The success of Village Volunteers relies heavily on the success of our partners. In celebration of our highly valued and integral relationships, we would like to share with you the ways in which we work together. It takes donors, organizers and people on the ground to implement change. According to our program directors in Ghana and Kenya, where we have been partnering for the longest time, we collectively have a great deal to be proud of. Learn more about these programs at VillageVolunteers.org.
RYVANZ-MIA ORPHANAGE, GHANA
Program Director: Venunye Djentuh
Mama Esi, having lost her own father, and her children having lost their father, began caring for orphaned children in Kpando, Ghana in August 2006. Combining limited personal funds with those raised by selling homemade pastries, she and her children converted their home into Ryvanz-Mia Orphanage. Venunye Djentuh, a teacher by trade who grew to love the children, took on the role of Program Director and officially registered the orphanage as a non-profit organization with the Ghanaian government.
Venunye, Mama Esi’s son says of the relationship with Village Volunteers, “Since we became partners, we have received continuous volunteers and donations. The hospitality fund goes a long way to feed, clothe and educate the orphans. The number of orphans rose from 6 to 13 within a year… Kids who were sleeping on mats on the floor saw themselves on bunk beds with mosquito nets, new school uniforms and consistent payments of school fees and school supplies. Life became normal for the children.”
By joining forces, water filtration systems are now in place for drinking water, an organic garden has been cultivated to feed the children, and eight out of thirteen orphans attend Delta Preparatory School thanks to the support of Village Volunteers alumni.
Venunye extends an invitation to volunteer along with this bit of advice, “I encourage you to ease into the pace of the community, love the slow and contemplative aspects of it; and it will only enrich your experience! Come volunteer at Ryvanz Mia Orphanage … meet Mama Esi and the children. Help us to build a library room with a computer or support a child. You are welcome.”
DAGO VILLAGE, KENYA
Program Director: Patrick Adoyo
Dago Village has an orphanage, a school and a tight knit village community. Patrick Adoyo, son of program directors Pamela and Duncan, says, “Village Volunteers has been a very inspiring change provider. Having known of Shana since the year 2004, I never gave up on wanting to work with her.”
The orphanage was constructed in 2002 and now houses 20 girls with 16 more on the way. According to Patrick, growth was slow until 2007, when they partnered with Village Volunteers. Since then, a feeding program, new kitchen, medical support, solar lighting and an organic farm have all been implemented.
At the school, Dago has only 8 teachers teaching a total of 350 children. Volunteers have helped substitute for the understaffed teachers and brought uniforms, sports equipment and supplies. According to Patrick, “Most volunteers who come get attached to children and have opted to send them to private schools. We wish more children will be sponsored.”
In the community, new programs such as Youth Mentor Group, Environmental Youth Action Corp, and agricultural training have been established. “We hope more trainings… will help bring more developments in the agricultural sector.”