How To Volunteer in Ghana: Opportunities and more
Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and the entire world at large. With citizens ranging from low to middle-income earners.
As with all countries in the world, Ghana has its own downfalls and one of them is unemployment. Unemployment has been an issue in Ghana since Ghana gained independence on 6th March 1957.
If you have ever had plans of volunteering in Africa, then I am going to recommend Ghana to you. Ghana is the best place in the entire African continent to volunteer; whether you live in Ghana or not, there are several volunteering opportunities available for you in Ghana.
In this guide, I have researched some of the best volunteering opportunities in Ghana, the information you need, and everything you need to know about these volunteering opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunities in Ghana
Teach English in Rural Areas
With this category of volunteering, native English speakers are allowed to help local teachers teach students in the rural areas English. So, if you choose to teach English in rural areas in Ghana, you are sent to the less privileged areas where you help students understand the basics of English language.
English is the official language in Ghana but due to poverty, those in the rural areas are deprived of the exposure they need to learn the English language.
This means that you become a vital part of the students English learning process. You will be given the syllabus and then you will also be supervised by a teacher in that particular rural area.
Volunteering teachers work from Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm with breaks in-between them. You can be placed in Primary School (Grade 1 – 6), Junior High School (Grade 7 – 9), or Secondary school (High school).
Although a teaching qualification or experience is not mandatory, it will be very useful if you had one. But, if you don’t have one don’t worry because, after this volunteering program, you will go home with a teaching experience.
Because this program is stationed at schools, it is opened throughout the school year in Ghana. That is, from September – December, January – April, and then May – July. Also, you need to be above 18 years before you apply for the teaching volunteer program in Ghana.
On weekends, volunteers gain the chance to explore some of the popular tourist centres in Ghana like the Boti falls, Cape Coast castle, etc.
Animal Care Supporter
Also available in Ghana is the animal care supporter volunteering program. Just as the name suggests, volunteers provide care for animals in Ghana.
- Advertisement -
The volunteers will assist with an opportunity to work with animal care and wildlife and environmental conservation projects. The volunteers will also have the option to choose between the Kumasi zoo, Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Mole National Park, etc.
For persons who love the environment and loves to make an impact in the environment, this is the right volunteer program for you.
On a normal day, what you will do is to clean the zoo or sanctuary, feed the animals, move the animals from one area to the other, or provide care for the sick ones. You will also be able to build a connection with these animals and take as many photos as you wish.
Volunteers will be given the platform to teach their period of volunteering. For instance, when students or people come for a visit, you will be allowed to be their zoo or sanctuary guide for that particular day.
On weekends, volunteers will have the opportunity of touring the entire country depending on their volunteer station. You can visit the beach, waterfalls, castles, and other tourist attractions.
Building And Renovation
Persons who choose this category of volunteering opportunity will also be assisting to make homes for persons without one. You will either be a painter, carpenter, or mason depending on what you choose to do.
This is ideal for people who love to build or renovate old buildings that are on the verge of collapsing. Most rural areas in Ghana lack quality and safe housing so you as a volunteer will help the building and renovation team to put a smile on these people’s faces.
This type of volunteering opportunity is opened throughout the year and you can apply whenever you are ready.
Not only will you be building or renovating houses, it could be an old school building or clinic that is likely to collapse anytime soon.
The other volunteering opportunities in Ghana are:
- Football/Soccer coaches
- Mental & Psychological assistants
- Medical and Veterinary assistants.
How To Apply To Volunteer in Ghana
- Visit www.volunteerworld.com
- Tap the three horizontal bars on the upper corner of the screen
- Tap Destinations and then choose Ghana
- Scroll through the various volunteering programs and choose the one you like the most
- Read the necessary information and all the requirement
- Pay using your debit/credit card or any other payment method and then get the letter to go for a visa
- Book a flight and arrive in Ghana
- Volunteer World will come and pick you up from the airport and send you to your destination.
Conclusion
Most of these volunteer programs will provide you with free food and others won’t. Basically, the cost of food in Ghana for a day shouldn’t be more than GHS 50 (~$10.00).
Also, Ghana has some of the best pizza joints in the world alongside burger joints. Therefore, your stay in Ghana is not going to be a dull one.
There are also night clubs and pubs for persons who love to have fun on weekends. Ghana also has some of the best hospitals and your health is rest assured.
