News
Welcome to our news page! This is where you can find recent news and activities and is where we list the community projects that VAF has undertaken thanks to contributions from individuals and volunteers. Your continued support of VAF will ensure future projects can be developed so stay tuned for more to come.
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" - Oscar Wilde
Fundraising Initiative
(January 2012)
Today marks the first day of our 'Global Fundraising Initiative' in an attempt to raise money so we can build a handicrafts workshop in Ho. The aim of this is to create employment opportunities and to give VAF a different source of income so we can expand our work and service to the people of the Volta Region. Please click on the 'Fundraising' tab to learn more.
Improving Road Safety
(November 2011)
In August Volta Aid Foundation presented a petition to the local authorities, co-signed by the headmaster and headmistress of St. George's Anglican School, requesting the construction of speed bumps along Glalah Street due to reckless, high speed driving along the road which endangered the lives of everyone, least of all the children that crossed the road every day. We recently received news that construction will begin - which it has - and we are ecstatic that for a change something is being done before tragedy strikes.
Drifting Angels Orphanage Construction & Upgrades
(September 2011)
The construction at Drifting Angels Orphanage is complete! The three bedrooms, which have laid half completed for years, have been updraded and fully furnished with new bunk beds, mattresses and mosquito nets and are now being used by the children. 
Diabetes Outreach
(July 2011)
On the 30th of July Volta Aid Foundation and volunteers once again held a diabetes outreach, this in the Ho-Heve area. Our service included free diabetes testing, free blood pressure testing, free counselling and free follow up ward visits to almost 200 people. A big thank you to everyone who made this day a success.
Library & Activity Centre Open
(June 2011)
VAF has now opened a small activity centre and library for children, youths and adults. In our collection we have reading and picture books, activity and colouring books as well as puzzles and educational games. This small yet simple offering gives children a fun and stimulating way to spend their free time and the reception has been outstanding. If anyone has additions they would like to make to the library please contact us as we need all that we can get our hands on.
Diabetes Outreach
(June 2011)
On the 25th of June Volta Aid Foundation and volunteers held a diabetes outreach in the Ho-Ahoe area. Our service included free diabetes testing, free blood pressure testing, free counselling and free follow up ward visits to almost 300 people. The day was a success in terms of creating awareness of this relatively unknown condition yet how can you call it a success when you find around 15% of the tested population with suspicious blood-glucose levels?
Children's Friend Orphanage Goes to the Beach!
(May 2011)
Continuing the VAF tradition of beach trips volunteers Lisa and Vanessa have done it again with the kids of Children's Friend Orphanage in Adaklu-Goefe. It rained - it POURED - our tro tro got bogged, we were soaking wet before we even got to the beach but it was well worth it. All the kids had a great time swimming and seeing the ocean for the first time - especially six year old Fafali who was the first in and the last out and, despite shivering from the cold, could not wipe the smile from her face.
Westside FC Ghana
(May 2011)
A big thank you once again to everyone at Westside Sports Club who have continued their tremendous support by donating another set of playing jerseys and eleven pairs of shinpads to a local football team.
St. George's Anglican School Starts Construction
(March 2011)
Courtesy of VAF volunteer David Cameron, St. George's Anglican School has now started construction of a new building. The building will house a staff room, and ICT room and bathroom facilities. Under current conditions the teachers sit under the trees, there is no ICT room and the bathroom consists of a small concrete 'urinal' where there are no toilets for boys or girls. These new changes are greatly needed and all the teachers and students could not be happier.
Building a Better Life One Bed at a Time
(February 2011)
Mission accomplished. The Drifting Angels are now sleeping in beds, on mattresses and under mosquito nets! Thank you again to everyone who made this happen!Grant Approved!
(December 2010)
VAF is proud to announce that a $1500 grant has been approved by Bombardier for construction of bunk beds and purchase of mattresses and mosquito nets for every child at Drifting Angels Orphanage. Thank you Bombardier for your amazing support and we have started putting the wheels into motion to make the lives of these children just a little bit more comfortable.Rose Enrolls in School!
(November 2010)
Rose Addae, aged 19, is now no longer missing out on her final schooling years. Thanks to a number of people Rose has started Form 1 at Awusco Senior High School and will graduate in 2013 with her senior education certificate - something that looked almost impossible earlier this year. To contribute to Rose and Priscilla's (see below) ongoing expenses please contact VAF.Priscilla Enrolls in School
(September 2010)
Priscilla Agbenyadzi is finally attending school. After offering pleas for help for this talented young girl, Stuartholme School in Brisbane, Australia responded with enthusiasm. Led by two
seniors: Katrice Bulgarelli & Kristy Cope, a chocolate fundraising effort was started and, after selling more than 300 chocolates, enough money was raised for registration and one years
tuition including textbooks and uniform. We cannot thank everyone involved enough for making this dream become a reality. Some words from Priscilla:"I am very grateful for your assistance and I very much appreciate your every efforts. I pray that you live long enough to see the outcome of me being in school. God bless you." -Priscilla
Drifting Angels Orphanage Goes to the Beach!
(August 2010)
On the 12th of August, Volta Aid Foundation along with VAF volunteers Elise, Mario, Saartje, Lies & Raphael went on a trip with the children from
Drifting Angels Orphanage in Tsito to the beach. Hiring a minibus, we packed 4 to a seat and set out on an adventure. After encountering an eroded road, being bogged in the sand,
and four hours of travel time, we ended up in Woe and the beautiful beach. For many of the children it was their first time seeing the beach, witnessing the beauty of waves,
touch and tasting the salty ocean water. The looks of pure joy on their faces will stay with me forever.
The day was topped off with a coke for everybody - something they get once in a blue moon. Thank you for everybody who made this trip possible,
the kids will remember this day for a long time to come.
First Aid Classes for Drifting Angels Orphanage
(August 2010)
Drifting Angels Orphanage, closely tied with VAF, is a sanctuary for children and, with the number of kids living together, accidents are bound to happen.
VAF volunteers trained and educated the caretakers and the older children in basic first aid covering everything from burns to bleeding to CPR. Through this education we know that if an accident
occurs then someone will be around to handle the situation before it spirals out of control.
CPR Classes for Nurses
(July 2010)
VAF Volunteers Natascha Baumann, Mary Costigan and Louise Timbers, alongside Ash and Alex, successfully educated the nurses at the Ho Municipal Hospital in basic CPR techniques.
Approximately 50 nurses attended the free workshops which were designed to teach them basic life saving skills which, for some reason or another, these nurses were never formally trained
in. The nurses completed the training equipped with knowledge that will help them save lives inside and outside of the hospital walls. Following the success of the original classes there
will be a review program towards the end of August conducted by Magdalena Philipp and Ash.
Meet the 'Black Stars':
This football team plays on dirt, rocks and small patches of clumpy, foot-long grass. After contacting a club in Brisbane, Australia - Westside Sports Club - they kindly donated jerseys, brand new shorts and hats, as well as three pairs of goalkeeping gloves. The boys now compete under the Westside colours and we are ever grateful to Westside Sports Club and their support of football development in Africa.
Meet Sena:
Sena, his wife Beatrice, and 9-year old son Senyo live in the heart of Ho, yet, unlike their neighbours, have lived the past 6 months without electricity. Unable to raise enough money, VAF approached Sena and offered help. After using local contractors, two poles were installed allowing a wire to be connected to the source and brought to Sena's house. Sena and the family are now living happily with electricity and are one of VAF's valued host families.