GHANA: Kpando Pottery Fesi Shed
Kpando Pottery Fesi Shed (Kpando) is a women’s cooperative of 35 members, predominantly single mothers, that helps its members earn supplemental income for their families through the production and sale of pottery. As a volunteer, you’ll help this community program succeed by providing either artistic services such as pottery making, teaching English, or business management skills.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Kpando is a way for mothers to earn a living. Founded in 1998 by Caroline Afenyo, the cooperative consists predominantly of single mothers with talents in art and pottery. As of March 2008, there were 35 women in the group.
Cooperative members meet every day in a local community building on the edge of Kpando Village to produce pottery which is sold to locals and tourists.
Recently, they received funding to build a chicken coop to provide protein for their families and to sell the eggs.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT KPANDO
Business/Women:
- Teach bookkeeping and business management skills, as well as micro enterprise development assistance for the sale and production of the women’s pottery.
- Teach English and life skills
General:
- Teach pottery making to all levels of experience
- Develop new artistic designs for the pottery
- Wash pottery tools, clean up, etc.
ACCOMMODATIONS AT KPANDO
Housing
Volunteers are hosted in a gated house within one half mile of the cooperative building. There are two double-occupancy rooms for volunteers. The doors have locks and the beds have mosquito nets. There is a pit latrine and a private outdoor wash area for bucket bathing.
Meals
All meals are prepared for volunteers by the caretaker at the house. Volunteers have the option to return to the house for lunch, or take their lunch with them in the morning to the cooperative building.
Volunteers who have special dietary needs or food allergies should note their needs on their volunteer application so Village Volunteers can notify the cooperative in advance.
Drinking Water
Purified drinking water is provided for volunteers.
Electricity
There is no electricity, so lanterns are provided for volunteers. It is recommended that volunteers bring flashlights or headlamps.
Internet Access
The nearest internet café is in Kpando Village, about a 12-minute tro-tro ride.
Laundry
For $30 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.
