Overview
Volunteers in the Teaching English Project are placed in urban and rural teaching centers and schools to assist the local teachers in teaching English to students. Developing effective conversational English skills can be very beneficial for the students as it opens new employment avenues. Moreover, interaction with people from all over the world helps widen the worldview of students and makes them more confident.
Volunteers work for around 5 hrs in a day for 5 days a week. Volunteers can bring along teaching materials such as picture books, instruments, flash cards, art supplies, and songs. Classes are generally in session five days a week. A mutually beneficial project that gives the opportunity to make a significant, participants passionate about helping people through empowering means should join this project.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative. All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
The tasks and daily work of volunteers under the teaching volunteering program in Ghana varies and depends on the requirements at the schools. This may include, but not limited to;
- Work as a teacher assistant in the placement and assist the current teachers and staff.
- Teach various elementary subject; such as English, Maths, Geography and Science to the students.
- Bring interesting teaching materials, books, stationery, flashcards and games which can be helpful in teaching students in a play way method.
- Design a proper study module for the children to follow.
- Involve students in out–of–the–class activities to teach them the importance of physical activity
Volunteer Work Schedule
Volunteering Solutions provide accommodation in Tamale with a local host family. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;
- Saturday - Arrival at Accra
- Sunday - Transfer to Tamale + showing around the accommodation neighborhood
- Monday - Orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Ghana.
- Tuesday to Fri - Volunteer work
- Breakfast - 06:00 am onwards (provided at the accommodation)
- Working hours at the placement - 07:00 am to 01:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
- Lunch - 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm (volunteers need to manage lunch on their own)
- Dinner - 06:30 pm to 07:30 pm (provided at the accommodation)
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Weekends - Free to explore the city and take short excursions trip to some of the best hotspots in and around Tamale, such as; Mole National Park, Monkey Sanctuary, Kintampo Falls. Learn about their elaborate festivals, the local cuisine comprising of Banku and Fufu - Ghana's most famous dishes, their colorful dresses, and the music and dances.
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
Living
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Volunteering Solutions strives to provide best of the living and other arrangements to its volunteers. Like we keep saying, just pack your bags and arrive at your placement destination. From your airport pickup, stay, meals, weekend tours and other nitty gritties, VolSol manages everything for you.
Airport Transfer
You will be met by our representative at Kotoka International Airport in Accra from where you are transferred to your project location. Volunteers will stay overnight in Accra at hotel accommodation provided by Volunteering Solutions and travel to Tamale the next day. For those volunteers who are arriving in Accra in the morning, you can also take a connecting flight to Tamale directly from Accra. You will be met at Tamale airport and transferred to your accommodation in that case.
Accommodation
Volunteers will be staying at a standard Ghanaian volunteer homestay managed by the local program coordinator. In case space is not available in the volunteer home, you will be accommodated with a Ghanaian Host family. Accommodation is either provided in an individual or shared room along with other volunteer. By staying with a family you will experience the local Ghanaian culture, language customs and traditions. There are separate rooms for male and female volunteers with shared toilet facilities. Participants should note that living is of basic standard and you should not expect luxuries. Power cuts are common in Ghana and most rural houses do not have running water during times of drought. Bedding is provided, however, volunteers need to bring their own towels and mosquito nets (these can also be purchased in Ghana). Air conditioning is available in the volunteer house and the participants need to pay the extra charge to avail the facility in the country.
Orientation
An orientation and briefing session will be provided by your local coordinator. Areas like culture, safety, locations, transportation are covered in the Orientation. After your orientation is over, you will be introduced to your project and also given a tour of the local market and town of Tamale.
Meals
Volunteers are provided with 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) at the host family house. Ghanaian cuisine consists primarily of starches, soups, beans, meat, and fish. The Starches consist mainly of rice and doughy balls made from mashed cassava, plantain or yams. Famous Ghanaian dishes include Banku and Fufu.
During your Free Time
On the weekends you can head out to explore places such as Mole National Park and Monkey Sanctuary. Volunteers also visit Paga to visit Crocodile Park or further south to Cape Coast to enjoy the beaches. On weekdays, participants have free time in the evenings and spend time relaxing at their accommodation or socializing with other volunteers and the local people.
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of $199 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 4% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup from Accra
- First night hotel stay in Accra,if required
- Orientation
- Food - 2 meals a day
- Accommodation
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Airfare
- To and fro transport from Accra to Tamale
- Vaccinations
- Local Transportation
- Visa
- Return Airport Drop(Can be arranged at an extra cost)
Program Dates
| Months | 2021 | 2022 |
| January | 0216 | 0822 |
| February | 0620 | 0519 |
| March | 0620 | 0519 |
| April | 0317 | 0216 |
| May | 0115 | 0721 |
| June | 0519 | 0418 |
| July | 0317 | 0216 |
| August | 0721 | 0620 |
| September | 0418 | 0317 |
| October | 0216 | 0115 |
| November | 0620 | 0519 |
| December | 0418 | 0317 |
FAQ's
FAQ's Application and Program Details
As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee.You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments, however, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior the start of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. The minimum age requirement for Medical Program in Ghana is 18 years. One must be a medical student or have a medical background to take part in the Medical programs. All medical program participants need to provide a copy of their certifications/ credentials.
Need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.
The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
Must be in good health.
In our experience of more than 6+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for student groups- college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
Ghana is one of our popular destination among student groups and is highly recommended for family volunteering as well.
For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next Vol Sol program.
Flights and Visa
Health and Safety
The recommended vaccinations for volunteers traveling to Ghana are as follows:
Yellow Fever
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Rabies
Tamalians love visitors and particularly volunteers. You’ll meet some of the friendliest people in Ghana and their culture is a fascinating blend of traditional and modern.
However, as in any country around the world, you need to take certain precautions for safety. You will be given safety precautions and instructions by your coordinator during the orientation.
Accommodation and Living
In Accra, the accommodations are provided in a guesthouse or a hotel for a night and on the next day, volunteers take a flight to Tamale. Those who are arriving overland or are already in Ghana will be picked up at a meeting point decided beforehand.
After taking the short flight from Accra, you will be picked up from Tamale airport and taken to your accommodation by our team. You will be given an orientation about the city, placement, safety guidelines and transportation by the in-country coordinator. Depending on your time of arrival, you will be given a tour of the town and nearby amenities on the same day or the next day when you start your project.
You will be provided breakfast and dinner at the homestay. Breakfast usually comprises of Tea, Coffee, Bread, Jam, Butter, Eggs or Fruit. Dinner usually comprises of Rice, Bean Stew, Fufu (Ghanaian dish made of Cassava and Plantain), chicken, vegetables and yam chips. These can vary on a daily basis.
Weekends are free for the volunteers to explore the city. You can go for short weekend trips to Mole National Park, Monkey Sanctuary or Kintampo Falls.
We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the Add-on Tours section in your ‘My Account’. You in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in the country.
Connect with Past Volunteers
To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit ?the Meet a Volunteer section on our website.
