The importance of international volunteering in the developing world-Ghana
Volunteering defined as an activity that involves spending time, unpaid doing an activity that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) has played and continues to play a significant role in the socio- economic development of developing countries such as Ghana.
International volunteering which can be described as people to people cooperation for eradication of poverty at the local level is contributing to the empowerment of the population in Ghana especially the rural poor.
The sectors of intervention of international volunteering which include education, health, social welfare are seeing a lot of improvement.
In the education sector for instance international volunteering has helped in addressing the perennial problem of lack of teachers in rural schools in Ghana.
Many international volunteers have been placed in rural school throughout Ghana to serve as volunteer teachers.
Many physical infrastructure projects such as building of classroom blocks, libraries, washrooms have been carried through international volunteering initiatives in Ghana.
In the areas of healthcare, international volunteers have complemented the efforts of the government by their participation in the healthcare delivery system.
Preventive healthcare education and medical screening exercises as well as the donation of medical items have been carried out by international volunteering endeavours.
Hospitals and clinics have been put up in Ghana by volunteers through international volunteering programs.
In the area of social welfare, a good numbers of volunteers have been placed in orphanages and children’s homes throughout Ghana. A good number of orphanages and children’s have been constructed with the aid of international volunteering efforts.
It is obvious that international volunteering has contributed immensely to the development of Ghana. It is therefore necessary that all efforts are made to ensure a conducive environment for international volunteering to strive in developing countries especially Ghana.
By VARAS Team, Ghana