Volunteer Requirements
Volunteers in Ghana should be at least 18 years old and speak English to at least intermediate level. Some experience working with children is preferred, as is a responsible, enthusiastic and compassionate attitude. Medical placements accept pre-med, medical students and professional medical practitioners. On all programs, initiative, self-motivation, and a willingness to help in many areas are qualities that are greatly welcomed.
Start & Duration
Volunteers who intends to come on Short Term ( less than 3 months) can begin their project placement on any Saturday of the month. Volunteers need to book their flights to arrive on the dates mentioned below.
Those volunteers who wants to come on Long Term (more than 3 months) can begin their project placement on any Friday of the month. Arriving over the weekend is always a good option as it allows time to adjust before starting at the placement on Monday morning.
Arriving over the weekend is always a good option as it allows time to adjust before starting at the placement on Monday morning.
Food and Accommodation
The volunteers in Ghana are very fortunate as they have the opportunity to live with a local family within close proximity of the volunteer project location. Getting to experience cultural immersion within a Ghanaian family makes one’s stay in Ghana uniquely memorable. The family will be on hand to help you and also show you around the local area. The host family provide breakfast and dinner (or all three meals if you are at your accommodation during weekends). At lunch breaks on working days, you can sample local cuisine at modestly priced cafes and restaurants.
The cuisine is flavoursome; if simple. The best known Ghanaian staple is fufu, which consists of a basic starchy ingredient such as cassava, yam, plantain or rice. You may also be served different types of stew, be it fish, chicken or vegetable. Fried plantain is another popular local dish.
Orientation
On arrival at the airport volunteers will be met by a local representative. From there volunteers will be taken to their accommodation and introduced to their hosts. All newly arrived volunteers receive a full orientation to prepare them for their stay in Ghana, including an introduction at their project site and help with familiarization within the local community. The local team are available to help volunteers withdraw money, buy phone or sim cards, get used to using public transport, and to arrange weekend activities
A typical week
The structure of the week varies for different projects, but we aim to be flexible. Provided some notice is given, we will try to accommodate your plans. That said a typical week in Ghana for volunteers may look something like this:
Weekdays: Between 7am and 8.30am you can expect to have breakfast with your host family. At 8-8.30am you will head to your placement, depending on how far you have to travel. Expect to arrive at work at 9am, where you’ll meet with the local staff and plan your day. You will have a tea and lunch break during the day, the length of which will depend on the particular program. Most work finishes between 2pm and 5pm. At this point you a free to explore the local area, play with the kids (if you’re at a teaching or childcare assignment) or hang out with other volunteers. In the evening, you can have dinner with your host family or visit a local restaurant with friends.
Weekends: The weekends allow you an opportunity to visit local attractions or perhaps take a trip out of the city to some of Ghana’s beaches, the Digya National Park or the famous Lake Volta (the world’s largest lake by surface area).
Cost Breakdown
Program fees are a necessary part of volunteering abroad. They help to cover costs associated with your stay, as well as supporting the local organization and projects. Below is an approximate cost breakdown to show you how your program fees are used when you choose to join a volunteer program in Ghana.
Cost Breakdown
- 17% Operating and administration costs
- 19% Awareness, communications and advice
- 19% Implementation and monitoring of projects
- 23% Support for volunteers from before start to finish
- 22% Direct costs on the ground
- 17% Operating and administration costs
- 19% Awareness, communications and advice
- 19% Implementation and monitoring of projects
- 23% Support for volunteers from before start to finish
- 22% Direct costs on the ground
NOTE: The above graph is intended to be used as a guide only. Actual cost allocations may vary slightly depending on the program selected and the length of stay.
NGO Internship with ARA-Ghana
The Role of Volunteer
ARA stands for “Agricultural and Rural Development Association”, and is a non- profit and non- governmental organisation (NGO) under the registration No. G.306 of the Republic of Ghana. It was funded in 1995 in Ghana. ARA aim is to empower rural communities in Ghana to strive for sustainable development in terms of environmental integrity, social equality and economical growth. In realizing these objectives ARA undertakes projects in the areas of environmental protection, agricultural development, rural infrastructure, renewable energies, health, education, youth mobilization/ international youth work camps and internship placements.
ARA use innovative approaches in agriculture, environmental protection, renewable energy, leadership development, and policy to increase long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management. ARA has established partnerships with a number of Africa-based and abroad NGOs to promote the vision of sustainable development in rural communities.
ARA is a community development agency operating especially in the marginalized and poverty-stricken rural areas of Ghana. We pursue an integrated socio-economic and cultural development approach in the fight against poverty and social exclusion of Ghanaian communities under the maxim “development by people”.
Our COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT activities focus on the areas of Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Vulnerable Children & HIV/AIDS, Good Governance and Youth development Relief in order to mitigate the effects of hunger, environmental degradation, diseases and mismanagement of public resources.
The Role of Volunteer
Volunteering in the field of NGO affords an especially deep insight into Ghanaian culture. Volunteers who contribute their labour to NGO will be raising awareness about the work of the NGO (HIV/AIDS), women’s and human rights and democracy.
Those involved in the project may carry out some or all of the following activities:
- checking and correcting English;
- writing reports and newsletters;
- researching and writing articles;
- website development and fundraising.
Country Info
Welcome to the Land of Sunshine, also reffered to as an ‘Island of Peace’. Ghana is one of the thriving democracies in Africa, inhabited by the world’s friendliest people.
Ghana, the gateway to Africa is situated right in the heart of West Africa . Its borders extend from the Gulf of Guinea covering a distance of about 672km from the south to the north, and about 540 km from the east to the west.
The country is bordered to the north by Burkina Faso , the east by Togo, the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by Cote d’Ivoire.
A narrow grassy plain stretches inland from the coast, widening in the east, while the south and west are covered by dense rainforest. To the north are forested hills, beyond which is dry savannah and open woodland. In the far north is a plateau averaging 500m (1600ft) in height. In the east the Akuapim hills run inland from the coast along the Togo border. The Black and White Volta rivers enter Ghana from Burkina Faso , merging into the largest manmade lake in the world, Lake Volta. Ghana ‘s coastline is dotted with sandy palm-fringed beaches and lagoons.
ether knowledge and experience from around the world to address important environmental issues confronting our rural communities in Ghana, including the reversal of extensive historic deforestation of the region. In dealing with these issues, it is hoped to provide a unique learning environment where volunteers are encouraged to provide insight and ideas to meet the challenges confronting the the rural communities in Ghana.
During their stay volunteers will have plenty of opportunities to “learn by doing.” You will be able to dig in the dirt in the project vegetable garden, explore the surrounding rainforest, learn about the local flora and fauna, talk and collaborate with local farmers, pitch-in with the construction of new facilities, learn about tropical forestry.
Volunteer work on the Agriculture Project involves both crop farming (eggplants, plantains, palms etc.) and animal farming (rabbits, goats, chickens etc.). The work available is dependent on the season and where volunteers are placed. Volunteers will be involved in clearing land for growing crops, assisting with fertilizing the land, developing land for cropping, planting crops, nurturing crops, teaching farming techniques to local staff, assisting with purchasing stock, caring for stock, and fencing and moving stock. To support the orphanages where our volunteers work, the produce grown through the Agriculture project is donated to these orphanages, thus supplementing the children’s food intake.
Work on the Agriculture project usually stops during the hottest period of the day and during this time volunteers will assist with teaching in local schools to ensure they have sufficient volunteer work. While previous agricultural experience is not a prerequisite for this project, more experienced volunteers will be able to assist in developing the project and teaching techniques to the staff and older children at the orphanages, helping them to farm their crops and animals more effectively.