Abantu for Development (Accra)
-this organization is also the Regional Office for West Africa (ROWA) and is a gender and policy advocacy organization with an overall focus on collaborating with other NGOs, women’s movements, regional agencies, and government in the region. Programs are implemented through four functional areas: Training and Capacity Building Advocacy, Public Awareness and Networking, Research, Publication and Information, and Institutional Development.
-the student's role is to create a database of existing documents, collect materials and publications from partner organization, and subscribe to new information sources for the resource centre. As well, the student supports fund raising initiatives and prepares monthly progress reports.
Neighbour in Need Foundation (Walewale, Northern Region)
-grassroots organization that works in the areas of water and sanitation, environmental protection and aforestation, health insurance awareness and advocacy, and advocacy for accountability and transparency in local governance.
-student’s role is to participate in workshops and training session for the health insurance and accountability and transparency projects. The student has also been working with a women’s group in Wulugu in micro credit and alternative livelihoods projects. As well, the student performs clerical duties and has developed training sessions for the staff to learn Microsoft Excel.
Autism Awareness, Care and Training (Accra)
-this organization started as a support group for parents with autistic children and grew to become a support and education centre that promotes awareness and understanding throughout Ghana and provides training and education to children with autism who are not allowed in the public school system. Past projects include media campaigns, art exhibits, seminars, and exhibitions.
-student's role is to work with the students as a teacher of designated lessons. As well, the student performs administrative duties that include checking the data sheets that records each child's day and submitting data to the Global Autism Awareness organization in the USA.
Collaboration of Women in Distress (COLWOD) (Tamale, Northern Region)
-this grassroots organization was created in 1993 with the intention to fight the rise of sex trade in Tamale and in Ghana. The organization provides vocational training, in the areas of batiking, tie and dye, and sewing, for women that were trafficked, living on the streets, and/or in abusive relationships as a means for the women to earn income. The COLWOD store buys and sells the goods that the women make to support the women and the organization.
-the student's role has to been to work one-on-one with the women at the store to gain an understanding of their vocational skill, learn the vocation itself, and of the store and the organizations operations. The student has also been working to establish partnerships between individual women in the organization in an attempt to give them personal and financial independence.
Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (Tamale, Northern Region)
-this organizations is an autonomous government body that works as a national human rights institution, ensures administrative justice, and acts as an anti-corruption agency for the public sector. The Commission has branches in the ten regional capitals and ninety-nine district offices across Ghana.
-the student’s role has been to work in the registry, research/public education, and legal/investigator departments in support of the other staff members.
Ghana Development Communities Association (Tamale, Northern Region)
-this local organization has programs in the areas of child education, community radio, vocational training, water and sanitation, micro credit, food security and civil society empowerment. As well this organization is currently working on a CBO Empowerment Project to improve the networks and partnerships of community based organizations in Northern Ghana.
-the student’s role has been to work with project staff on monitoring and evaluation visits, to assist in organizing meetings and training workshops, and to prepare and edit documents for the CBO Empowerment Project.
Integrative Development Centre (Saboba, Northern Region)
-this is a community based organization that has offices in Saboba and Wulensi in the Northern Region and approaches development as a holistic process that should take place from the bottom-up. This organization has engaged in a variety of projects in the areas of water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, food security, and good governance.
-student's role has been to research and compile organization documents into a annual report and to observe and gain an understanding of a community based development organization.
Light for Children, Ghana
-this organization works closely with a maternal and child health clinic and an HIV/AIDS clinic to support children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS and their parents. The organization has established a care and support program that allows children to access medication, education and mental and emotional care as well as operates sexual health and HIV/AIDS workshops in local schools.
-student's role is to go with staff members to visit with children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS and their families and to assist with the sexual health and HIV/AIDS workshops.
Ghana Developing Communities Association (Tamale)
Local NGO working on the School for Life (SfL) and the Community Life Improvement Programme (CLIP) in partnership with Denmark. Also functioning to create CBO Network and CBO Empowerment project. The student role included both office and field work.
Northern Regional Water and Sanitation Project (NORWASP) (Tamale, Northern Region - with field work)
-NORWASP is a CIDA funded project that works closely with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency in Tamale. The goal of NORWASP is to increase access to reliable, potable water and sanitation services in the rural areas of ten districts in Northern Ghana.
-student's role has been to conduct seminars and distribute monitoring and evaluation packages for partner organizations and district water and sanitation teams to allow them to conduct assessments in the communities. Once all of the packages are returned the student will assist with the analysis and verification of the data in preparation for the final NORWASP report as the project will end in Aug. 2008 but CWSA will continue.
Opportunities Industrialization Centres International (Akyem, Eastern Region)
-this US-based organization has been contracted by a mining company to plan and implement community development programs in Akyem in the areas of Mining for Sustainable Development and Livelihood Enhancement. Projects are in the areas of agriculture, financial management, micro enterprise, and water and sanitation.
-as a community development officer, the student's role has been to assist the other officers to mobilize groups in the communities, facilitate meetings, and organize training sessions for financial management, group dynamics, agriculture, and water and sanitation.
Pan African Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (PAC) and War Affected Children Rehabilitation Organization (WACRO) (Buduburam Refugee Camp)
-both organizations are largely concerned with youth in the process of peace building and act as facilitators through which services are extended to the community of former child soldiers in the camp.
-student's role is networking and coordinating with local and international volunteers to organize workshops that provide training on organizational issues such as systems of accounting, grievance procedures, structure, and communication. The student is also working to create a network of local and international actors and organizations within the camp.
Program for Rural Integrated Development (PRIDE) (Bolgatanga, Upper East Region)
-a rural development organization that is committed to supporting initiatives for holistic, sustainable development by fostering self-reliance and community building. Works in three districts in the Upper East Region in the areas of micro credit, mental health, reproductive health and gender advocacy. As well, PRIDE has been working to distribute relief supplies to flood victims.
-student's role is to design a website and brochure for the organization and compile data for the organizations annual report. As well, the student has been involved in the survey of surrounding areas to assess and distribute relief supplies to flood victims and will help with the report writing.
Prolink Ghana, Mankessim Office (Central Region)
-this local organization has a head office in Accra but operates at 6 project sites in 4 regions of Ghana. Program areas surround HIV/AIDS issues with education and capacity building programs and care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Prolink also works in the areas of child labour and child trafficking as well as child survival and adolescent reproductive health.
-student's role has been primarily to shadow the project officers during field work for the Child Trafficking and Health Initiatives Projects. The student has participated in meetings with community volunteers, chiefs and community members primarily by working on community resource maps and has also taken photographs as documentation and has written reports.
Prolink, Hohoe Office (Volta Region)
-this organization has a head office in Accra but operates at 6 project sites in 4 regions of Ghana. The programming areas involve HIV/AIDS issues with education and capacity building programs and care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Pro link also works in the areas of child labour and child trafficking as well as child survival and adolescent reproductive health.
-the student's role has included working on funding proposals and yearly reports and writing for the Foundation Club Newsletter. As well the student has been working with the in-school sexual reproductive health program and organizing the centre's library.
Regional Advisory Information Network System (RAINS) (Tamale, Northern Region)
-RAINS in an integrated development organization working to enhance education and school environments, particularly for girls. They also work with youth at risk, regional chief councils, and have programs to prevent child trafficking and facilitate cultural bio-diversity projects.
-the role of the student is to assist the project officer with the cultural biodiversity projects by editing and writing reports and assisting in organizing and facilitating meetings and workshops. The student is also compiling and editing traditional stories told by children that will be shared across Africa with other RAINS offices.
Simili Aid (Tamale, Northern Region - with fieldwork in Zabzugu)
-local organization working in the areas of literacy, livelihood and social services, human rights education and democracy support, gender and affirmative action, rural micro-enterprise, agricultural and forestry promotion. As well, this organization works in partnership with a community-based organization, Partners in Participatory Development Foundation (PPDF), with accused witches to address human rights issues. PPDF also works in the areas of micro credit, water and sanitation, agriculture and forestry, and adult literacy.
-student's role is to conduct research and follow-up with the human rights advocacy campaign program and witchcraft accusation project. These advocacy programs are intended to help women understand their rights, attempt to reintegrate the women into their former communities and have community members adapt to the traditional accusation process.
Social Enterprise Development (SEND) Foundation (Tamale, Northern Region)
-this organization operates in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana and was established to address livelihood security and gender equality in Western Africa. Currently, the projects running in Ghana are in the areas of Livelihood Security, Economic Literacy and Advocacy, and the HIPC Watch project.
-the student has been working with the Economic Literacy and Advocacy Program to review and edit reports and also acts as secretary for the team meetings. As well the student has been monitoring the print media and reviewing news items on social policy and welfare for upcoming projects.
Talensi Area Women's Development Project (TAWODEP) (Bolgatanga, Upper East Region)
-this organization is community based and works with women in eight villages outside of Bolgatanga. TAWODEP has worked to establish micro credit groups that carry out locally-based, ecologically friendly, income generation projects in areas including shea butter, soap and pomade production, petty trade, farming, etc. This organization is also a partner with the Village Bicycle Project and has been providing relief to victims of the flood.
-the student's role is to shadow the director and visit the communities to learn about the organization and its projects. As well, the student helps with the preparation and writing of reports and other documents for the organization and has been acting as project photographer.
The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mines (WACAM) (Tarkwa, Western Region)
-this organization’s mandate is to ensure that the rights of communities affected by mining are protected and thus avoid conflict between the government, the companies, and the communities. WACAM organizes human rights workshops to educate community members on mining legislation and the rights of individuals and also acts as an advocacy organization and provides resources, support and expertise when legal action against mines is taken.
-the student’s role has been to research the mining communities and the impacts of mining firms and then to produce articles and photo essays for Western media sources to contribute to the organizations advocacy campaign.
West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) (Accra)
-WANEP is a regional organization established in 1998 by ECOWAS. The main objective of this organization is to resolve conflicts, build peace and pre-empt conflicts across West Africa. WANEP has established an early warning system and works with civil society organizations.
-this student works with the executive director and other program officers performing administrative tasks, editing and summarizing reports, writing proposals and selecting proposals for funding.
Youth Alive (Bolgatanga, Upper East Region)
-this organization is a local NGO, established in Tamale in 1996 and has since expanded to Bolga and Wa. It aims to give street children a second chance through formal education and vocational training. Youth Alive works in the following project areas: education, vocational training, micro finance, advocacy and awareness, health, and counselling.
-student's role is to shadow the field officers during field work and to support the office staff by completing administrative tasks. As well, the student has been typing up reports and child profiles and supervising, teaching and reading with children in the library.