Mini-Adventure Work for Orphans and Explore Ghana

  Ghana

• Accra: 
Accra

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year Round

Description: The Ghana mini-adventure program is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers who wish to explore the beauty of Ghana and its culture, nature, and people while volunteering to help orphans. The Ghana mini-adventure program aims to help orphaned children with much needed hope and guidance. As a volunteer, you will be teaching health education/English/sanitation to poor kids. You will also help children develop their creative talents by working with them to draw pictures, play games, and perform various creative activities. After a few days of working for the poor children, or any other activity that interests the volunteer, Global Crossroad will organize a 4-day tour of Ghana, during which you will experience Ghana's rich past, exciting future, wonderful culture, and natural beauty by visiting the dramatic coastal slave castles of Cape Coast and El Mina, exploring Kumasi (the vibrant traditional capital of the Ashanti Empire), walking through the canopy high above the Kakum National Park rain forest, and exploring the biggest single market in West Africa, the ancient museum, and the biggest lake in West Africa. The aim of our mini-adventure is simple: to enrich your volunteering experience by showing some of the cultural wonders of Africa.

Program Outlines

Day 1: Airport pick up and hotel transfer. Participants rest the first night in Accra.

Day 2: Proceed to project site in Kumasi early in the morning; orientation after reaching the office. Orientation covers children issues, field condition, host family conditions, safety issues, climate expectations, working projects, and related topics.

Days 3-11: After breakfast, volunteers will proceed to the children project (orphanages). Orientation with local staff; discussion of job responsibilities and other issues. Work with orphanages for 6 days. Volunteers will do generally assist in English teaching, cleaning, washing, game playing, homework, and extracurricular activities Our country coordinator will organize a half-day village hike between 2 and 10 miles. Meet the village chief and explore village life, farming systems, local cultures, local ways of life in Africa, and issues of a developing African nation.

Days 12-15 Four day explore Ghana program

Day 12: Cultural visits of KumasiVisit the Manhyia Palace Museum, see a film presentation that introduces you to the rich culture, history, and wealth of the Asante king, visit the durbar of chiefs and where the king of Asante sits at the Manyhia Palace to learn more about Asante chieftancy and culture, exchange greetings with chiefs and the king, and interact with the king.

Day 13: Explore Craft Village in Kumasi Visit the craft villages that surround Kumasi for the famous Kente cloth at Bonwire (origin of kente), Adinkra textile printing at Ntonsu, and wood carving at Ahwiaa. Each craft village has a particular claim to artistic fame. Bonwire is the capital of the Kente cloth, while Ntonso boasts the Adinkra cloth. Ahwiaa produces outstanding carved figures, including Ghana's traditional fertility doll, and Kurofuforum specializes in the casting of brass.

*In the afternoon, volunteers will leave for Kukum and Cape Coast.

Day 14: Visit Kukum National Park and Cape CoastIn the morning, visit the Kakum National Park, a semi deciduous tropical rain forest. Enjoy a walk on one of the only four canopy walkways in the world, which offers you a bird's eye view of the forest. Or trek on the Kenton trail and get to know the medicinal value of the various African tree species.

After lunch

Visit the slave Castles: Elmina Castle, the first and largest European edifice on the coast of West Africa, built in 1482, and the Cape Coast Castle, which became the seat of British colonial administration until 1877. The history of black slavery unfolds as you tour these Castles. Overnight stay in Cape Coast.

Day 15: Return to Accra in the morning, day tour of Accra, and end of project

Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, peruse Ghana's cultural history at the National Museum, and tour the home of Dr. W.E.B. Dubois, the African-American who spent the last few years of his life helping to build the foundations of a new state, Ghana. Attractions at the WEB Dubois Memorial Centre for Pan African Culture include his tomb, a museum, a library, and a very interesting narration.

Program itineraries are sample itineraries and are subject to change to meet the needs of Volunteers and our home office.

Qualifications: No qualifications are needed.

Cost in US$: 1,199 USD

Salary / Pay: Volunteer Job

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 or above

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Global Crossroad's Mission Statement: Global Crossroad offers many remarkable and challenging volunteer, internship, mini-adventure, and cultural immersion opportunities to interested international volunteers in marvelous countries such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Mongolia, Ghana, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya. Our unique programs are creative and exciting, as they engage volunteers in breathtaking journeys. Here, a volunteer can become involved in service projects while they explore remote villages. A volunteer can also learn a wonderful new heritage as the Global Crossroad provides language training courses and cultural tours.

Year Founded: 2002