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ABOUT VSO's WORK IN ASAMANKESE, GHANA

VSO is a non-profit organisation that is currently tackling issues of poverty and development in the eastern region of Ghana as well as numerous other countries across Africa, and throughout the world.

During my time as a volunteer in Ghana I shall be working with FLOWER (Facilitating Learning of Women in Emerging Regions). FLOWER is a women-led, not for profit organisation which works alongside communities to run practical, low-cost activities that help young women to realise their full potential and feel empowered to make decisions about their future.

Through this project, VSO seeks to increase cocoa production, provide alternative markets for cocoa and other products and add value through income generating activities by increasing business and marketing knowledge skills among the target group. VSO ICS teams will help improve livelihood conditions by supporting FLOWER (local NGO partner) to increase their support of community groups, and inspire an interest in agriculture amongst in and out of school youth. In addition, VSO ICS volunteers will organise seminars for the local people for them to gain skills in bookkeeping and adopt innovative marketing practices to reach new communities not currently working with Cocoa Life.

VSO began working with cocoa communities in this region as part of the Cocoa Partnership, initially established by Cadbury in 2008. This has now developed into ‘Cocoa Life’, an initiative developed by Mondelēz International and its partners that brings together farmers, NGOs, governments and international agencies to secure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of around one million cocoa farmers. VSO is working with cocoa farmers in Ghana to improve incomes and enable communities to drive their own long-term change.

The volunteers that VSO sends to developing countries work in partnership with local partner organisations so that they stand the chance of making a substantial long-term impact in communities. Volunteers work with local people by sharing skills & ideas, and collaborating on innovative projects to help fight poverty and inequality in the long haul!

Remember the fundraising does not go directly to pay for placement or for flights, visas or vaccinations. It contributes to the ICS programme so that a further 10,000 young people from the UK can volunteer with in country volunteers on projects in the developing world and fight poverty. The trip itself is already paid for by VSO.

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