In Zulu “ izandla ziyagezana” means hands wash each other.

“A person is a person because of other people” is another saying  that points at the interconnectedness of individuals within a community. It is similar to Ubuntu, the traditional African philosophy that says “I am because you are.”

 African languages are replete with such sayings that our actions and contributions, no matter how small they are, have positive  effect on those around.

Volunteerism is  the act of offering one’s time and skills to  support a cause, organization  or community without  expecting monetary compensation. With most activities monetised can one ask if volunteerism is dying?  While I was in Secondary school years ago, I took part in some voluntary workcamps. But hardly do we hear of such activities. The reasons why  volunteerism  Workplaces do not encourage volunteers. And many young people are also not interested in volunteer work.

But one may observe that looking at volunteerism, one would say  that helping others is not just about individual kindness but also about strengthening the fabric of the community and fostering a sense of collective well-being. 

I did not know  that Voluntary Workcamps Association was initiated by  Quakers in Ghana.  It was by chance  I bumped into some old documents at HHM. Going through them  I saw an old tattered pamphlet to mark  the 40th anniversary of  the Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana.

After the Gold Coast attained independence in 1957, there was the need for more  development projects.  Apart from education, Quakers were involved in healthcare, and community development projects. Back in 1956, Quakers promoted the formation of Voluntary Workcamps Association  to mobilise the youth to help in building community development projects. The aim of  VOLU is to render selfless service to mankind by mobilising volunteers to  contribute their energies for community development.

Over the years, VOLU  diversified its activities by going into  Literacy Programmes, Health  and Environmental  Education  as well as campaign against youth vices such as drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.

Volunteers at a construction site

How did VOLU begin? David  Acquah a staunch Quaker of Hill House Meeting shared an   account he wrote on the 40th anniversary of VOLU in 1996 Her second daughter, Janice Acquah reads part of the father’s speech for us on  VOLU’s anniversary.

 “ We learn that big events often start  from humble beginnings. This is certainly demonstrable in the life of VOLU. In 1954, Quakers at the Hill House Friends Meeting at Achimota seized the opportunity to use the experience of (Gordon Green) a young expatriate teaching English at Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast to experiment with the innovation of  promoting workcamps at Tsito in Awudome where an enlightened  traditional chief was supportive of projects consistent  with  the objectives of adult education  and community development.

On evaluating this workcamp experience, Quakers in Ghana decided to seek the assistance of the International Voluntary Service for Peace (IVSP) in London to train a Ghanaian prospective Medical Student to advance on the innovation of workcamps in this country. On return, he was to offer a year’s full time voluntary service as the Organising Secretary. Obviously, the success in promoting the concept of voluntary workcamps in Ghana, working in harmony together, had hit upon an idea whose time was ripe.

Its successes, even in the early days, VOLU became attractive to an (African American) United States  Christian Minister who inspired the  United States  Operations Crossroads Africa  to experiment with the services in African in co-operation with VOLU.  Needless to say, this co-operation is only one of the many numerous international agencies which have helped to accord VOLU’s workcamps the international character they have always developed and maintained.

Little wonder, then that the international community, through their voluntary agencies and governments, have felt encouraged to work in close collaboration with the Ghana Government over the years to ensure that VOLU continues to flourish.”

That was part a  speech David Acquah delivered as Patron of VOLU on 11th September 1995. Many friends  from Hill House Meeting served  VOLU in various capacities.  Gordon Green was General Secretary, Mrs Alice Apea of SOS Children Village at Tema was a Vice President.

With changes of government  and  youth policies  VOLU became inactive. But vacuum it filled in terms of community and youth development are still relevant and necessary.

HHM proposes to  revive volunteerism in Ghana as established by Quakers. This is as follows:

o revitalize the Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana (VWAG) and mobilize youth for community development:

  1. Rebuild leadership and structure: Establish a strong leadership team and define a clear organizational structure.
  2. Update mission and vision: Align with current community needs and youth aspirations.
  3. Secure funding: Explore diverse funding sources.
  4. Youth mobilization: Utilize social media, community outreach, capacity building, and mentorship programs.
  5. Community development focus: Identify community needs, design and implement projects, engage communities, and assess impact.
  6. Partnerships: Collaborate with government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector, and international organizations.

Although there  is no definitive metric to  show level of voluntarism in Ghana,  there is the need for it because of  its numerous  benefits.  They include increased self-confidence building, emotional stability, physical and mental well-being, career development, and social capital.  Hill   that VOLU should not die off with a generation.  There is the need to revive  volunteering to meet  the needs of  the present day.  This is why HHM has identified revival of volunteering as anniversary  project. We would appreciate your ideas.  Share them with us.

Thank you.