The existence of poor conditions cannot afford the handicapped children the opportunity to enter a bus by wheelchair, nor move around freely since there are no pavements and few care giver exist. Problems to attend schools or work equally became a threat to these vulnerable children. The home consists of children and young adults with cerebral problems and some with impair speech and disability. The project accommodated both highly mentally and physically disabled youths of all ages (young children of ages 1-9 and older adults up to 50 years). As the name indicates, they are not able to move around and spend time on their beds. They are beeing fed, cared and washed by few staff.
There are boys’ and girls’ hostels, for the more self-dependent ones. They are splited into those for mentally challenged (like Down-Syndrome, Authism) and those for only-physically challenged (e.g. Spinal Bifida), who use wheelchairs.
There is also a canteen, an assembly, a physio-therapy room, a vocational centere (here, they are trained in skills like beading, cooking, painting, computer, hair-styling and producing shoes and furniture) and a school, which is also attended by external pupils. In the school, there are classes of different levels of difficulty and one equivalent to Primary School. Now this Home and School are run under governmental governance and belongs to a widespread network of such institutions around Lagos. The NGO efforts is to temporarily complement the existing workforce in the home.
The volunteer can choose his or her area of work, since there are many fields on which a volunteer’s help is needed. Volunteers are expected to provide the following services for the challenged and vulnerable children:
· auxiliary training in special areas related to their own social works
· assistance in moving physically challenged children around
· distribution of food and other materials
· organizing entertainment, cultural events and games
· courses of foreign languages, etc.)
- Helping the teachers in the school, e.g. paying special attention to one of the pupils or helping during breakfast break in feeding
- Helping the physio-therapist in treatments under his guidance, but also massaging and doing minor exercises with the people on his/her own.
- Being active in the vocational centre, like bringing in new ideas, doing computer training etc.
- Helping the staff in the bed-ridden station with feeding during the meals, but also entertaining the people who spent days in their beds, like singing, caressing, taking them out (using a wheelchair)
- Entertaining the people by activities, such as dancing, singing, playing football or other games
- Associating with the people, also those who are not mentally challenged, to motivate them, help them learn simple tasks to make them more independent, take them for outings and help them find a way into social life
Volunteers should have good organisation, creative minds and interested to work with kids. Be friendly and create a warm surrounding for the people who experience so much in their lives; be creative and eager to arrange activities and entertainments and as well as in daily tasks; be emotionally strong and ready to deal with unexpected situations; bring in good values, be passionate and act responsibly; to adapt and enjoy simple conditions of living such as food and accommodation; try to respect and understand other cultures.
Volunteer living apartment often times stay with host family closer to the project and if interested, volunteer can reside in a self-contain bedroom in project centre with available facilities.
No pocket money allowance
Visa Issues: Please note that Tourist Visa is only for 8 weeks while stay for Business Visa or TWP Visa is not more than 6 months. If your stay is more than 6 months, STR Visa should be collected before departure. VWAN will help to administrate and facilitate extension Visa where possible.
The volunteer should obtain appropriate insurance to cover period of stay in the project. Host organisation allow this to be evident before placement in the project. SCI travel Health Insurance is also appropriate.
The participation fee is 300€ for 1 month placement for each camp project.
This covers both feeding and accommodation per week without any extra cost to collect for return trip to Airport. Immediate payment is made by the volunteer on arrival to the country. The participation fee will cover expenses on daily feeding, moderate accommodation, administration, on-arrival orientation, group travels to the project site, preparation, certification and other logistics support.
Pick up is arranged by VWAN on arrival and return to the Airport after project. NO extra fees is required after the payment of Participation fees on arrival.
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- Find your local organisation in your country of residence using our branch locator
- Get in touch with them with details about the project(s) you want to apply to. They will become your sending organisation.
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