Volunteering Projects in Ghana (Community)

Ghana is a vibrant and alluring country, steeped in rich tradition and a frequently tragic history. Free from the trappings of mass tourism, this former British colony has much to offer the visitor. Tropical beaches abound but there's so much more: feed the sacred crocodiles at Paga, plunge into the waterfalls of the eastern highlands, marvel at the game-rich savannah of Mole National Park, or relive the chilling story of the coastal slave forts. For more information we suggest that you purchase the Bradt Travel Guide to Ghana.

Since Ghana is only a few degrees north of the equator, the only seasonal changes are distinct wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit is during September and October when the weather is relatively cooler and it rains only occasionally. From December to February it is the dry season, when day temperatures are in the 80s-90s Farenheit (27-36 degree Celcius) and nights in the 70s Farenheit (18-26 Celcius). Another dry season occurs from July to August. A dry northeast wind known as the Harmattan blows for about 10 days in January. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry; the southwest corner has the highest humidity and rainfall, while the north is frequently hot and dry. Don't forget to take along an umbrella during the rainy season.

No. The program runs throughout the year.

Ghana has several holidays and festivals throughout the year. Some of these will interrupt project schedules and some will not. One thing about Africa is that schedules are never written in stone. You should use the break from the regular work schedule to soak up the culture and get to know the people you are living among.

Volunteers will help our partner strengthen the organizational skills of local groups who are making efforts to reduce poverty in their region. You could be placed with a group that is working to educate orphans, to provide vocational training, to protect the local environment through eco-tourism initiatives, or to start a youth center.

Your placement details and schedule will be worked out between you and our partner. Some of the planning of this will happen before you arrive and some will happen once you have arrived in the community that you are going to work within.

It is helpful if you speak English; it is also fine if English is your second language. While there are many local languages spoken in Ghana, the majority of people speak English.

You must be between 18 and 60 years old to volunteer in this program.

• Diphtheria and tetanus
• Polio
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever - a certificate proving you have had this should be shown at the airport on arrival.
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria (needs to be closely discussed with doctor)

Some of these can be taken in oral form so please do discuss all options with your doctor to see what is best for you. Some people can be affected quite differently to others by medication. Malaria is prevalent in Ghana so we strongly recommend medication for this. A yellow fever vaccination is legally required to enter Ghana and you will need to provide a certificate to prove you have had it to obtain a visa.

Wednesdays and Sundays are the preferred arrival days, as you will be able to participate in the orientation with our partner organization's staff the following day. If necessary, however, you may arrive in Ghana on any day of the month.

Volunteers will be placed in a home-stay situation within the community they are working in, or in a neighboring community. All of our caretakers and host families have been trained to provide a warm, safe, and clean environment for volunteers. Your host family will truly adopt you as one of their own, and you are encouraged to feel at ease with them. All living quarters have a nice bed, mosquito netting, private bath and facilities, and a lock on the door. You will have drinking (unfiltered) and bathing water, a kerosene lamp, soap, and toilet paper available. You may want to purchase bottled water in Ho. You should plan on bringing a flashlight as well. You will be fed three meals a day, and if there are any problems with the meals (too spicy, for example) please discuss it with your counterpart so that the menu can be changed.

After a brief orientation in Ho, volunteers are typically driven to their placements by a member of staff later that day or the next day, depending on the distance to be travelled.

Volunteers are welcome to bring their family members with them on the program. Each application will be considered on a case by case basis and there will be a minimum additional cost per family member. Partners will need to apply seperately if they wish to take part in the program.

Each GVN program has different criteria depending on our partner's requirements. Every application is reviewed to ensure that the minimum requirements (as set out on the program page) are met. Next we look to see what skills or experience you have that relate specifically to the program. We are also interested in any previous volunteer experience you may have (either local or international), travel experience, and your particular interest in the program.

After reviewing your application, should we require any further information from you, we will email you to request this.

Absolutely, and it is even encouraged as the Volta Region is plush with numerous small-scale eco-tourism sites including water falls, mountains, and monkey sanctuaries. One such eco-tourism site is Adaklu Mountain, where several of our volunteer sites are located. If volunteers would like a local guide to accompany them on their travels, this can be privately arranged through the project staff. You may also want to spend some time in Ghana after volunteering to see more of the country. You can survive on as little as US $25 a day in Ghana. You can also spend much more if you want a bit of luxury.

The in-country fee covers food and home-stay accommodation during your placement. If you arrive early or intend on staying on in Ghana for longer than you are volunteering then you will need to have spare money for this time. Since most flights from the U.S. and Europe arrive in Accra late in the day it is often necessary for volunteers to spend their first night in Accra. Volunteers are asked to cover the cost of their accommodation and meals for the first night; this will be approximately US$25 in total. Other costs include buying bottled water and any shopping you want to do personally. Also some money may be required for your days off, depending on what you intend doing.

Our partner in Ghana provides historical documents on the partner group you will be working with, including their past proposals, funded projects, and general information on their current situation such as weaknesses and strengths. There is also access to computers, and a small but very useful library on how to develop projects, write grants, and create budgets and accounting systems. As volunteers are working with rural community groups in developing their organizational capacities, they are encouraged to bring laptops to the field (if possible) that can be recharged in the regional office.

Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable but tidy attire: for women this means long pants and skirts/dresses, and men can wear long pants or even smart shorts. Loose cotton clothing is recommended for purposes of protection against sun and mosquitoes. Ghanaians dress very well and frown upon unkempt dress from others.

Our partner's focus is to help build sustainable village-based organizations in Ghana so that groups are better equipped to reduce poverty. The initiative was started in partnership between former Peace Corps volunteers and the host communities.

On the job mentoring is offered by our partner organisation to volunteers. They offer help by providing ideas for action, act as a sounding board to help set a strategic vision and design a project, and will evaluate completed projects.

You will organize your visa through your travel agent before you leave for Ghana. We also provide a detailed program guide which includes links to Ghanaian embassies throughout the world.

As with any overseas travelling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident coverage as well as a "loss of deposits" cover which covers fees paid to GVN, airlines etc (up to US$8,000). If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/.

There are many cultural festivals, as well as other activities such as informal drumming or dancing. You may also choose to arrange private language classes. Volunteers are free to do as they please on the weekends and after their volunteer activities are done for the day. We encourage volunteers to experience as much of the country as possible since there is a lot to see and do, but we also expect volunteers to take precautions when traveling alone, heed the advice of the locals for where it is safe to travel, be mindful of personal health, and to respect the rules and culture of the country in general.

Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully transferable to a later date or different program if you decide not to take part in the program, subject to the terms of service). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer’s expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program. Refer to GVN's legal terms of service for full details.

Vegetarians are fine if they are willing to settle for a limited selection of food. A typical breakfast consists of some combination of tea, coffee, cocoa, oats/porridge, bread with jam/butter, and egg omelet. A typical dinner includes fruit and either rice, yam, or Kenkey with stew or soup (which can often include meat). At lunchtime you can get fruits and/or snacks. You'll need to supplement your food at your own expense if this is not acceptable to you.