The application period for Humanist Action: Ghana is now open

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Foundation Beyond Belief’s Humanist Action: Ghana is accepting applications now through December 15.

In 2013, Foundation Beyond Belief sponsored Pathfinders Project, a yearlong international service trip in search of the best location to launch the Humanist Action: Ghana. The Pathfinders spent a month in each of 10 project locations, contributing no less than 6,000 hours of service with community-centered partner organizations on education, human rights, poverty abatement, and water sustainability projects.

Building the foundation for a latrine

[caption id="attachment_15490" align="aligncenter" width="614"]Conor with students at Xeatsan AltoConor Robinson with students in Xeatsan Alto, Guatemala. Photo Credit: Wendy Webber

Crowd outside the water center

[caption id="attachment_15492" align="aligncenter" width="614"]Children at the Kukuo camp for alleged witches in Northern GhanaChildren at the Kukuo camp for alleged witches in Northern Ghana. Photo Credit: Wendy Webber

Through Pathfinders Project, the volunteers put humanist theory into practice while evaluating the partner organizations in each location. Equipped with the lessons learned by the Pathfinders, Foundation Beyond Belief selected Northern Ghana as the location for the launch of the Humanist Action: Ghana.

Preparing to go to market

Kukuo women and children preparing to go to market in Northern Ghana. Photo Credit: Wendy Webber

Beginning in the summer of 2015, the Humanist Action: Ghana will support Songtaba and other Ghanaian human rights organizations working to restore dignity to women who have been accused of witchcraft and banished to “witch camps.” Although the women are relatively safe from violence once they are in exile, the living conditions are deplorable. They do not have access to basic education and health care, and they are unaware of or are unable to exercise legal protections under Ghanaian and international laws.

Humanist Action: Ghana volunteers will work alongside locals to design and implement projects with the short-term goal of improving the standard of living in the witch camps and the long-term goal of eliminating the dynamics that lead to death or forcible and violent exile of women from their communities.

Applications for 2015 will be accepted through December 15. For more information, visit https://humanistservicecorps.org.