The GhanaThink Foundation, through its Ghana Volunteer Programme (GVP), is preparing to celebrate its annual event, National Volunteer Day. Held every year on September 21, this day aims to inspire young individuals across the country to dedicate some of their time to volunteer activities.
National Volunteers Day highlights the significant impact of volunteer work and encourages more people to engage in community service. GhanaThink publicizes various #volunteeringh activities and matches volunteers to those organizing these through its Ghana Volunteer Program.
It also provides a platform for organizations to showcase their initiatives and for volunteers to share their experiences. Raymond Ayinne, Resource Lead for the GhanaThink Foundation’s Upper East Region activities (Barcamp Bolga, Komseko, Bolga Konnect, etc), noted that volunteers have delivered essential services in various fields over the years.
He explained, “We provided PPEs to vulnerable people during COVID-19. While many institutions helped during the pandemic, there was little attention given to vulnerable groups such as hawkers, beggars, and persons with disabilities. We mobilized our resources, educated these individuals, and made donations.”
Previous National Volunteer Days have included a variety of activities, all over Ghana. Some of the #NVDay activities in the Upper East Region have included a clean-up exercise and donation drive at the Next Generation Home in 2014, painting the St. Charles Special Needs School in Bolgatanga in 2015, and organizing a literacy day for primary and junior high school students at the Upper East Regional Library in 2017. In 2019, there was a Software Freedom Day event held in collaboration with the Linux User Group, and in 2023, volunteers conducted a clean-up exercise and planted trees at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Tongo.
In 2024, recognizing the harmful effects of drug abuse, Mr. Ayinne said participants of Bolga Konnect and others who would be volunteering are focusing on educating residents of the Sherigu community and students of Sherigu Senior High School about the dangers of drug abuse.
He added, “We have planned an even larger response to address the rising rates of teenage pregnancies and drug abuse in the municipality.”
Mr. Ayinne urged residents of the Upper East Region to support volunteer efforts, either by sharing their expertise or by providing resources to aid these activities. The National Volunteer Day activity is a precursor to Barcamp Bolga, a free networking and mentorship programme. Barcamp Bolga is on September 28, 2024.
Source: a1radioonline.com | 101.1MHZ | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
