Wa, May 28, GNA - The Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana (VOLU) is organizing 15 voluntary workcanps throughout the country for the 2004 summer workcamps to assist a number of rural communities undertake a variety of projects to improve their lot.

The communities include Agona, in Afigya-Sekyere, Kordiabe in the Dangwe West District, Jukwa, in the Twifo-Heman-Lower Denkyera, Jisonayili near Tamale and Akyem Techiman in the Eastern Region, among others.

This was announced at Wa on Thursday by Mr William Oppong, Upper West Regional secretary of the VOlU at a farewell ceremony for 25 volunteer campers at the end of their three-week voluntary work at Motigu in the Wa District.

The workcampers include three volunteers from the United States of America, two from Switzerland and one from Canada, with the rest being Ghanaian volunteers from the various regions.

During the three-week workcamp, the volunteers helped the communities in constructing a five-seater KVIP place of convenience for the Motigu Primary School and started a four-classroom block project, to be completed by the Wa District Assembly.

Mr Oppong said the Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana is a Non-Governmental Organisation whose aim is to mobilize young men and women as volunteers to assist poor communities to undertake development projects to which they would otherwise be unable to do for themselves. "We assist in manual and social works such as construction of school buildings, health centres, day-care centres and assisting orphanages, and mentally retarded persons".

Mr Oppong also made a passionate appeal to individuals, philanthropists and district assemblies in particular to help the association by funding its workcamp activities to help the organization in making life meaningful for the people in rural areas.

Mr Humphery Naabu, Wa District Co-ordinating Director who gave the farewell address, commended the VOLU for complementing the efforts of the assembly, which he said had resulted in the district being adjudged the second best in the Northern Sector in executing European Union Micro projects.

Mr Kwadwo Owusu-Ansah who spoke on behalf of the volunteers expressed their gratitude to the Wa District Assembly for making their stay at Motigu a happy one.