Volunteering Projects in Ghana (PCO)

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 Village Peace 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 have the opportunity to work in the areas of community peace education cells and working in a community school program.

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 village.

Volunteers typically work between 8am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, however, schedules can be flexible, depending on your specific volunteer activities.

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 65 years old to volunteer in this program.

The Village Peace program is based in the village of Aboansan, near the town ship of Awutu Bereku, in the Awutu-Senya district of central Ghana, about 40km West of Accra. The village project is a 15 minute drive from the volunteer house.  The other projects are also located nearby.

Volunteers will be accommodated in a hotel for the first night. The next day you will be taken to a volunteer guesthouse.  Accommodation is very basic and electricity can be intermittent. There is no piped water; volunteers will be expected to carry water to their bathrooms. Volunteers will share a double room with another volunteer.   Meals will be provided. You are advised to buy your own bottled water once you arrive in Ghana.

•    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.

Placements start on the 1st and 15th of each month, so you will need to arrive the day before your placement begins.

All volunteers fly into Kotoka International Airport in Accra (airport code ACC) where they will be met by a member of our partner organisation and taken to a hotel for their first night of accommodation.

After a brief orientation, 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 traveled.

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 separately 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! 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 guesthouse 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. 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.

Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. It has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. We work very hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering. The people are very warm and friendly towards foreigners, so you will be well looked after.

This always depends on how many are volunteering at the same time, and the numbers will vary.

As there are very few resources provided for the Village Peace project volunteers are encouraged to bring or purchase their own. Anything from paper and pens, to toys, teaching resources, old laptops, etc are welcome.

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.

We work with a humanitarian NGO, founded in 2003, that aims to improve both day-to-day conditions and long-term prospects for suffering West Africans who have been displaced or affected by poverty and civil war.

Volunteers are expected to bring their own skills and experience to the program as no formal training is given. Orientation for the program will include a short language course, introductions to other members of the project staff and a familiarization tour of relevant parts of the volunteer accommodation and village, including the trotro station, worksite, and internet facilities.

Volunteers will work 5 days a week, Monday through to Friday.  Typically you will work 4 to 5 hours per day.

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.

All GVN Volunteers must have insurance. You are free to take out insurance cover through any provider of your choice. However, as some policies do not cover volunteering, we recommend you check you are covered during your volunteer placement.

For your convenience we have arranged a comprehensive package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident coverage as well as “loss of deposits” cover which covers fees paid to GVN, airlines etc. If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/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 and Vegans can be catered for, however in this case the diet will predominantly be beans and vegetables. The program fee covers locally produced food, and therefore the choice is limited. Any special food items purchased will have to be at your own expense. If you have any food allergies please inform your volunteer coordinator as soon as possible, as our partners may require significant time to check whether such dietary needs can be accommodated for.