Child Development Evaluation

July 10- July 24, 2026

Background

GHEI has robust data collection while families are enrolled in our Mother Mentors for Child Development (MMCD) program, which begins in pregnancy and continues until the child turns two years old.

However, we have not yet conducted a systematic evaluation of the outcomes for children once they leave the program. We are eager to have volunteers support this effort to better understand how participation in MMCD may have impacted both the child and the family.

Goal

Assess the health, development, and home environments of children who have completed GHEI’s Mother Mentor Program (MMCD), now ages 2–9, to understand long-term impact and guide future program improvements.

What will I do?

Prepare Tools

If desired, work with GHEI pre-departure to finalize the questionnaire, using validated questions when possible, largely drawn from UNICEF MICS questionnaires. This is optional- participate in this step if you have time and interest pre-departure.

Conduct Home Visits

Work in teams with GHEI staff to collect information from households. Likely topics:

Nutrition and feeding practices
Education status
Infection prevention practices (malaria and diarrheal illnesses)
Basic hygiene and safety
Child’s height and weight (volunteers will do the measuring and weighing)

Synthesize Data

Clean data daily
Review data with local staff
Report back on key findings

Download Sample Itinerary

Who will I work with?

Joseph, Aggie and Mensah will lead a team of field staff trained in data collection. Dr. Rickard will advise before, during and after the project.

Joseph Yankson

Health Program Coordinator

(Joined GHEI in 2023)

Aggie Obeng

Health Program Administrator

(Joined GHEI in 2004)

Mensah Gyapong

Health Program Administrator

(Joined GHEI in 2008)

Diana Rickard, MD MSHS

Co-founder, Board Chair (will not be on site)

Session Leader Role

We’ll select one volunteer to serve as the Session Leader, who will contribute ~2–5 hours/week for 2–3 months before departure, and for 1-2 months after return.

Responsibilities include:

Get to know your team's interests
Work with GHEI on questionnaire and analysis plan
Help finalize the session itinerary
Coordinate materials (local vs. brought from the US)
Assist GHEI with logistics including ensuring volunteers meet deadlines
Complete final presentation/report and verbally give report back to GHEI via zoom

Interested? Mark your interest on the application. Candidates may be interviewed, and the leader will be selected by early spring.

Program Fee: $2,550

Included:

All in country travel costs including transportation, lunch, dinner and accommodation.

Program activities, workshops and field excursions
Visit to Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast
Pre departure guidance and 24X7 onsite support
Contribution to GHEI's year round programming

Not included in the SSL Program Fee: airfare, VISA and passport costs, vaccines and malaria prophylaxis, travel/evacuation insurance, breakfast (volunteers have preferred to get this on their own), and souvenirs.