Volunteer Accommodations
HOUSING
Volunteers are hosted on the second floor of the Ryvanz-Mia Orphanage. (The orphans are not allowed on this floor.) There are 5 double-occupancy bedrooms with locks on all doors and mosquito nets on all beds.
At the end of the hall is a bathroom, which is only used by volunteers. The bathroom contains an indoor flush toilet and bathtub shower. Should there be a lack of water pressure, a reservoir of water and bucket are available in the bathroom for force flushing the toilet and bucket bathing in the shower.
MEALS
All meals are prepared on-site by Mama Esi, and there are three scheduled meal times. For volunteers who are teaching at the Delta Preparatory School, a bag lunch can be prepared and taken in the morning.
Vegetarians are easily accommodated by our host families, with rice, fruit, and a wide variety of beans available. The more popular local fruits include plantains, pineapples, and oranges
Please Note:
Volunteers who have special dietary needs or food allergies should note their needs on their volunteer application us so we can notified in advance.
Purified drinking water is provided for volunteers.
ELECTRICITY
There is electricity, however, there are frequent power cuts. Volunteers are recommended to bring flashlights, candles and matches.
INTERNET ACCESS
The nearest internet café is approximately a 15-minute walk from the orphanage.
LAUNDRY
For $10 USD per month, a volunteer’s laundry (clothing and bed linens) can be done once a week. All volunteers are asked to launder their own undergarments.
SECURITY
Ryvanz-Mia is surrounded by a gate, which is locked at night.Additionally, the doors to the home are also locked at night and each volunteer room has its own lock.Volunteers are not permitted to leave the compound after dark without a Ryvanz-Mia staff member.
ORIENTATION
Volunteers are provided with an orientation upon arriving in Ghana in order to help the volunteer become aware of his/her local surroundings and safety concerns.Volunteers are encouraged to purchase a mobile phone, which is carried on them at all times.
TECHNOLOGY
There is electricity at Ryvanz-Mia which is freely available for volunteers to use. Please note that electricity in Kpando is not always reliable and/or consistent.
Volunteers may either bring with them an unlocked phone and purchase a SIM in Ghana (for approximately 2 USD) or they may buy a phone and SIM once they arrive in Ghana (approximately 20 USD for the cheapest model, which in our experience works perfectly fine for both international/local texting and calling).
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Volunteers should report any instance of illness or injury to a Ryvanz-Mia staff member. The volunteer will be escorted to by a staff member Margret Marquart Catholic Hospital for treatment, the staff member will remain with the volunteer for the duration of his/her treatment.
As the hospital is ten to fifteen minute walk away, generally volunteers will walk with a Ryvanz-Mia staff member to Marquart Marquart Hospital. In the event that a volunteer is unable to walk to the hospital a taxi would be called for transportation.