Sponsored Walk of the Northern Line for Ghana

Hello!

My Placement

I am volunteering in Ghana from June 1st- 29th this year, with PlanMyGapYear. I will be taking part in two of their four amazing projects in the city of Kumasi, volunteering both to help in an orphanage for children and babies of all ages, and english teaching in local schools. 

Walking the Northern Line
To raise money to help me take part in this placement, I am going to walk the length of the northern tube line, from High Barnet to Morden, via all the tube stops on the route- taking ~selfies~ at and between every one to prove that I've really done it and not just ridden the northern line from end to end... 

The route is over 20 miles long, and I am currently planning to do it on either Saturday 24th or Sunday 25th of May, the first weekend after I finish uni for the year, and exactly one week before I fly. I will put more details up about the route, and the walk itself closer to the time.

Anything you can donate in sponsorship goes towards my placement in Ghana itself. Because PMGY is an independent social venture that doesn’t receive funding from governments, religious bodies, political parties, development organisations or other external sources, the money supporting the volunteers goes towards paying for food, accommodation, airport pickups, around the clock support from the UK and in-country team, pre-departure training and support from the UK team, as well as the implementation and monitoring of projects, which greatly benefit the local community. 

Information about The Projects 
(taken from planmygapyear.co.uk)

Orphanage Volunteering
Like so many developing nations, Ghana has a large number of children who find themselves in the care of an orphanage. Not all children at the orphanages have lost their parents, some arrive from abusive homes and others are taken into care as their parents cannot afford to look after them. The orphanages are basic, under resourced and in need of volunteers assistance.
The children will have their food and accommodation provided for them, but with limited staff resources, it is individual attention that the little ones crave so much. Providing the children with the essential skills in life will help them on their way to successful futures free from poverty and filled with the same opportunities as others. As a volunteer you will become a big brother or sister to the children. You will work alongside local staff to assist with teaching the children, general childcare and the daily operational running of the orphanage.

English Teaching Volunteering
Education is a priority for the Ghanaian government. The implementation of FCUBE (Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education) between 1996-2005 in Ghana has allowed many poorer families to send their children to school. However, severe classroom overcrowding, lack of educational materials and an overall weak infrastructure are common problems that the Ghanaian educational system face.
PMGY volunteers are placed at a local school. Volunteers can work with children of all ages, from the age of 2 right up to the age of 16, working as a teaching assistant, or if confident enough to take the lead then taking their own classes. The children are extremely excited and eager to learn. Whilst resources are limited, if you are creative and determined then you can really make a difference. Volunteers play an important part in supporting local teachers and providing a new lease of life in the classroom through creative thinking and innovative teaching techniques.

PMGY also runs projects in a Disabled Children's home, and providing medical internships in hospitals and healthcare practises in Kumasi. 

Thank you for reading :-)

Laura 
Xxxxx