Current Volunteering Opportunities
Current planning and vacancies Physiotherapy Department
Practical Information for potential Volunteers
PCAF Volunteers stay at the Maase centre in Offinso and live in basic but well
kept, self contained and furnished apartments with a bedroom, living room, bathroom and veranda.
Mr. Barimah Antwi and his family host
volunteers with warm hospitality and will do everything to make their stay a pleasant one. Breakfast,
lunch and supper are prepared with care by the family cook. You will enjoy local Ghanaian food.
The Maase centre lies five minutes walking distance from the Offinso town centre where you can find
all necessary supplies. From here, local transport brings you to Kumasi in 30-45 minutes. Kumasi is
Ghana's second biggest city and the capital of the Ashanti Region. Located centrally in Ghana, Kumasi
is an excellent location for travelling throughout the country. Many tourist sites can be easily reached.
Especially on weekends you will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful country.
PCAF hosts both independent volunteers as well as those who get their placement through volunteering organisations.
Independent qualified volunteers make their own arrangements and incur the following expenses (all amounts are indicative): Visa (€50 for an H1 visa),
Travel (~€1,000 for a
return ticket from Europe),
Vaccinations (~€300, depending on vaccination history), Travel and health insurance (~€100 per month, depending on coverage). Expenses for housing and meals at the center
follow the national NGO guidelines, this currently stands at €120 per person per month for full board.
The duration of a volunteering position is variable but typically ranges from 2-6 months.
If you are interested in volunteering, you can apply by emailing a motivation lettter and CV in
English (see contact details). Once
accepted to the program, PCAF will offer all necessary support in preparation of
your stay. Please be aware that spending time as a volunteer requires careful preparation and
that living standards in rural parts of Ghana can be very basic.
Inexperienced travellers should anticipate a period of acclimatisation. Be assured, though, that
your host family will offer all the support they can in making you feel at home.
Testimonials / former volunteers
The society has hosted over 200 volunteers since its inception in 1988. Their contributions
and support have been indispensible to the development of the rehabilitation and training
centres. At the same time, volunteers benefit from the professional and personal experiences
they gain during their stay with us in Ghana. Below you will find a selection of our past
volunteers and their contact details. They will be happy to anwswer any questions you may have
if you are considering a volunteering position.
Katharina Essl (Austrian Physiotherapist, 6 months stay in 2007/2008) "From October 2007 till April 2008 I worked as a physiotherapist in the centre. I worked with the students and two days per week I took care of a group of disabled children. I also worked together with two doctors of the Offinso hospital in a kind of mobile clinic. In my spare time I taught some of the students mathematics and English. On Saturdays I liked to help Mr. Antwi on the farm where PCAF is setting up a citrus plantation. I really loved my time in Offinso. I found the work very interesting and rewarding. But most I liked the people in Ghana. My host family now feels like a real family to me and some of the students became very good frieds. These six month were very important to me and I will never forget this experience."->Email Katharina at:   |
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| Wytske Greydanus (Dutch Kinesiotherapist, 3 months stay in 2007) "I combined my time as a practitioner at the centre with travel and leisure. A period spent in Offinso is an unforgettable experience that will enrich your life. I enjoyed every minute of my time in Ghana, with its hospitable and friendly people and beautiful scenery. I can recommend it to everyone - there is so much to learn from these people." ->Email Wytske at:   |
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Mouna El-Horsi (German Occupational Therapist, 12 months stay in 2001) "I spent one year in Offinso working as a volunteer with the students of the School in Maase in coordinating their medical rehabilitation and with some children visiting and treating them regularly in their houses as an occupational therapist. The core of the work was to find the most possible independence in daily life with any kind of disability. I realised that the “Society of the Physically and Mentally Disabled” has created a field of different possibilities for the members to be supported and being met with the individual needs. I experienced a great solidarity within the members of the Society where everybody has the chance to be and feel accepted. On a macrocosmic level it was beautiful to see how people gathering as a group with a special aim who dedicate their time for a good idea find the power and strength to initiate changes in the environment. I still feel very much connected to the people in the Project. I wish the Project a lot of power and financial, material and spiritual support to keep on moving!" ->Email Mouna at:   |
Itsje Anema (Dutch social worker and administrator, 4 months stay in 1999) During my stay at PCAF I realised every time how important it is that there are places in Ghana where disabled people can live (that they have a home) and that they learn how to live their lives independent from their families (they can make their own money). I have a big respect for the students and the workers at the school. They all take care of each other and the workers at the centre are working out of their heart (the problems from the students are their problems and together they solve the problem). I also learned a lot about myself and the culture in Ghana. During my stay in Offinso my host family took good care of me and they are very hospitable and open-minded. I wish the members and the workers from PCAF the best for in future and hopefully the school can be in a couple of year’s independent from sponsors! |
I spent 4 months at PCAF in Offinso in 1999. I visited the disabled children at their houses and played with them. I also did some administrative work at the office in Offinso. Later on I visited the school twice again. The first time I got back to Offinso, was in 2001 (celebration) and the second time was in 2007. The last time was for my study social pedagogic relief. I did some research of the position of disabled people in Holland and in Ghana and what we can learn from each other.