Description

Volunteers will be working on a rural Ghanaian farm with local families. Depending on the season, volunteers will be involved with planting, maintaining, harvesting, or even selling at the local market.
This placement is partnered with Nustaman Polyclinic. At the clinic, the volunteer can give talks on nutrition and the importance of eating good quality food. They can also visit schools and churches to give similar talks on healthy eating and the importance of agriculture in the community. This will be arranged throughout the placement.

Volunteers are welcome to participate in other jobs. Aside from giving talks on Nutrition and Agriculture there may be Health Awareness Presentations in the village. Topics for this may include Malaria, HIV, Hepatitis, or Sexual Health. They may also be able to assist at the clinic on busy days to help handle patient flow.

It may be possible for volunteers to teach, or to create a youth group based on a specialized interest. Volunteers in the past have created a Young Women's Group, a Soccer Club, and a Business Club. It would be great to have a volunteer come and start a Environment/Conservation Club!
Volunteers are free to bring their own ideas and projects to this placement.

Highlights

This is a government funded clinic that works to service a large area in the Ashanti Region including Nsuta and 31 surrounding villages. They have maternity, two male wards and two female wards, a laboratory, and a dispensary. Apart from these, they also have a large area where patients sit to wait on when they come to the clinic until they are call to come for treatment. It mainly serves as a day clinic, but 24 hour emergency care is also provided to the community. The maternity and preventive medicine ward serves to register and weigh babies, give family planning services, and provide community outreach and education.

The laboratory uses diagnostic tests for conditions such as malaria, worms, urinary tract infections, diabetes, and other infections. The majority of the patients present with malaria and gastrointestinal illnesses.

Agriculture is one of Ghana's largest industries. The major crops in this area include plantain, cassava, yam, oranges, bananas, mango, tomato, onion, peanuts, and other smaller vegetables. In the rural areas, most people rely on profits from farming to live. Due to challenging growing conditions and weather patterns, this can be very difficult. It is important to note that in Ghana many of the native people trade with others for food and do not make money at all. If crops go bad or are not plentiful, it can mean times of famine for some families.

Volunteers with experience in Agriculture and Farming would be appreciated to come and help; observing and learning farming techniques used by rural Ghanaian farmers and sharing your agriculture knowledge also. The people here have adapted very well to the conditions given to them but can greatly benefit from a volunteer's help. Any assistance that leads to greater crop yield and greater profit for these people is greatly appreciated.

Qualifications

Volunteers should have a background in farming or agriculture. They should also enjoy working outside and with other people.

Minimum Education

High School

Intern Types

• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Sciences
• Agriculture
• Agronomy

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 2,495 for 4 weeks, USD 250 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

Volunteers should be enthusiastic, hard working, patient, and friendly.

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Guest House
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998