Get out from your comfort zone and fly onto the flat, sandy land of Ghana and you’ll soon hear the laughter of children everywhere. This laughter will be one of the inevitables of your trip, and a steady source of energy while you volunteer among one of Africa’s most passionate and welcoming communities. Ghanaians are known for their smiles, vibrancy and welcoming nature—you’ll see bright colors everywhere: in the land, stitched into traditional clothing, adorning the decor of your Home Base. Your arrival will bring complete excitement to classrooms as you work to inspire students toward success in school.

 

Highlights

  • Teach primary school children at a village
  • Help construct and renovate school facilities
  • Discuss current social issues facing Ghana’s women and youth
  • Trip to a beautiful Kintampowaterfall
  • Learn traditional African drumming and dancing with their cultural meanings, batik fabric dyeing, Weaving of historical colorfulKente cloth at the origination village of Kente
  • Explore outdoor markets and visit historic sites

 

Community Service

Volunteer in rural primary schools, working with children of various ages to help better  their English skills, teach those who might be falling behind and contribute to each school’s needs, including making improvements to the facilities. Split your time between teaching—potentially with or without electricity, or even under a tree!—and campus renovation projects to serve every aspect of the school, and learn all about education in Ghana. Breaks from work might be just as demanding. Try to keep up with the children as they invite you to play soccer and compound games after class!

 

Hands-On Learning

Participate in workshops such as batik cloth dyeing, drumming, dancing and crash courses in the native language, Twi. You’ll be given a Ghanaian name by the local chief of your village, and visit a seamstress to have custom clothing made out of colorful fabrics you purchase. To learn about more dynamic issues and challenges Ghana faces, hear from local experts about topics varying from traditional gender roles to modern-day children’s issues. On the 21-Day Flagship Program, you’ll hear about the nation’s history as a hub of the slave trade, and visit Elmina and Cape Coast Castles to truly understand the weight of this topic.

 

Adventure

Experience full immersion in Ghana’s rich cultural heritage as you are invited to actively participate in drumming and dancing, explore outdoor markets and take part in cooking lessons with staff at your Home Base, who will treat you like family. You’ll also experience the natural surroundings of Ghana with a beautiful waterfall hike. On our 21-Day Flagship Program, go on a two-night excursion where you’ll get to visit a monkey sanctuary and have the opportunity to feed the animals. A visit to the historical Elmina and cape coast castle as well as the much talked about canopy walk way. Visit the Mole national park to see elephants, different birds, different monkeys and other animals

 

Lodging

Africa at Heart offers full Home Bases for this program. The house is located outside of the city of Kumasi in rural village settings. Accommodations are basic, but clean and safe. Students sleep in gender-segregated rooms with roommates, and have access to shared bathrooms with cold-water showers.