Volunteer in
Ghana FAQ
Travel Logistics
Health and Safety
Accommodations and Meals
Technology
Cultural Concerns
Miscellaneous
How
long can I volunteer?
The recommended minimum time to volunteer is
2 weeks. The recommended maximum time to volunteer
is 12 weeks.
The climate of Ghana is typically tropical, but
temperatures vary based on season and elevation.
The rainy seasons are from April to June and from
September to November. Rainfall during the rainy
season is not continuous; that is, it will rain,
then the sun will shine. It should not deter travel,
though it is very humid at that time. The average
annual temperature is about 86F (30C).
School
Terms
Term 1: mid-September
- mid-December
Term 2: mid-January
- mid-April
Term 3: mid-May
- end of July
Please keep in mind that this is only an
approximate schedule. The exact dates may vary,
depending on your village placement. Be sure
to confirm the exact school session dates prior
to purchasing your airfare.
School
Hours
Monday - Thursday:
7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday: 7:00 am
- 2:00 pm
Saturday: 7:00
am - 2:00 pm (Junior High School and Senior
High School only). This is optional and does
not happen in most schools.
Are
there any special passport requirements for Ghana?
Yes. Your passport must not expire within 6 months
of your departure date from Ghana.
Do
I need a visa for Ghana?
Yes.
You must obtain a visa prior to your departure
from your home country. You cannot get a visa
when you arrive at the airport in Accra, Ghana.
You can obtain a visa application via the Ghana
embassy or consulate office in your home country.
Visa applications for US citizens are available
via the Ghana
Embassy website.
Prior to submitting your application, it is strongly
advised that you contact the embassy or consulate
office to confirm the current application processing
times so you can determine whether you need to
use an expedite service.
Where
can I find the information I will need to complete
my visa application?
We provide two documents that will help you complete
your visa application: Travel Considerations
and Ghana Contact Information.
To access these documents, please login to My
Village. Scroll to the Travel Preparation
section of the My Village main page, and select
Ghana. The Travel Considerations and Ghana Contact
Information documents are both located in the
"Before you leave..." section.
Please note that you will not have access
to any of these documents until you have submitted
your Volunteer Program deposit.
Can
you recommend a service that can expedite my passport
or visa?
In the U.S., expedited passport and visa services
are provided by A
Briggs and PassportsandVisas.com.
Can
you recommend a travel agent?
For low cost airfare, we recommend the following
sites:
Expedia.com
Kayak.com
Orbitz.com
SideStep.com
Kotoka International Aiport in Accra
Yes. A representative from the VV partner organization
with which you will be volunteering will meet
you at the airport, just outside of baggage claim,
holding a "Village Volunteers" sign.
What
are the in-country transportation costs?
Your
transportation between Accra and the village in
which you will be volunteering is included in
the program fee. However, if you chose to depart
from the program for independent travel or personal
reasons, please be prepared to be responsible
for the cost.
Is
it possible to visit multiple villages?
Yes. However, please be aware that traveling to
multiple villages will increase the cost of your
visit, due to in-country travel expenses. Also,
we ask that you keep in mind that adjustment takes
time, and we highly recommend a minimum stay of
at least two or three weeks in one location.
Yes, there are many local sites that you can
visit on weekends. Village Volunteers provides
basic tourist information, and your director or
volunteer coordinator can assist you with making
excursion arrangements.
What
safety precautions should I take when traveling
in Ghana?
The
villages are generally very safe and hospitable
for volunteers; however, travel to larger cities
should be treated with more caution. The cities
of Ghana, like big cities anywhere in the world,
can be dangerous and vigilance is strongly advised.
It is advisable to not be out at night, particularly
in Kumasi or Accra. In the cities, belongings
should be kept in a secure place on your person
(money belt, neck pouch under your clothes, etc.)
and completely out of sight. Do not draw attention
to yourself either through your actions or dress.
Will
I need any immunizations or medications?
Yes.
Be sure to consult a travel physician at least
two months prior to your departure from your home
country. You may also want to consult the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention website
for additional information.
What
are the accommodations like in Ghana?
Accommodations in the villages vary depending
on your specific village placement. Volunteers
are hosted in either guest rooms or guest huts,
all of which have western-style beds and mosquito
nets. Most rooms are double or triple occupancy.
Many volunteer accommodations have electricity.
Most volunteers will bathe from a bucket or basin
of water. Some accommodations have indoor bathing
rooms, others have more basic facilities which
include pit latrines and outdoor washrooms.
To learn more about the accommodations, click
on the volunteer placements below:
»
» Atorkor
Development Foundation
» Community
Inclusive Special School
» Dzidefo
Women's Cooperative
» Environmental
Development Youth Movement
» Kpando
Pottery Fesi Shed
» Missahoe
Children's Home
» Rural
Care Network
» Ryvanz-Mia
Orphanage
Below
are some of the common foods and drinks found
in Ghana.
Protein: |
beef,
chicken (on the bone), egg (scrambled or hard
boiled), fish, goat, red beans, white beans
|
Starch: |
yam, potato, sweet potato, cocoyam,
rice, spaghetti pasta, noodles, white bread,
plantain (ripe or unripe), cassava
|
Fruits
and Vegetables: |
avocado, banana, cabbage (raw or cooked),
guava, mango, orange, pineapple, watermelon,
carrot, green beans, green pepper, okro (okra)
|
Sample
Dishes: |
- bread or toast with margarine or peanut
butter
- red beans with rice
- soup with fufu (yam/cassava that has been
cooked, pounded and mixed with cooked and
pounded unripe plantain)
- soup with banku/akple (corn/main flour cooked
into paste)
- vegetable stew with rice/yam/plantain
- jollof rice (cooked rice mixed with stew
on the fire)
- spaghetti pasta with tomatoes and cubes
of beef
|
Drinks: |
soda (Coca Cola, Fanta, etc.) |
When
you complete our volunteer application, you will
have an opportunity to let us know of your specific
dietary needs. This information will be forwarded
to our partners overseas so they can prepare your
meals accordingly.
There
are internet cafes in some of the villages. If
the village you are volunteering in does not have
an internet cafe, you may need to travel up to
1 hour to reach one.
It
is not likely that your home cell phone will
work in Ghana, so you are advised to leave it
at home. If you would like, your director or
volunteer coordinator can help you purchase
a phone and simcard (for approximately $52 USD).
Keep in mind that you will need to purchase
your phone minutes as you go.
Will I
be able to charge my digital camera and batteries
in Ghana?
Most
accommodations have electricity or a power supply
with electrical outlets. Please keep in mind,
however, that there are frequent power cuts in
Ghana.
Will
I need an adapter or converter in Ghana?
Depending
on your home country, you may need both an adapter
and a power converter. Voltage in Ghana is 220V
- 240V, and outlets are shaped like the images
below:
If you need to purchase a converter and adapter,
you may want to consider buying an adapter/converter
set with multiple adapter plugs. You can typically
find such a set at an electronics store or a store
which carries luggage accessories. Before buying
a set, have an idea of the types of appliances
you will want to plug in, so you can make sure
the power converter will meet your needs.
Most villagers speak English. Although it is not
essential to learn the native languages, it is
extremely useful and appreciated if you make an
effort to learn the basics. Village Volunteers
offers basic Twi and Ewe Language Guides in the
online orientation materials (which volunteers
can access after they have applied, been accepted,
and submitted a program deposit).
What
are some basic customs I should be aware of?
| » |
When greeting a
Ghanaian, one is expected to say "hello" and
shake hands. |
| » |
Respect is a very
important aspect of the African culture. The
idea of respect for one's elders is limitless.
In most Ghanaian cultures, those who are older
than you should be called either Nana or Opanyin
(male) or Obaa Panyin (female). To casually
touch an elder is considered improper. |
| » |
If you are shaking
hands with a large group of people, start
at the right and move left (counter clock-wise). |
| » |
Many villages have
a Chief and/or Queen Mother. You may be formally
introduced to the village royalty early in
your visit. Ask people in the village for
the appropriate greeting and dress for this
introduction. A gift may be appropriate, but
does not have to be elborate. |
| » |
When pointing to
someone or something, it is polite to use
all fingers of the hand. |
| » |
Pants are only
worn by women living in urban areas but volunteers
can wear comfortable loose fitting pants.
Conservative skirt hemlines are appreciated. |
| » |
It is discouraged
to photograph and film the local people without
their consent. |
I
have more questions.
More in-depth orientation materials are made available
to volunteers after the application process has
been completed. For assistance, email our team
at info@villagevolunteers.org.
|
