Community Garden Projects in Ghana with projects Abroad

  Ghana

Rural Areas

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Year-Round/Rolling-Starts

Description: Up in the rural Akuapem Hills, about one hour north of Ghana's capital city, Accra, our Community Farm Project offers volunteers the opportunity to work on a small organic farm. Whether taking part in a gap year, summer placement or career break, volunteers and two local members of staff are responsible for maintaining all aspects of the farm including animal care, crop-growing, flower-production, herb-cultivation and land-management. They also arrange school trips to the farm to educate the local children.

Volunteering in Sustainable Development and Organic Agriculture with Projects Abroad

The farm is based just ten minutes away from the Akuapem Hills regional office and all volunteers live with local host-families. This project is usually combined with another project in the Akuapem Hills as the work here only takes place in the afternoon. Volunteers working on the Community Building Project or on a Care or Teaching project in the region could also help on the farm.

Produce which is grown on the farm includes small quantities of oranges, plantains, papaya, carrots, onions, yam and herbs which are used as medicinal remedies. The farm is also home to rabbits, guinea pigs, geese and, once the pond is complete, fish.

Volunteering on the Farm Project in Ghana

Volunteers arrange trips for local schools to visit the farm. Children are then educated about the processes involved in growing crops in a sustainable environment. They also learn how to take care of animals and how to identify seeds and produce herbs. Volunteers receive training from local specialists in the different techniques involved and are given an agricultural text-book, which is part of the curriculum, to use with the school children.

Additional projects for volunteers include:

    * Fencing and netting parts of the site
    * Planting new seeds and herbs
    * Helping to build enclosures
    * Creating a display area for seeds and herbs
    * Helping with the construction of a rest area for volunteers and planting trees to provide shade.

This project is a fantastic way to help develop sustainable, organic farming techniques while passing on a vital awareness of conservation issues to the new generation of children in Africa.

Highlights: Ghana is an exciting and popular place to spend some time on a volunteer project or internship. Ghana is an intensely colorful land on the West coast of Africa. Once the British colony known as the 'Gold Coast', it is renowned for the friendliness and warmth of its people. Ghana has great beaches, wild savannah and dense rainforests. This English-speaking country provides volunteers with a wonderful introduction to Africa; it is politically-stable, safe, affordable and rewarding to visit.

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Ghana.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: none

Cost in US$: From US$2,345 Up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a willingness to travel.

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Ghana Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992