Summer Volunteer and Travel Program in Ghana (4 weeks)

Summer Volunteer Program in Ghana Complete Itinerary

One Day Prior to the Start of Your Best Summer Volunteering Program in Ghana:

You will be picked up at the Accra airport and transfered to Global Crossroad homebase in Kasoa.

Day 1:

Kassoa, a small town near to the capital city of Ghana, will be the first stop in your Ghanaian Seasonal Escape experience. Discover the rich history, folklore, and customs of Ghana with explorations of the legendary life and wonders of Kassoa and its surrounding places.

Day 2 – 21: Community Service Project in Kassoa and Volta Region

For the next 20 days of your Ghana summer volunteer abroad program, you will go to different orphanages located in either Kassoa or the Volta Region. You will be subdivided in many small groups. Global Crossroad will place 2-5 volunteers in one orphanage depending upon the number of children. As a volunteer in the orphanage project, you will teach English (3-4 hours a day) in the orphanage or schools (when the children attend school during the day).

You will help the children by educating them on issues of personal hygiene and sanitation – helping them to brush their teeth, showering, etc. In your free time (mostly in evening), participants can organize games, drawing lessons, singing, dancing, and other creative, educational and extracurricular activities. In the evening, you will help the children with their homework, monitor their academic progress, and make sure that the children complete the next day's homework assignments.

If you do not want to teach in the school during the daytime, you can offer to take care of the children who stay at the orphanage (who cannot yet go to school). Your help is also expected in the dressing of the children, food distribution, kitchen, garden, cleaning and various administrative duties.

Explore Volta , Central and Ashanti Region of Ghana (7 days)

Explore the Volta, Central and Ashanti regions together with Ghana's relics of past civilizations, the historical sites, legendary national monuments, and the forts and castles that recall more than five centuries of European influence – standing as ghosts of the past slave trade.  As part of your summer volunteering opportunity in Ghana, you will be seeped in the deep, abiding traditions and artful culture of the Ghanaian people upon which their society still thrives upon today.

Day 22

Visit Wli Waterfalls – the largest in Ghana, these waterfalls' the sheer grandeur are amazing site to behold. The spectacular white water of the Agumatsa River thunder about 60 meters down steep cliffs into a large pool below. The massive mountain formations – comprising of soaring peaks and rock walls which are part of the Akwapim-Togo Mountain – also quite picturesque.

Day 23

A day visit to the Monkey Sanctuary at Tafi Atome. Tafi Monkey Sanctuary (a sacred grove) is a traditional conservation area backed by statutory enforcement in cooperation with local communities. It is located in the Volta Region of Ghana and home of Mona and Patas monkeys. These monkeys are found in a remnant patch of forests, which has survived fire and human disturbance. These monkeys are regarded as gods and as such the natives do not kill them. They are protected by tradition.

Day 24

Cultural visits of Kumasi: visit the Manhyia Palace Museum, see a film presentation that introduces you to the rich culture, history, and wealth of the Asante king, visit the durbar of chiefs and where the king of Asante sits at the Manyhia Palace to learn more about Asante chieftancy and culture.

Day 25

Visit the craft villages that surround Kumasi for the famous Kente cloth at Bonwire (origin of kente), Adinkra textile printing at Ntonsu, and woodcarving at Ahwiaa. Each craft village has a particular claim to artistic fame. Bonwire is the capital of the Kente cloth, while Ntonso boasts the Adinkra cloth. Ahwiaa produces outstanding carved figures, including Ghana's traditional fertility doll, and Kurofuforum specializes in the casting of brass.

*In the afternoon,  you will leave for Kukum and Cape Coast.

Day 26

Visit the Kakum National Park – a semi-deciduous tropical rain forest. Enjoy a walk on one of the only four canopy walkways in the world, which offers you a bird's eye view of the forest. Or trek on the Kenton trail and get to know the medicinal value of the various African tree species.

Day 27

Visit the slave castles of Ghana – Elmina Castle, the first and largest European edifice on the coast of West Africa, built in 1482, and the Cape Coast Castle, which became the seat of British colonial administration until 1877. The history of black slavery unfolds as participants will tour these history-filled castles.

Day 28

Last day in Accra. Tour the home of Dr. W.E.B. Dubois, the African-American who spent the last few years of his life helping to build the foundations of a new state, Ghana. Attractions at the W.E.B. Dubois Memorial Center for Pan-African Culture includes his tomb, a museum, a library, and a very interesting narration.

Prices and Dates

Program Fee: $1,899 for 4 weeks, which includes a 5 day/6 night safari

Fees cover:

• Room (volunteer house, host family) and local food 3 times a day during entire volunteering period
• Room (volunteer house, economy hotel) and local food 3 times a day during travelling
• Local transportation (primarily local buses) during travelling
• Airport pickup and drop off
• Entry fees
• Insurance
• Service of in country staff

Fees do not cover:

• Airfare
• Visa
• Any room/food before or after the program
• Personal expense on soft drinks and foods
• Daily transportation during volunteering period
• Any tips to guides, gifts to host family or projects