Sankofa Center for African Dance & Culture

S.C.A.D.C. Director with N.G.O. performers at Labadi Beach, Accra, Ghana

About us: What we do

The Sankofa Center for African Dance and Culture is a 501(c)3 non profit organization combining traditional African dance and music as a tool for HIV/AIDS education and community outreach. "Sankofa" is an ancient African proverb characterized by a bird looking back on its past. It asks people to revisit their past in order to correct the mistakes that may affect their future. The Sankofa Center uses the dance and music of Africa's past to foster health and understanding of HIV/AIDS in the current generation in hopes of preventing the destruction of their future. Our goal is to support the prevention of HIV/AIDS by encouraging behavioral change through the use of traditional dance and art forms that foster open communication & accurate knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The Sankofa Center's programming is two-fold: touring dance-dramas are aimed at educating margainalized villagers with little access to resources and information; and, after-school programs that target youth between the ages of 13-19+.

Top

HIV/AIDS Dance-Drama Program

According to the Ghanaian AIDS Commission (GAC), Ghana has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of nearly 4%, however, this relatively low rate (compared to other African countries) does not correlate to changes in behavior. In other words; there are many approaches to health education but many fail in their efforts to change behavior leading to the continual spread of HIV/AIDS. S.C.A.D.C utilizes the talents of international volunteers to merge Western art forms with traditional African dance, music, and theater, into performances that break down the silence, misinformation, and stigma many people attribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Dance/dramas provide a great way to open up dialogue about HIV/AIDS, portraying issues such as safer-sex practices, ways of transmitting HIV/AIDS, tolerance of persons living with HIV/AIDS, enhancement of women’s role in sexual health, and exposing the social & economic factors involved in daily Ghanaian life. Volunteers also conduct educational seminars ("HIV/AIDS 101") discussing proper condom use, the importance of HIV testing, and involve students in open discussions about HIV/AIDS. There is no language requirement for volunteers since local S.C.A.D.C. staff will translate information accordingly.

Village youth not only watch the performances but often create choreography that will continue to educate others about HIV/AIDS. Volunteers facilitate workshops, games and dance lessons to encourage interested students in becoming peer health educators in order to counsel others about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The artistic aspect of the program is only one portion of our outreach. Providing health information without referrals to health services is incomplete. Therefore, S.C.A.D.C. partners with local area clinics that provide free testing for HIV/AIDS, prescription medicines to fight opportunistic infections, counseling, and support services. S.C.A.D.C relies on the premise that the combination of education and health services is essential for behavior change.

Youth in Newtown-Accra, Ghana are mesmerized by the health messages
expressed by this S.C.A.D.C. performer

Village youth not only watch the performances but often create choreography that educate others about HIV/AIDS. Some of you will teach locals to become peer health workers to counsel their peers about HIV/AIDS and other STI's.

Open forum about sexual health issues with Ghanaian youths

A partnered referral clinic

The artistic aspect of the program is only one portion of our outreach. Providing health information without referrals to actual health services is counterproductive. Therefore, S.C.A.D.C. partners with local area clinics in Ghana that offer free testing for HIV/AIDS, prescription medicines to fight opportunistic infections, counseling, and support services. Our outreach relies on the premise that bridging information with actual services is crucial for change!

Top

Orientation

All confirmed volunteers will be equipped with a program packet prior to departure that will include: general information about your participation in the program, health and safety guidelines, travel arrangements, passport and visa requirements, and fund-raising ideas & supplies . Volunteers from the Los Angeles Area may attend a pre-departure Orientation held at UCLA. All other volunteers will be given a one-day Orientation shortly after arrival in Ghana that reviews literature compiled from academic research on HIV/AIDS in Africa and are taught how to present the "HIV/AIDS 101" seminar & curriculum volunteers teach at schools. Volunteers will be taught about the various social, cultural and economic factors contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ghana; and, how we merge these issues into our dance-dramas. The In-country Orientation will also familiarize volunteers with local customs and their stay in Ghana.

Top

Field Sites

Performances will take place primarily in pre-designated village squares and community gathering places. Junior and senior secondary schools will also host performances and an after-school program to encourage student participation. Ghana's official language is English (this is retained from its colonial past).Many other languages are recognized by the government including: Akan, Dagaare/Wale, Dagbane, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, and Gonja. Some of the local languages widely spoken in the Accra region are Twi, Ga, Fanti, Ewe, and Hausa. Despite the many languages throughout Ghana, Twi, from the Akan ethnic group, is the most widely understood. All S.C.A.D.C. staff members are fluent in Twi and English.

Top

Health and Safety

As international volunteers, your health and safety is our primary concern. Ghana is rated one of the safest West African countries, however, there is always some inherent risk involved in traveling abroad and we have taken strong precautions to make sure your volunteer experience in Ghana is secure. Upon arrival to Ghana all volunteers will be registered with the U.S. Embassy Consulate in Accra. Home-stays are located nearby several excellent medical facilities. Prior to arrival in Ghana, volunteers will receive information regarding vaccinations recommended by current health advisories. In-country safety and behavior guidelines will be covered in both orientation materials sent to volunteers and at the group orientation session upon arrival. The Center for Disease Control also has excellent resources and health recommendations for travelers. While in Ghana volunteers have 24-hour access to S.C.A.D.C. staff and the assistance of experienced local home-stay families. Your loved ones back home also have the comfort of contacting volunteers through S.C.A.D.C. staff cell phones, local land telephones, and email access.

Health Information on Travel to Ghana

Travel Insurance

Top

Homestays

Your primary duty as a volunteer is to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS to the people of Ghana. To do so, you will work with traditional Ghanaian dancers, drummers, and local S.C.A.D.C. staff, in order to develop a program specific to your skills and preferences. Each program is unique. Our S.C.A.D.C. van will transport you to/from dance-drama rehearsals and to the schools and villages for performances. Some volunteers work in collaboration with our local dance & drumming troupe to choreograph & perform the HIV/AIDS dance-drama using preexisting montages as well as new choreography. Others teach the "HIV/AIDS 101" curriculum, conduct pre & post interview surveys to measure the impact of the program on youths, and/or a combination of performing.

After each performance, facts about HIV/AIDS are broken down into easily digestible material. Following formal instruction, the students are encouraged to do interactive games to reinforce the day's lesson. Volunteers will spend up to four days at each school, and one half-day in each village (schools and villages will vary based on availability). S.C.A.D.C. uses a set model for the dance-dramas. However, volunteers may develop their own instructional format based on the curriculum. You will find that the program will modify based on your experience with the material. It is the responsibility of all volunteers to continue to enhance the program based on their knowledge and experience.

Many volunteers would like the opportunity to volunteer at elementary & junior high schools and/or orphanages during their stay. The Teaching & Orphanage Program gives our volunteers the chance to teach a variety of subjects to youth through partnered schools ranging from English, Math, & Integrated Science to simply bringing joy through fun games with orphaned little ones! Volunteers opting to participate in this program may also be integrated into various roles in the HIV/AIDS Dance-Drama program alternating during their stay as well.

Our Medical Internship Program is aimed at volunteers with clinical backgrounds or those interested in gaining first-hand experience in various medical fields for placement in our HIV/AIDS education, counseling, testing, and treatment protocols. Volunteers can range from doctors, nurses, counselors, and other health workers to those interested in the medical or social work fields who will be trained to implement various technical duties. Duties may range from conducting & analyzing rapid HIV/AIDS tests on numerous patients during the outreach, counseling, record-keeping, conducting surveys on our outreach population, and acting as liaison to partnering clinics for individuals in our outreach. Volunteers opting to participate in this program may also be integrated into various roles in the HIV/AIDS Dance-Drama & Teaching/Orphanage Programs alternating during their stay as well. However, the medical Internship will encompass primary duties. Successful volunteers will receive an official Certificate of Completion by our organization to illustrate the scope and magnitude of participation for future recommendation.

The majority of our volunteers are interested in advancing their professional & academic careers through entry into various graduate, medical, and professional schools. In today’s competitive society one’s future success often depends on the level of participation one has in terms of relating relevant principles & theories to practice in the real world. Therefore, we grant all successful volunteers an official Certificate of Completion that can be used for the admission process to demonstrate the excellence of commitment & skill exuded during international placement. We realize that our unique global service makes our volunteers better prepared than traditional scholars and we’d like to continue you on your path of goodwill and positive change!

Though the primary focus of the program is outreach through dance and art, there are other opportunities to make a difference. You do not have to be a dancer! Some of the most important volunteers we utilize are peer health educators for our educational seminars. An important component is training local youth to carry on the program in their schools and communities to educate others about HIV/AIDS. We rely on the strengths and diverse skills of our volunteers to manage a variety of other outreach projects. Some volunteers have opted to teach out-of-school village youth how to read, or assist with prop designs for the dance/dramas. Others want to be involved in community building projects such as assisting in the further construction of the S.C.A.D.C. Center or other spaces such as parks, organic gardens, and community centers. Past volunteers have also contributed to networking with other HIV/AIDS organizations to grow S.C.A.D.C. to its fullest potential, and to continue working with other schools and villages throughout the region. Ideas for special projects are welcome.

Programs span 8 weeks in length but volunteers may choose any week length of participation!
Since S.C.A.D.C. does not currently receive grants to cover our operations, program fees are assessed to our volunteers to continue our outreach. However, since we are a 501(c)3 charity in the U.S. we have developed a great fundraising protocol for our volunteers. By collecting contributions from peers, associates, and businesses our volunteers raise funds to cover their trip while their contributors enjoy full tax deductions of their monetary gifts. Year after year our volunteers are very successful in meeting their goals because everyone has a direct impact on halting AIDS in Africa while helping themselves to great tax deductions!

S.C.A.D.C. has "zero" paid employees in the U.S. as an effort to minimize the financial burdens on our volunteers who support the program. Many charities operate in developing nations but continue to exploit their local employees whom they've swarn to uplift. Current S.C.A.D.C. fees are based upon the minimal cost of continuing our outreach while providing you with an amazing experience; WITHOUT, exploiting the local population. Please compare our program to other established charities such as Cross Cultural Solutions in Ghana!

Future programs are continually being formed, please contact us if you'd like to be put on a waitlist for future programs!

Many volunteers want to stay involved with S.C.A.D.C. after their initial volunteer program. Therefore, some participants are invited to become volunteer coordinators for future programs. At the end of each program we accept applications from qualified candidates who want to revisit Ghana and assist S.C.A.D.C. in our mission. Volunteer coordinators are responsible for recruiting volunteers for up-and-coming programs and guiding them through the transition into their stay in Ghana. Volunteer Coordinators are unpaid positions. However, airfare and all in-country expenses are paid for by S.C.A.D.C. Near the end of your volunteer experience ask your current volunteer coordinator about the opportunity.