Volunteer Expedition Summary - Joseph Atkin

In May and June of 2010 Joseph Atkin, an AHP volunteer, visited our Refugee Orphan Home at Buduburam, as well as other Africa Heartwood Project sites in Ghana. Joseph's primary efforts at the orphanage included training staff, students, and teachers in how to organize and run the new Vocational Training Center (VTC). The staff was very grateful for the training. The teachers, who are experts in their fields, are excited to be a part of this wonderful center, and the students are eager to have fun and learn some useful vocational skills! Six classes are fully functional now, including sewing, baking, cooking, soap-making, health, crafts, and cultural drumming, dance, and song. Four elective classes will soon be available for the students to choose from, with subject matter including art, pre-vocational, beauty, and agriculture.

In addition to working at the Home, Joseph was able to deliver some tips from DjembeDirect.com customers to the hardworking drum builders in Aburi, and to monitor the work being done there. He also visited the bore hole being constructed between the villages of Ogyanhewanu and Akromakwaa, which should be completed in July.

Regarding his volunteer experience in Ghana Joseph said,

“ Spending time with the children and staff at the Africa Heartwood Project orphanage at the Buduburam refugee camp was the highlight of my experience in Ghana. The children are amazing; they have so much potential and such an amazing desire to succeed. AHP is currently giving them the opportunity they need to survive in the refugee camp, and the new Vocational Training Center will be crucial for that, but they need so much more to be able to thrive and reach their full potential. I am honored to have been a part of assisting AHP in its mission to help these orphan children, and many others, to help themselves.”

Joseph's efforts have been crucial in . . .

• Capacity building for staff at the Refugee Orphan Home, through training on effective reporting, administration, discipline, punctuality, and communication.
• Establishing micro-production of hand crafted items from the children at the Home, as a means of providing them with spending money and generating operating funds for the Home.
• Improving inter-personal conflict management skills between administrators, staff, teachers, and students.

If you are interested in offering your time and skills the way Joseph has done, please contact us so we can work with you to create a volunteer expedition that will effectively serve the needs of those we work with, and meet your needs as a world traveling volunteer!