RUSO in Ghana seeking Partners & Volunteers
HumanRights
A New Voluntary Organisation in Ghana:
Rural Support Integration Organisation (RUSO)
http://www.africaonline.com.gh/RUSO
http://www.egroups.com/files/VOLU-Volunteers/RURAL+SUPPORT+ORG-
Ghana
__________________________________
S E E K I N G . P A R T N E R S
__________________________________
Contact: Ben Zola (Organising Secretary): ala...@hotmail.com
Or, Senam Humado: se...@africaonline.com.gh
Details below.
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OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA
To learn about other programmes and organisations offering
volunteer opportunities, please visit:
http://www.egroups.com/files/VOLU-Volunteers
http://www.remarq.com/read/2350/qAZIUbfglaiE
http://www.remarq.com/read/19544/qAi75Z6QnK5MC
Also, check the Directory on Int'l Voluntary Service
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~rd7a/morelinks.html
Send an E-mail request to: VO...@BigFoot.com
Receive info by AutoResponder
Visit the African Photo Gallery
http://justice1.freeyellow.com/page2.html
____________________________________
OVERVIEW OF RUSO PROGRAMME
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ALL ARE INVITED to volunteer -- professionals, academics,
students, persons with skills, persons desiring to make
a meaningful contribution to African people, and others.
Volunteers cover their own airfare to Ghana and the
cost of lodging (room & board is generally inexpensive).
PROGRAMMES
RUSO's focus: health, primary medicine, AIDS, education,
women, infant, children, nitrition, community development,
micro business development, volunteering.
RUSO aims to increase female participation at all levels of
the education cycle.
RUSO is seeking partnerships with organisations and individuals
worldwide.
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS include:
TOGBUI KPORKU, Civil Engineer~Ghana's Ambassador to Japan
Dr. A.A LASSEY, MD (Gynecology) Korle Bu Hospital, Accra
CLEMENT KOFI HUMADO, Agricultural Economist & Consultant
BENARD QUARSHIE, Chief Accountant Ministry of Health
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MESSAGE FROM RUSO
____________________________________
From the look of things we have realised that we cannot
peg our services to only professionals but rather need
to make it broad for every person to participate in our
programme.
We are also contacting another travel agent to take
care of travel arrangements, etc. Will inform you
later on that.
Issues on accommodations and food will also be dealt with.
We have no partnership with any organisation in the USA, Europe,
etc.
Your assitance in that direction will be highly appreciated.
What we want from partnership should be based on exchange of
participants, technical ideas and sponsorship.
_______________________________________
QUESTION & ANSWER: Q & A
_______________________________________
From: Ben Zola at ala...@hotmail.com
CC: Senam Humado at se...@africaonline.com.gh
>How long have you been in operation?
We started operating officially since March this year
>Ages of eligibility:
From 20 years to 76 years old.
>What are your age restrictions?
No age restriction as such.
We need individuals from all backgrounds (professionals, non-
professionals,
volunteers, etc.) to contribute to the mission and goals of
social
service. In some cases, specific skills are required but no
prior
volunteer experience is necessary.
>Cost to participants (all details)
Free, but pay for their own accomodation, living expenses etc...
>What fees are there; please itemize
We only request for voluntary finanacial support to help promote
community
or rural development.
>How much money MUST they bring with them?
Money to carry along should not be less than $2,000 for two
months or more
depending on your taste of value. Travellers cheque or Visa card
are
accepted by our banks especially Barclays.
>What provisions will there be for participants who arrive days
or weeks
>before the project,or who wish to remain in Ghana days or weeks
after the
>project ends?
That can be discussed amicably or they make their own choice
form our
programme available.
>How long are the projects?
It depends on individual projects, and on technical and
financial support
available.
>Do you have both short-term and long-term
>projects? Explain.
The overall aim of the forum for RUSO is to work consistently at
correcting
gross gender disparities and inequalities in education all over
Ghana and to
increase female participation in education at all levels of the
education
cycle by:
* Influencing educatioal policies relevant to expanded females
enrolment,
improved performance and sustained survival;
* Documenting and disseminating information on innovative
strategies;
* Encouraging replication of strategies; and
* Building essential linkages between educational research,
policy, planning
and implementation.
We will invest in partnerships with individuals and
organisations that bring
experience, expertise and commitment to their own efforts to
help people
through better health and learning. The challenges and problems
of human
existence are as daunting as ever.
But the prospect of major gains in human well-being is
historically unique.
The Rural Support Organisation (RUSO) is animated by a vivid
sense of the
wonderful possibilities of the future and is grounded in a
consciousness of
the responsibility to ensure that our resources are used wisely
and well.
>How do participants go from the US to Ghana?
All airlines operating in Ghana have US destinations. Ghana
Airways has a
direct line to the US.
Other Airlines such as KLM, SwissAir, Lufthansa, British
Airways, South
Arican Airways.
>What is the approximate cost of travel from the
>US to Ghana?
Approximate cost of travel is between $1,300 and $2,500
>What airline generally offers the best travel deals?
Ghana Airways
>What travel agaent will help particpants find the best rate?
OGR Travel & Tours,
>Who is a contact person at "Ghana Airways"? Their phone number?
E-mail
>address?
o...@africaonline.com.gh
>How many projects do you sponsor during the summer only? How
many during
>the other seasons?
We started operation just four month ago
>Do you have projects around Christmas and New Year's?
Yes, but not yet established -- e.g. rural and cultural education
Objectives of RUSO
1.Organise awareness campaigns in rural communities on the
importance of
clean environment, initiating action on erosion control, tree
planting,
horticulture and organic farming. Foster linkages with
institutions
responsible for the protection of the environment and health
issues.
2.Career counseling and guidance for the youth. Organising funds
and
mobilizing local labour for construction of community
libraries,health-post,
day care centers and schools. Provide reading materials for
community
libraries.
3.Linking appropriate local and international institutions to
provide
resources and training to local women in their income generating
activities.
Assisting communities to set up micro-finance network to provide
capital for
a sustainable income generating programe.
4.Identify peculiar problems and abuses of women and children
and seeking
appropriate interventions from relevant institutions to solve
these
problems.
5.Organise funds and material support for disabled people in
local
communities. Organise training in enterprise development skills
and link
with other employers in public and private sectors to offer jobs
to the
disabled.
>Distance Learning/Distance Education (computer aided)
Lack of funds has limited our project but hopefully in the near
future we
shall promote Internet related courses to Students in various
schools.
>Environmental work, Conservation, Agriculture, Wildlife, Game
Reserves,
>Community Development, Building/Construction, Youth work,
Sports,
>Education, Tutoring
As explained above, please refer.
>How many people are there, generally, in a project?
We have 8 voluntary staff and 21 part time support service.
>The Ghanaian volunteers -- what ages are they?
From 21 to 76 years
>What percentage come from the local community;
About 21%
>what percentage are at the secondary school level?
25%
>What percentage at the college or university
>level?
35%
>How is RUSO different from VOLU-Ghana? How is it similar?
We emphasize Education and introduce new technologies in Health
awareness
programmes such as AIDS campaign and nutrition of women, infants
and children.
>What are the main organisations within Ghana that RUSO is
affiliated with,
>or works closely with?
Not yet established
>What are the main organisations OUTSIDE Ghana that RUSO is
affiliated with,
>or works closely with?
We are trying to link up with AMDA of Japan (Association of
Medical Doctors
in Asia)
>What sort of orientation will participatns receive?
RURAL UPGRADE SUPPORT ORGANISATION offers the right support to
expedite the
development of the RURAL poor and to bring about rural
livelihoods.
It is a unique service organisation registered in Ghana on 4TH
March,
2000 to empower RURAL people to manage their own affairs in a
sustainable
way.
>What paid/salaried jobs do you have; what opportunities are
there for
>volunteers to continue working in Ghana -- with RUSO or another
group --
>beyond the introductory RUSO project?
No paid salary jobs. Opportunities exist in health awareness
campaign and
rural community development.
>What other programmes similar to RUSO or VOLU are you aware of -
- programmes
>that operation in Ghana or Africa?
ActionAid, Save the Children Fund, Sight Savers, Save the birds,
Green
Peace, Friends of the Earth.
>What are other important matters or issues or information that
should be
>passed to prospective volunteers?
Small Business Development: - This is a subordinate group of
Rural Upgrade
Support Organisation called Community Network (ComNet). The
group comprises
people of diverse professions, Small business specialists and
Social
workers. Activity areas include: Income generation, Women's
empowerment,
Skill and vocational training.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Ben Zola
Organising Secretary, RUSO
ala...@hotmail.com
Please visit:
Rural Support Integration Organisation
http://www.africaonline.com.gh/RUSO
http://www.egroups.com/files/VOLU-Volunteers/RURAL+SUPPORT+ORG-
Ghana
.........
OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA
To learn about other programmes and organisations offering
volunteer opportunities, please visit:
http://www.egroups.com/files/VOLU-Volunteers
http://www.remarq.com/read/2350/qAZIUbfglaiE
http://www.remarq.com/read/19544/qAi75Z6QnK5MC
Also, check the Directory on Int'l Voluntary Service
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~rd7a/morelinks.html
Receive Info by AutoResponder
Send an E-mail request to: VO...@BigFoot.com
Visit the African Photo Gallery
http://justice1.freeyellow.com/page2.html
.
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