CID Ghana

CID-Ghana,Cooperation for Integrated Development-Ghana, is a development organization in Tamale of northern Ghana. CID acts in two main ways, through development projects and exchange programmes with European volunteers and students.

CID-Ghana was formed in its initial character in 2002 with the aim to support the development of northern Ghana by creating chances for locals to realise their own ideas. The organization was registered under the Companies code of Ghana as a non-profit non-governmental organization in 2005. As CID has grown the main activities have shifted slightly in accordance to the needs in Tamale.

The CID-Ghana development projects are initiated following a proposal by a local person or community and supported by CID financially and technically. The projects are focused on education, water supply, women empowerment, micro credit loans and capacity building training. CID receives funds from private donors as well as companies and other organizations.

Based on the belief that intercultural meetings and exchange leads to development of the societies involved, CID-Ghana organizes volunteer and education programs. The volunteers are attached to organizations and institutions in need of help and students can take courses or do their internships in Ghana. During the time in Ghana most of the program participants live with local families for a deeper cultural exchange and experience.

Volunteers

CID-Ghana has been working with volunteers from abroad since 2003 and sees this as an important part of development both in Ghana and in the societies the volunteers' come from.

Aim
The aim of the CID-Ghana volunteer programme is to support organizations and institutions in the Tamale metropolis and to allow people from Europe to experience life and work in Ghana. CID-Ghana also believes that meeting people from abroad create a valuable experience in the lives of Ghanaians. The close integration and cooperation of volunteers with the local people is the key to achieve this exchange which is why CID also cooperates with several host families.

Work places
The CID-Ghana coordinator receives applications for volunteers from organizations and institutions in the Tamale metropolis and evaluates them based on their need and whether they can find a clear goal for the volunteer to work towards. Many schools, orphanages and organizations in Ghana have a lack of staff because they can't afford to pay salaries. Others want to exchange ideas with people from abroad to develop their work. CID also wants to support the many non-profit organizations founded by devoted Ghanaians who offer their own lives and resources to help others.


Volunteering
CID-Ghana matches the applications from Europe with a workplace and a host family. The placement is based on the volunteers' skills and interest. There are different requirements on volunteers depending on the workplace they are interested in, some do not require a specific educational background or experience and others do. For more information about the requirements of each institution please check the details about the workplaces and contact your volunteer coordinator. CID-Ghana is always open for requests of work in any area and might be able to locate organizations in need that are not presented on the page.

Process
Persons interested in the CID-Ghana volunteer programme should write to one of the volunteer coordinators (listed below) and will be asked to submit an application leading to an interview. The coordinator will then try to match the applicant with a workplace and host family whereby a meeting is held in Europe to prepare the volunteer and go through the arrangements. When the volunteer arrives in Ghana the Ghanaian staff holds an orientation concerning the life and culture in Ghana. As soon as the orientation is completed the volunteers start working and are guided by the Ghanaian staff and workplace supervisors.

Sofie Vindevogel, Belgium: sofie@cidghana.org
Maddy Schreurs, Holland: maddy@cidghana.org
Elin Jonsson, Sweden: elin@cidghana.org
Ryan Thompson, UK/Ireland: ryan@cidghana.org