Children's Activity Leader Volunteer, Ghana

Overview

Volunteer with children in Africa. Volunteer with children in Ghana.

This volunteer with children in Africa programme is particularly suited to people who cannot commit to the longer dates needed for teaching or who may feel that they do not have the experience to teach in a formal setting.

• If you are passionate about a subject or hobby and think that it will translate well into a workshop then this volunteer with children in Africa programme may be for you. We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers with an infectious personality and engaging manner to captivate the students. You will open their minds to new ideas, new skills and new thoughts, which they will respond to and give you a wonderful and rewarding teaching or coaching experience.
• The first thing to decide is what you are good at and what kind of things you would like to do with the pupils. Examples of the types of workshop that have been successful on this and other volunteer projects are: arts and crafts, dance, drama, music and, of course all kinds of games and sports.
• You will need to ask yourself if it is feasible. Are there the resources that you need or can you easily buy them from the local markets and shops? Are there any other volunteers who want to do the same thing? Can we compile an even better programme with more than one person running the workshops? It is strongly advised that you start to prepare your workshop before you start your placement.

As a volunteer activity leader in Africa, you will also be asked to help out in other areas of the school in the mornings when you are not preparing for your workshops. Things like assisting with class work or playground duty, will ensure that you are kept busy all day!

What's included?

Effective 1st February, 2012, the Port Health Office will commerce inspection of international certificate of vaccination of all travellers to and from the country at the Kotoka International Airport. This is in accordance with Articles 23 and 36 (Certification of vaccination or other prophylaxis) and Annex 6 (Vaccination, prophylaxis and related certificates) of International Health Regulations 2005. (Ref. MOH/CD | 23 Dec 2011). You will be asked to produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country.

• Pre-departure briefing in London
• Pre-departure information and advice
• In-country assistance and support
• 24-hour emergency contacts
• In-country induction or training
• Donation to the project
• 1-night stay at the Crystal Hostel on arrival in Accra 
• Transportation: From Accra to project
• Accommodation: volunteer house or on-project residence
• Food: some meals included and provided by staff or host family

What's NOT included?

• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas
• Sightseeing activities
• Monthly stipend
• Transportation: from the accommodation to the project and back, airport drop-off

Location

This project takes place in two different school locations, the Besease School in the village of Besease and the Brenu School in Brenu Akyinim.

The village of Besease, home to approximately 2000 people, sits snugly in the bush 3km from the main road to Accra. In contrast to its larger, bustling neighbour Kissi, Besease is a peaceful farming community with rich green farmland in every direction.

Despite being almost able to see from one side of the community to the other, Besease boasts a school, a couple of small food shops, a market, a large community building and a famous Abosomfie shrine. It is a 6 minute taxi ride to the junction on the main road or a 15 minute walk to Kissi where there are several shops and bars.

Brenu Akyinim is a small costal community with approximately 1000 inhabitants. Being close to the beach, the area sees tourists passing through, yet retains a rural African feel. The closest towns to the east are Elmina (10kms), then Cape Coast (20kms) that offer an array of shops, banks, hospitals, bars and restaurants. Both Elmina and Cape Coast were the departure points during the slave trading era, and today you can visit the forts and castles that held the slaves prisoner before they were shipped off to the Americas and Europe.

There are numerous national parks in Ghana worth a visit, and just to the north is Kakum National Park, where you can take a tree top walk through the rainforest canopy, or a night time wildlife safari with a national park guide.

Project life and Photos

The day starts early with breakfast in the guesthouse, school starts at 8.30am where if you are not preparing for your workshop you will help out until lunch. Many of the classes number between 20 - 40 students, which often results in some children getting left behind. 

You may be requested to work with smaller groups and individuals to help them catch up with their studies. There are opportunities to work with the school's Parent Teacher Association and focus on shortfalls in the children's education. The workshop runs from 2.30pm until 4.00pm. Each volunteer has the opportunity to talk to the Project Coordinator before they start their placement. This will ensure that you have a clear understanding of the school's needs and that you are fully prepared for life in Ghana.

The working week is from Monday to Friday. You will be placed according to the area that most needs your presence at the time of your arrival. You are welcome to explore the surrounding area on weekends, or just relax with your new friends.

 

The Children's Activity Leader Volunteer project offers you the chance to see some of the amazing wildlife and scenery that Ghana has to offer in your free time.

In July 2010, our travel advisers travelled to Ghana to check out our construction and community volunteer projects. The trip lasted a week, and in that time we were able to explore the historic region surrounding the coastal town of Elmina.

This is our account of our free time in Ghana:

"We travelled down the coast from the capital city of Accra, to the small fishing village of Elmina. Here, we spent time observing various volunteering projects but also had time to see what our volunteers were getting up to on their time off. 

Being situated in Elmina, we were able to visit the Slave Forts that were once used as transit points for the shipment of people to the New World. These Forts are now deservedly UNESCO world heritage sites and they are a 'must-see' if you decide to come to Ghana. The forts were once places of incredible human suffering but they have now been transformed into exceptional museums that provide a shocking insight into the workings of the African slave trade. The largest fort is situated in Cape Coast and there are frequent guided tours that visitors can take part in. 

Further inland there are other attractions as well. Another favourite amongst visiting tourists is a rainforest walk and canopy tour in Kakum National Park – this canopy walkway is a highlight for many tourists visiting the rainforest. It's the tallest such walkway in Africa, and a thrilling experience standing 30m above the forest floor!"

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Flights, transportation and visas

Volunteer with children in Africa. Volunteer with children in Ghana.

Children's Activity Leader volunteer programme 

• Flights are not included
• You will be collected from Accra Airport and taken to your school and returned to the airport on completion of the placement
• Using transport is not necessary on a day-to-day basis as the guesthouse is close to the school.
• Public transport is readily available if you choose to visit other areas on the weekends.
• A Ghanaian 3 month tourist visa is required.

Note: Please ensure your flight arrives in Accra on a Saturday.

 

CIBT Visa advice... For expert visa advice we advise our volunteer, work placement, and internship participants to get in touch with CIBT - a company that we work in partnership with. Our UK, Canadian, and US travellers can use CIBT for visa advice and to get their visa applications processed - with visas returned within a week. UK travellers can contact CIBT for visa advice. Canadian participants can contact CIBT for visa advice or call Toll Free: 888-665-9956 US participants can contact CIBT for visa advice or call Toll Free: 800-577-2428 Canadian citizens should state account number: 57497 US citizens should state account number: 57496

Dates and duration

Children's Activity Leader volunteer programme:

• The minimum duration is 2 weeks
• It is recommended that your placement coincide with term times:

Besease School & Brenu School:

Autumn term: Mid-September to mid-December
Spring term: Mid-January to mid-April
Summer term: Mid-May to late July

Note: Please ensure your flight arrives in Accra on a Saturday.

Safety and insurance

• All of Twin Work & Volunteer's placements are in partnership with recognised and established local organisations, run by or employing local people. These organisations, depending on the nature of what they do, might be small-scale NGOs, family projects, schools or orphanages, or local initiatives with environmental or social goals.
• We often use local businesses to provide logistical and support services to volunteers such as transfers, pick-ups, accommodation and so on. In this way, we support the local economy through helping independent local businesses to thrive. We take our partnerships very seriously and work extremely closely with all our partners.
• We provide 24-hour emergency support from the UK and our partners provides support locally.
• We have an agreement with the crisis management service Tranquillico, should the very worst situations arise.
• If any wider safety concerns arise in the destination, such as civil disturbances or natural disasters, we seek advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and implement their recommendations where appropriate.

 

Insurance options... Comprehensive insurance is available for all programmes. You have no obligation to take up insurance with any of these companies, but insurance of a suitable sort is mandatory on all our programmes. For UK participants: Here are the full details of our partnership with Endsleigh. For American and Canadian participants: We offer insurance options with International Volunteer Card (IVC).

Eligibility

• Minimum age: 18 years old.
• There are no specific skills required to participate in this programme, however any teaching experience is beneficial.If you have limited teaching experience, it is recommended that if possible you gain voluntary experience in a primary school in your home country before you depart.
• The greatest attribute you can posses is flexibility and a willingness to get involved.
• International volunteers are welcome.

Accommodation and Food

Besease School
You will be staying in a building on the edge of the main square just slightly away from the hubbub. It has three locked bedrooms plus a shower, toilet and kitchen. The house has running water and electricity, though power cuts are frequent. There is a small courtyard and a shaded area with mosquito netting for you to while away those warm summer evenings.

Brenu School
Accommodation is provided in a local guesthouse approximately 800m from the school. The guesthouse provides basic and clean rooms, flushing toilets, showers and a shared kitchen. Private rooms are available on request.

The guesthouse also provides 3 meals a day. Typical breakfast consists of omelettes, toast and cereals; staple foods such as rice, yams and pasta make up the evening meals. This can be discussed with Esther on your arrival.

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