Description

A community project will enable you to fully immerse yourself within the community, and by the end you will feel like one of the locals. There are a diverse number of projects you can be involved in from ecotourism in Peru to women empowerment projects in Ecuador for abused women. Projects like these help you contribute in preserving some unique and special ways of life and helping people achieve a common goal. Our volunteer opportunities in Ghana include a fantastic project to Empower Marginalized Slum Dwellers. We also have a hard working Business Skills and Deveopment Programme and a Clincial Medical Placement helping to support, nurture and nourish communities in and around Accra.

*Empower Marginalized Slum Dwellers in Ghana

Volunteer abroad in Ghana and work on a training project set up to increase skills training for marginalized and vulnerable groups in Accra. This project, now in its 5th successful year, started as an initiative focusing on supporting house helps to acquire additional skills so that after serving their term, they would be able to go on to work and earn an income on their own. Based on the successes of this project, the skills training has now expanded out toward other exposed members of society. With the support from the Ghana AIDS commission, in one year, we were also able to train over 20 individuals affected with HIV and AIDS thus increasing their employability. In recent years, the outreach program has helped people with disabilities, schools leavers, truck pushes, kakayoo and more.

*Business Skills Training for Disadvantaged Ghanian's

Become a volunteer in Ghana and help to empower disadvantaged young Ghanian's by providing them with the skills they need to gain employment and lift themselves out of poverty. Because Secondary education is not free in Ghana, for many impoverished youths it is simply not an option. This project makes secondary education accessible to the poorest people in the region and focuses on teaching them the skills needed to work in business, and even go on to set up businesses of their own. The project achieves it's aims by providing students with a proven, practical, and hands-on curriculum that will give them the skills and certification required to secure employment once they graduate. There are a variety of courses offered by the project. Most of them are based around around English, computer skills, and other specific business modules but there are also practical courses such as craft making. Past graduates have gone on to have careers as typists, stenographers, private secretaries, web-designers, computer technicians, and data entry assistants, amongst many other things.

*Women Empowerment in Ghana

Volunteer abroad in Ghana and work on a women empowerment initiative dedicated to providing counseling and support to women and child survivors of violence. Established in 1999 in response to a number of social realities facing Ghanaian women, this project works to address the growing need of support services for those affected by violence.
At the heart of this project is a provision to provide counseling and support to women and children. Their vision is to end the cycle of violence and sexual assault for all women and children in the community of Accra and beyond. The project works in collaboration with a number of different governmental and non-governmental societies to develop culture specific and community based solutions. The focus is always to ensure the safety and well being of the women and importantly, the organization believes in the equality of men and women.

*Journalism to Support Social Development in Ghana

By volunteering in Ghana you can have a unique opportunity to become part of an exciting new newspaper initiative and help to expand readership with riveting and thought provoking content. Launched with its first issue on the 4th March 2011 and with a circulation already of over 2,000, this National Media Commission registered newspaper is determined to deliver strong content, professional design and quality of information to their discerning readers. At present, the newspapers content includes entertainment, sports, entrepreneurs, student issues, investment, business, news and stories from around the world. With an eye for a story, you can help this newspaper become elevated in Ghanaian society and become the leader in a competitive field.

*Clinical Medical Placements in Ghana

Our clinical volunteer project in Ghana is based in town hospitals in Accra, supporting doctors and nurses as they care for low-income patients. Level of medical work will vary depending on the volunteer's skill level and you will have the chance to observe various departments within the hospital. Due to the nature of many of the diseases there is a large emphasis on preventative education in relation to family planning and sex education as well as malaria and illnesses related to dysentery.

Highlights

Ghana, a developing country on the west coast of Africa, lies a few degrees north of the equator and is considered the country closest to the center of the world. Ghana has a fantastically diverse landscape with hundreds of miles of beaches, rain forests, mountains and the largest man-made lake in the world, Lake Volta. Thanks to its amazing wildlife, beautiful scenery and welcoming population, Ghana is becoming more and more popular among adventure travelers and world explorers. Nature lovers will appreciate the beautiful palm-fringed beaches and lush national parks along the Gold Coast, most notably the Kakum National Park.

*Safari in Ghana:
Compared to the likes of Kenya or Namibia, Ghana is lesser known for its wildlife safari, but its diversity of species is no less impressive. It has 16 National Parks and several natural reserves and protected areas, comprised of varied ranges of habitat. These include wetland lagoons, salt pans along the Gold Coast and tropical guinea rain forest. Ghana is home to about 99 species of mammals including the largest land mammal, the African Elephant; there's also the hippopotamus, lion, leopard, hyena, chimpanzee, baboon, buffalo, antelope, 7 species of monkey, and much more. One can also spot about 750 species of birds in Ghana.

*Wli Waterfalls:
Wli, the highest waterfall in western Africa, is one of Ghana's most unforgettable sights. First admire the sheer grandeur of the fall itself - the spectacular white water of the Agumatsa River thundering over 60 meters down steep cliffs into a large pool below. Second are the massive mountain formations comprised of soaring peaks and rock walls, which are part of the Akwapim-Togo Mountains.

*Surfing in Ghana:
Due to the Southern ocean swells that hit the Western coastline of Ghana, surfers can find some of the cleanest, most orderly and thus rider-friendly waves on earth. The combination of perfect waves, warm water and no crowds, as well as the endless activities to see and do in and around the picturesque fishing village of Busua, creates the ideal place to learn how to surf.

Browse through the fishing villages and traditional market towns that dot the coastline, and don't forget to bring your camera to snap pictures of the Winneba fishing fleets and the Mankessim Posuban shrine. This English-speaking country provides volunteers with a wonderful introduction to Africa; it is politically stable, safe, affordable and characterized by its warm friendly people.

Qualifications

Experience and passion for working in the community and interacting with the people are needed. Participants must also possess enthusiasm and a willingness to learn about the environment and the place's culture.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please visit website for details.

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

* Accommodation: Single or shared room in a home-stay
* Food: 2 meals per day Breakfast and Dinner
* Airport pick up
* Training: Pre-departure information, Orientation and project training included
* Support: 24 hour support from on-site coordinator

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

A Kaya volunteer shows enthusiasm, spirit and life to stimulate and bring something new to the residents; love, patience and a listening ear for the people; and a good motivator with a positive and optimistic attitude.

Age Range

Must be more than 18 years old

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Kaya Responsible Travel's Mission Statement

Kaya's mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.

Year Founded

2008