Placements
Your Volunteer Ghana placement will be influenced by your skills, preferences and project availability. Projects are very flexible so it’s all about using your skills and initiative where you can. The majority of volunteers are placed in the Ashanti, Central and Eastern regions or Ghana, although placements also exist in other parts of the country. It is likely
you will be working alongside other volunteers from both the UK or worldwide. Examples of opportunities are listed below.
| Education |
Childcare |
Working as a teacher's assistant in a pre-school, primary or secondary school helping to teach English and other subjects. Also helping to organise activities from arts and crafts, to music, dance and sports lessons |
Working in schools, orphanages or day-centres. Helping with basic education, supervising play and meal times
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| HIV/AIDS Awareness |
Engineering |
Educating local communities on the risks of HIV infection; assisting with local workshops, awareness programmes and support sessions. Helping with general administration and promotion of the project |
Working with the Board of Sanitation, getting involved in design and improvement projects |
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Community Centre |
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Helping to train young people and early school leavers in vocational skills with
a view to making them employable within their local communities. Helping to teach skills such as dress making, carpentry along with maths and English. Assisting with local fundraising,
promotion of the centre within the local community and daily administrative tasks
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Orientation
To help you settle into Ghanaian life you will receive a five day introduction to the country. This will cover:
- Education sessions on culture and customs
- Health and safety
- Language and cooking lessons
- City tour of Accra
- Day trips and excursions
The orientation is an ideal opportunity to get to know other international volunteers.
The transfer from the arrival airport and backpacker-style accommodation for the duration of the orientation are included in the programme cost.
Accommodation
The Volunteer Ghana programme includes accommodation during your volunteer placement. Living in
a rural village or small town you can expect to:
- Live with a host family
- Become involved in daily family life
- Enjoy local food (provided by your host family)
- Interact with the local community.
Your arrival orientation, placement and local support services are provided by SYTO
(Student Youth and Travel Organisation), BUNAC's partner in Ghana.
Costs
The Volunteer Ghana programme cost includes:
- Full pre-departure advice and support
- Programme, administration and literature and Bradt Travel Guidebook
- Five day arrival orientation (including tours and accommodation)
- Accommodation and placement costs for the duration of programme (including meals)
- 24/7 support from our local partner organisation (SYTO) for the duration of your stay.
Cost table
Programme Costs
| 2 months |
£679 |
| 3 months |
£749 |
Additional Costs
| BUNAC membership |
£5 |
| Insurance |
£116 (3 months) |
| Visa fee |
£40 |
| Flights |
£550 - £800 (approx.) |
| Spending/travel money |
£175 per month |
| Inoculation costs and health related expenses |
Costs can vary |
Eligibility
To apply to Volunteer Ghana you must be:
- UK or Ireland residents, any nationality
- Aged at least 18
- Adventurous, flexible, a good communicator, confident and outgoing.
Flights
BUNAC will arrange your group flight to coincide with your arrival orientation. There are usually between one and ten participants on our flights. Flexible homeward tickets will allow date changes whilst away (subject to airline availability and an administration fee). Our departure schedule is updated on a regular basis; however if the dates below do not suit your travel plans please contact BUNAC to discuss your requirements in more detail.
If you would prefer to arrange your travel independently you may do so. You must arrive in Accra for the start of the orientation.
Volunteer Ghana flight dates
| Departure Date |
Closing Date |
8th September 2008
6th October 2008
10th November 2008
|
30th June 2008
28th July 2008
1st September 2008
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This programme operates year-round with monthly departures. Dates for 2009 will be confirmed during summer 2008. Please check back later in the year for specific details.
Insurance
BUNAC will arrange insurance for participants. It is a fully comprehensive policy that has been arranged with Endsleigh, one of the UK’s leading insurance companies. Full details will be sent following acceptance on to the programme. Currently a
three month policy costs from £116.
Fundraising
Raising extra funds for your trip needn’t be difficult as there are loads of things you can do to raise money. For further information go to www.bunac.org/fundraising for some ideas to get you started.
Application process
To apply to Volunteer Ghana please follow these simple steps:
- Written application: Download the application form and send your
completed form to BUNAC with the following:
- Programme cost: Please include a deposit of £405 (includes £5 BUNAC membership fee);
the balance will be due eight weeks before the departure date. If you are submitting your application within twelve weeks of the departure date, you must send the full programme cost straight away with your initial application.
- Your current CV
- Two completed reference forms (see below)
- Copy of your passport and birth certificate
- Four passport photos.
- Reference forms: Please send the reference forms to your chosen referees (for example a former employer and university course tutor). They may send the forms to BUNAC directly or return them to you.
- Closing date: Applications must be made to BUNAC no less than ten
weeks before the intended date of departure from the UK.
- Orientation interview: Before you are accepted on the programme, you will need to attend an orientation interview in BUNAC's London office during which we will discuss all aspects of the programme to ensure that you are fully prepared. This is
also an opportunity for you to ask us any further questions.
- Acceptance: Following a satisfactory interview, BUNAC will formally accept you onto the programme and provide you with details of the next stage of the application process.
- Police check: As part of your application you will need to be cleared by the Criminal Record's Bureau. We will assist you in applying for this.
- Medical: All participants are required to visit their GP to discuss their trip. BUNAC will provide a specific medical form which must be completed by the participant and the doctor prior to travel.
- Pre-departure: Your visa, flights, insurance, accommodation and placement will be arranged by BUNAC and detailed to you in the lead up to your departure.
Terms and conditions
Full terms and conditions for the Volunteer Ghana programme are included in the application form.
About Ghana
If an award were to be given for the country with the friendliest people in West Africa, Ghana would be a strong contender. Spend a few hours in the breezy capital of Accra and you’ll swear the wind and waves off the Gulf of Guinea have infused the land and people alike with equatorial warmth.
Even Ghanaians might admit that Accra’s not the most beautiful place, but it’s theirs. For a country that’s borne the brutality of colonisation – from the stripping of it’s mineral wealth to the enslaving of it’s people – Ghana retains a remarkable sense of self.
Its craftspeople have a long, rich cultural history to draw from and their work is thick with that tradition- be it the colourful Kente cloth of the Ashanti or any of the stools, icons, beads or baskets you’ll find in the major markets. Even the leftover forts and castles, recalling five centuries of European influence, today seem less like Ghana’s ghosts than players in her narrative.
(Copyright Lonely Planet World Guide 2004)
Country highlights
- Coastal Forts
- Kakum Tree Walk
- Mole National Park
- Baobeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary
- Hohoe Nature Reserve
- Aburi Botanic Gardens
- Lake Volta
FAQ's
| Can I book my own flights? |
If you do not wish to take one of BUNAC’s group flight departures then you can arrange your own travel. We must see proof of outbound and inbound travel before your departure. You must make sure you arrive in Ghana in time for the arrival orientation programme that you undertake with other volunteers.
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| Do I need to apply for a visa? |
Participants will apply through BUNAC for a 12 month multiple entry visa. Once in Ghana SYTO, the host organisation will help you apply for your work permit.
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| How many people take part in the Volunteer Ghana programme? |
Numbers vary however the maximum number on each flight is approximately ten, the minimum could be two or three.
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| Do I have to go to the orientation? |
The orientation is covered in the Volunteer Ghana programme cost and it is vital that all participants
attend. The orientation is an integral part of your trip. Our local host will introduce you to the country and culture and answer any questions you may have. It is also good way for you to meet other volunteers from both the UK and abroad.
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| Can I choose my placement?
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Due to the nature of the local projects we work with, unfortunately we cannot guarantee set placements for participants. However, we try to match your skills and preferences as closely as possible to a suitable placement and encourage volunteers to be as flexible as possible, open to new experiences and prepared to lend a hand where necessary.
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| Will I be placed with other volunteers?
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It is possible that you may share accommodation or be working at the same project as another volunteer but we cannot guarantee this as it is based on individual placement preferences and availability of projects at the time you apply. Ultimately BUNAC's
volunteer programmes offer a lot of support, but they are intended to be independent experiences where the individual can gain a considerable amount.
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| Can I go for less than the required programme minimum?
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Volunteer Ghana runs for two or three months. We believe that a volunteer would not be able to accomplish much or feel satisfied with their participation on a project if they were there for a period shorter than the required minimum.
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| Why do I need an interview?
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We ask all applicants to attend an Orientation Interview in our London office. It is not a formal interview, but a chance for us to get to know more about you and your reasons for volunteering. We can discuss the types projects you are interested in and in turn give you more information about Ghana. It is also an opportunity for you to ask
us any questions you might have. If you would like to apply and cannot travel to
London for an interview, please call us on 020 7251 3472 to discuss your situation.
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| Will there be chance to travel during my stay?
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During your placement you will generally have weekends free to travel. We encourage volunteers to take time out at the end of their placement to see more of the country. It has become quite common for volunteers to travel together. Your visa is valid for 12 months.
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| What medical advice does BUNAC offer? |
We provide a medical leaflet for Ghana with recommended injections for you to have. We advise you to visit your GP as soon as possible for the most up to date medical advice. Yellow Fever is a compulsory vaccination for entry into Ghana. Anti-malarial
drugs are also vital. Each participant must complete our medical form about their health history and have a medical examination to deem them fit and well to travel. This is at the participant's own expense.
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If you have any further questions on Volunteer Ghana, please call us on 020 7251 3472 or e-mail: enquiries@bunac.org.uk