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Ghana - FAQTell me more about Ghana?What is the climate like in Ghana? What type of volunteer work is available? Is there any time of the year when I can't volunteer? When will I know specific details on the placement? Where will I be located? Tell me more about flying into Ghana When do I need to arrive in Ghana? How do I get to the project? Tell me more about the accommodation? Do you make provision for special diets? Are there holidays or festivals I should be aware of when traveling? What age do you have to be to volunteer? What immunizations/vaccines will I need? What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? Can I bring my own family with me to the program? Are there more expenses once I arrive? How safe is it to volunteer in Ghana? How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? What is the course content of the training? What hours am I expected to take part in the program? Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering? What clothing is appropriate for the program? What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? Can you tell me more about your partner in Ghana? Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? Do I need travel insurance? How do I pay my fees? ------ Tell me more about Ghana? Ghana is a vibrant and alluring country, steeped in rich tradition and a frequently tragic history. Free from the trappings of mass tourism, this former British colony has much to offer the visitor. Tropical beaches abound but there's so much more: feed the sacred crocodiles at Paga, plunge into the waterfalls of the eastern highlands, marvel at the game-rich savannah of Mole National Park, or relive the chilling story of the coastal slave forts. For more information we suggest that you purchase the Bradt Travel Guide to Ghana. If you wish you can purchase a copy from our bookshop. What is the climate like in Ghana? Since Ghana is only a few degrees north of the equator, the only seasonal changes are distinct wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit is during September-October when the weather is relatively cooler and it rains only occasionally. During December-February it is the dry season, when day temperatures are in the 80s-90s F/27-36 C and nights in the 70s F/18-26 C. Another dry season occurs in July and August. A dry northeast wind known as the harmattan blows for about 10 days in January. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry; the southwest corner has the highest humidity and rainfall, while the north is frequently hot and dry. Don't forget to take along an umbrella during the rainy season. What kind of volunteer work is available? The volunteer opportunities in Ghana cover all teaching subjects. eg. English, Mathematics, French, Life Skills, Social Studies, Environmental Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Agricultural Science, Integrated Science, Fine Art, Pre-Technical Skills, Basic Computer Skills and Preschool subjects. The levels of students will vary from school to school and you may find they even have teachers in the class where you will replace them for periods of time when you volunteer as the staff feel the students would benefit from a ‘western’ teacher for a period of time. Is there any time of the year when I can't volunteer? Volunteers should not plan to begin placements in March, April, July, August, or December as teaching placements are not available during school holidays which are generally: (a) 25th March to 9th May (b) 25th July to 9th September (c) 10th December to 9th January Note: These dates vary slightly from year to year. They also vary from school to school and should be treated as approximate rather than confirmed dates. When will I know specific details on the placement? Specific placement details (eg school name, location, etc.) are typically confirmed about 4-6 weeks before the term begins. Where will I be located? Specific placement location is typically confirmed about 4-6 weeks before the term begins, however, all placements are in the Greater Accra, Central, Eastern, Volta and Ashanti regions of Ghana. Tell me more about flying into Ghana? All volunteers fly into Kotoka International Airport in Accra (airport code ACC). Pickup days are Sunday through Thursday and volunteers should provide their arrival details in advance so they can be met at the airport by our partner’s representative. When do I need to arrive in Ghana? You can arrive at anytime, but it is best to arrive a few days before or after the school term begins. Orientation is based at the school and takes place whenever you begin your placement. You will be met at the airport if you are planning to begin volunteering straight away. If you are planning some tourist time in Ghana before beginning teaching then arrangements can be made for you to be picked up at a required destination. School terms in Ghana run approximately during the following periods of the year: (a) 10th January to 24th March (b) 10th May to 24th July (c) 10th September to 9th December How do I get to the project? Volunteers are typically met at the airport, have a brief orientation session at the office in Accra, and are driven to their placements by a member of staff later that day or the next day, depending on the distance to be travelled. Tell me more about the accommodation When you are met at the airport you will be taken to a hotel for one night. The next day you are taken to the school where you will be volunteering. Most volunteers will be accomodated with a host family, usually the school-owner or head, but some volunteers may stay at individual rooms in the school. If you are with a host family, they will supply all your meals, while if you are staying at the school the local people will bring you meals throughout the day. You are advised to buy your own bottled water once you arrive in Ghana. There is no electricity in most of the villages, although many of our volunteers are placed in Accra where electricity is readily available. Do you make provision for special diets? Vegetarians are fine if they are willing to settle for a limited selection of food. A typical breakfast consists of some combination of tea, coffee, cocoa, oats/porridge, bread with jam/butter, egg omelet. A typical dinner includes fruit and either rice, yam or Kenkey with stew or soup (which can often include meat). At lunchtime you can get fruits and/or snacks. You’ll need to supplement at your own expense if this is not acceptable to you. Are there holidays or festivals I should be aware of when travelling? There are many holidays and festivities in Ghana to enjoy throughout the year. Some of these will interrupt project schedules and some will not. One thing about Africa is that schedules are never written in stone. Volunteers should use the break from the regular work schedule to soak up the culture and get to know the people in your community. School holidays between terms will cause significant disruption to your volunteering. These vary from year to year and school to school, but holidays typically take place: a) 25th March to 9th May b) 25th July to 9th September c) 10th December to 9th January What age do you have to be to volunteer? You must be between 18 and 65 years of age to volunteer. What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
Malaria is prevalent in Ghana so we strongly recommend medication for this. A Yellow fever vaccination is legally required to enter Ghana and you will need to provide a certificate to prove you have had it to obtain a Visa. What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision. Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? Yes it would be helpful if you speak English. You may have English as your second language and that is also fine. While there are many local languages spoken in Ghana, the majority of people speak English. Can I bring my own family with me to the program? You would need to pay addition costs for accommodating your family. You would also need to let us know if this is required so you can be placed in a school with options for accommodation nearby. You will need to consider how your children will be supervised while you are at the worksite. Are there more expenses once I arrive? The in-country fee covers all meals during your placement. If you arrive early or intend on staying on in Ghana for longer than you are volunteering then you will need to have spare money for this time. Also some money may be required for your days off depending on what you intend doing. Other costs include buying bottled water and any shopping you will do personally. How safe is it to volunteer in Ghana? Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. It has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. We work very hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering. The people are very warm and friendly towards foreigners, so you will be well looked after. How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? This depends on how many people volunteer at any one time. Usually we have between 4 and 10 volunteers arriving in Ghana each month. You are usually placed with at least one other volunteer. This always depends on how many are volunteering at the same time and the area they are placed in. What is the course content of the training? There is no training to prepare you as a teacher for this program. You are expected to bring ideas and resources for yourself to use. You will talk with the staff at the school on arrival to receive the curriculum and be given your class schedule. What hours am I expected to take part in the program? You are expected to be able to take sole charge of the classes you will be teaching, however, you may also be working alongside a local teacher. Volunteers typically teach 2-5 hours per day, depending on the needs of the school, five days per week (Monday through Friday). After school hours it is up to volunteer plan the remainder of the day. Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering? Yes. Any time that you are not expected to be at school you are free to do as you please. Teaching hours very from 2 - 5 hours per day, Monday to Friday. The locals are very friendly. You may want to spend some time in Ghana after volunteering to see more of the country. You can survive on as little as $20 (U.S) a day in Ghana. You can also spend much more if you want a bit of luxury. What clothing is appropriate for the program? Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable but tidy attire. It can be very hot at certain times of the year, however covering up is important not only for protection from the sun and insects, but also to show respect to your fellow teachers and members of the community. For women this means long pants, skirts, and dresses. For men, this means long pants, or even nice knee-length shorts if necessary. What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? Any teaching resources you have that would be of benefit to you in your teaching subject would ideally be taken with you. You can discuss ideas with our partner in Ghana via the email. You need to understand that most schools that volunteers are placed in are very under resourced and much of the teaching is rote learning with the teacher up the front talking to a whole class situation. Many students may not have books or pencils to even work with. Do not expect to have many resources provided at the school. Can you tell me more about your partner in Ghana? Our partner is a non-profit NGO whose main goal is to look for short or long term volunteer-teachers, books, tools and equipment from around the world for Ghanaian schools. They call it 'Educational Empowerment' and in doing so they believe Ghanaians can learn a lot from volunteers from other countries. They are also aware that volunteers can learn a lot from Ghanaians while they are there. Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? You will organize your Visa through your travel agent before you leave for Ghana. Also our 26 page program guide which includes links to Ghanaian Embassies through out the world. Do I need travel insurance? As with any overseas traveling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident cover as well as a 'loss of deposits' cover which covers all fees paid to GVN, Airlines etc (up to US$8,000). The cost is US$150.00 for the first month and then US$100.00 per month after that. If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/. How do I pay my fees? Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully refundable if you decide not to take part in the program). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program. ------ Question not covered here? Please check the generic FAQ, and if still unanswered, please submit your question here. (We aim to answer all email within 48 hours). Click here to apply for the Ghana teaching program. |
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Vietnam
Volunteers have the chance to teach English, care for and play with children in placements around central Vietnam. > Read More
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