Football

Football is one of the most popular sports in Ghana and Africa at large. This was exhibited during the Germany 2006 FIFA World cup Tournament when the Black Stars put up a tremendous performance.

Football in Ghana is everywhere! Whether flags on cars, stickers in taxis, locals in soccer jerseys or kids playing in the street, it's immediately apparent that Ghanaians are extremely passionate about football.

Our soccer placements in Ghana provide an opportunity for all young players to develop their basic skills and techniques with the hope that some may achieve the success of Michael Essien.

In this pioneering new project for first-timers, the volunteers will be coaching children between the ages of 7 to 10 years.

This project is a fantastic chance to improve your skills and ability whilst also helping local children to develop their game.

During your time coaching, you will be responsible for the development of young soccer players' basic skills and techniques. You will co-ordinate and plan coaching sessions to develop ball control, accurate passing, keeping possession and moving into space, for example. Furthermore you will help your supervisor, usually the team's part-time manager, to plan match strategies and take practice games. You will probably be asked to assist in team selection and to be 'on the bench' for weekend games.

PROJECT 2: HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B awareness campaigns.

HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B are a cause for concern in many African countries, including Ghana. They are a serious threat to the future prosperity of Africa and it is important to start controlling these diseases in order that local people can live long and healthy lives. BYF aims to teach people about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and encourages them to change their behavior, so that they are risk free from contracting such diseases. The Ghana Aids Commission provides relevant information to teach to schools and communities.

Initially, trained volunteers visit schools and communities to seek permission from the governing bodies to carry out an advocacy program. Before the HIV/AIDS program is carried out there is an initial survey on the school/community to find out how much information they already know about the disease. This is to determine the content of the program, as some schools/communities may have a greater knowledge than others and should therefore be taught more advanced topics.

The HIV/AIDS program is about 1 hour 30 minutes long and consists of various educational sketches, talks on HIV/AIDS prevention and tolerance, discussions, a video show, presentations and questionnaires. The program teaches its audience behavioral changes to reduce their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B. For example, safe sexual behavior is outlined - Abstinence, Be Faithful and/or use a Condom. There are also other methods of prevention, such as avoiding body piercing where HIV/AIDS can be passed through non-sterile needles.

After the presentation program the classes will be given an evaluation form to complete. The evaluation form enables us to assess how successful the program has been, and if there are any areas that need to be covered again to stop any mis-interpretation and/or ignorance.

For schools only, we ask the students to form a HIV/AIDS club, in which they can learn more about the advantages of practicing safe sex. The main aim for the HIV/AIDS club is for students to pass on this important information to their peers, spreading the word for a healthy and happy life. We hope that at least 60% of the target audience will have learnt and be practicing behavioral changes that will prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B.

PROJECT 3: Teaching.

Volunteers at BYF can also get involved in helping teach basic English and Math to children and young adults, who may not have had access to education at a young age. There are also general healthcare and sanitation programs that you could assist with.

You don't have to be a teacher to take part in and enjoy our Teaching placements. Open to all volunteers, you really benefit the students you work with, while gaining valuable skills yourself. Placements are in primary or secondary schools.

Usually you work in timetabled conversational English lessons. Sometimes (usually at a primary school) you are given your own class. You can find yourself teaching a group of five-year-olds or a class of adults. You might even be in a special school for the deaf or physically disabled.

You'll usually be in lessons for about 20 hours a week. This may not sound a lot - but you will need to prepare your lessons in your spare time!

If, like many volunteers, you feel a little unsure about taking an English class of any age, we give you a great deal of help. Once you are on your placement you have the full support of your supervisor (usually an English teacher at the school).

Before you begin your teaching we will brief you comprehensively about teaching English. You receive teaching resources.

But you are your own primary resource. The teaching guide gives lots of suggestions about how you can maximise yourself as a 'resource'. Bring along 'props' - like family photos, postcards magazines, coins, CDs - to kick-start conversation or a lesson. And when you get to your destination, comparing notes about what works and what doesn't work with other volunteers is always helpful.

Anyway, you're not likely to have many problems getting your pupils' attention. They want to speak English well so that they can get into good universities, get better jobs, have a better life.

While your pupils want to learn English, you will probably find that local teachers are just as keen - and they will practise their spoken English on you. This is, of course, part of the benefit of your placement - the better local teachers speak English, the better they will be able to teach their pupils.
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PROJECT 4: Care & Community Development.
Care is mostly needed in the rural communities in Ghana. It is our aim that people in these communities benefit from our organization. But the care work placements we arrange - in orphanages, day care centers, hospital wards and homes for the elderly - make a difference to children and older people who would otherwise lack opportunities for one-on-one social interaction. Children particularly benefit.

As a Care & Community volunteer working with children in orphanages, you would be helping the kids to learn life-skills that parents would normally teach. By getting involved in the day-to-day running of a care center - making sure children are fed, washed and dressed, and paying them personal attention - you are helping to shape the lives of young people, preparing them better for life.

You might like to be part of a team working on community projects such as building classrooms, community centers, or playgrounds, painting and decorating children's wards or orphanage dining rooms, soap making, palm oil production and generally lending a hand where it's needed. Community projects are typically under-funded and under-resourced, so volunteers, and our resources, are always welcome.

WOMEN ENPOWERMENT AND CHILD LABOUR

One of our aims is to promote girl child education. We have an African proverb that says” if you educate a man you educate an individual but if you educate a woman you educate the whole nation”. How can we achieve this? We would be able to do by sponsoring brilliant but needy girls in schools. Financing women to start a trade to be able to take care of her family. Yes! Her family. Most of African women in the rural areas support their families. Why? Because some (most) men in these community marry more than one by so the first wife(wives) are neglected making them responsible for caring of the house and children in every aspect for instance education, health, shelter, food, clothing etc.
A child in a broken home will lead them into so many problems. With all these problems which are possible to be encountered by these children, they end up doing all sort of activities are dangerous to their life. Such of these bad activities include prostitution, child labour, teenage pregnancy etc.
With your help and support we would be able to help these less privileged families with their basic needs.