; more importantly good rains which account for bumper harvest. On the 2nd day of the celebrations, there is usually a symbolic down pour signifying the acceptance of the prayers offered to the gods.

The journey to Chinderi can be very exciting and full of fun as one could embark on the voyage either by water or road. It usually takes 24 hours to travel on the Volta Lake from Akosombo. The ferry leaves Akosombo bay on Mondays and arrives at Bejame landing bay the following day.  The vessels return to Akosombo on Wednesdays. The alternative means is by road; it takes one between 8 to 11 hours to cover the trip from Accra. Public transports from Accra depart for Dambai also from Mondays to Fridays every week. On arrival at Dambai, a town located close to the banks of River Oti; ferries and commuter boats are available to carry volunteers across the river within a period of 30minutes. A vehicle will be pre-arranged to convey volunteers to campsite (Chinderi) at the other side of the river free of charge.

LANGUAGE: As usual English shall be the main official language of the camp, high proficiency is not a prerequisite.

PARTICIPATION FEE: All prospective volunteers on this and other projects will be required to pay participation fee of 250 Euros per project but 150 Euros for any additional project.

EXTRAS:  Intermittent excursions on the Volta Lake shall be organized during the life of the camp by the camp leadership. Any other places of interest may be identified and will be visited after a careful and proper arrangement. Expenses estimated to be involved in this expedition will be borne by campers collectively. Volunteers will be provided with pipe-borne water, electricity energy from the national grid and water closet toilet facilities. A postal agency is located in town to address the postal needs of volunteers. However, Internet Services, Forex Bureau, Banks and other related facilities are not available in the project community but volunteers can have access to these facilities at Hohoe which is about 89 kms from Chinderi or the district capital-Kete-Krachi.