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Gap Year in Ghana
More interested in Ghana than the average tourist? Want to experience the country and its culture and still visit the main tourist attractions, including gorgeous beaches, nature parks, and wild animal reserves? As a volunteer with TravelWorks, you'll have the perfect chance to see the sights and gain insight into Ghanaian culture.
Can I participate if I’m not from the UK?
Do I need to take a test to prove my English skill level?
Do I need special references or experience to participate?
Is there an age limit? How old are typical participants?
Can I participate with a friend?
Can I combine my volunteer work in Ghana with a volunteer programme in another country?
Can I choose the city/region where I would like to volunteer?
Can I choose which project I would like to work on?
How much time will I actually spend volunteering? Will I have free time?
Should I bring any special supplies for my volunteering project?
May I extend my stay in Ghana?
What will my accommodation be like?
Will I live and work with other volunteers?
Can I contact my host family before my departure?
Can I contact other volunteers before I depart?
How will I get to my volunteering site each day?
What is the health/safety situation in Ghana? Do I need vaccinations?
Do I need to apply for a visa?
Should I buy travel insurance?
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
How much money should I expect to spend on extra costs such as travel and food?
When does the programme start? How long does it last?
Will I earn money during my project work?
Can I participate if I’m not from the UK?
Yes. Participants from the United Kingdom and the United States are welcome to participate in the gap year in Ghana, as are citizens of other countries. If you are from another country, it will be necessary to check your country’s visa requirements to see if you can participate.
Do I need to take a test to prove my English skill level?
No test is required to prove your English skills, but you will need to have good English skills in order to participate in the gap year in Ghana. You will need to fill out the application documents in English, prior to your departure for Ghana. We will send these application documents to you via e-mail.
Do I need special references or experience to participate?
No special experience is required. However, any special skills which you could use as a volunteer would be both helpful and welcomed during your gap year in Ghana. For example, if you have prior working experience in the field of medicine, you could have a higher level of responsibility if you volunteer in a hospital. In order to do medical work, you will need to send us a reference letter from your employer (or any former employer in the medical field), to prove that you do actually have medical experience.
Motivation, flexibility, and personal initiative are the most important qualities you can bring to your gap year in Ghana.
Is there an age limit? How old are typical participants?
Participants must be at least 18 years of age in order to take part in gap year in Ghana programme. There is no upper age limit for this programme. Most participants are 18 to 22 years of age, but older participants are also encouraged to sign up.
Can I participate with a friend?
Yes. When you apply, you can list a travel partner. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed with the same host family or in the same project as your friend during your gap year in Ghana.
Can I combine my volunteer work in Ghana with a volunteer programme in another country?
Yes. It is often possible to combine programmes. Feel free to contact TravelWorks for more information.
Can I choose the city/region where I would like to volunteer?
Prior to your departure, you will have the chance to state which project you would like to work on. We will do what we can to try to place you in this project. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed there. Your placement will depend on where volunteers are needed during your gap year in Ghana.
Can I choose which project I would like to work on?
Before you depart for your gap year in Ghana, you will be asked to list your top three work area preferences (for example medical care, education, or agriculture), and we will try to place you in a project in one of your areas of interest. We cannot guarantee that we can place you in one of your top choices, as your placement will depend on where volunteers are needed at the time, but we will do our best to do so.
How much time will I actually spend volunteering? Will I have free time?
The length of time you work each week will depend on the project in which you are placed. You will most likely be working 6 to 8 hours each day, and will have 1 to 2 free days per week. This will leave you with quite a bit of free time to explore Ghana.
Which projects can I work on?
There are various opportunities for volunteer work during your gap year in Ghana. For example, you could work in an orphanage, caring for children and keeping them busy. Or, you could teach in a primary school or a school for people with disabilities. Another possibility is offering health and hygiene advice. Any relevant experience you may have in these areas of work will be an advantage, but flexibility, creativity, and personal initiative are much more important.
Depending on the project, you may work full workdays or part-time. Participants usually have free weekends.
Ghana is a developing country. Many projects here are rather poorly equipped or cannot afford to employ enough people, making your work here all the more important. In the projects, there is often no one to tell you what to do all the time. Therefore, you will need to show a great deal of initiative and creativity as you pitch in and help during your gap year in Ghana.
Should I bring any special supplies for my volunteering project?
You do not need to bring any supplies for your volunteer work, but after you find out which project you will be doing, you can bring project-appropriate materials. For example, if you are working with children, you could bring along toys, art supplies, or school materials to distribute during your gap year in Ghana.
May I extend my stay in Ghana?
You may originally book the programme in Ghana for a stay of 8 weeks and 5 days to 6 months. If you would like to extend your stay, you will need to speak with our partner organisation in Ghana as early as possible after your arrival in the country. An extra fee for accommodation and meals will apply. Depending on your country’s visa requirements, it may be possible for you to stay for up to a year in Ghana.
What will my accommodation be like?
During your first week in Ghana, your orientation week, you will be staying with other volunteers in a hostel, where breakfast will be included. In most cases, you will live with a host family for the rest of your stay after the orientation. Otherwise, you will be living at the project site or in single accommodation during your gap year in Ghana. You will receive meals from your host family, unless you are travelling (weekend excursions, for example). You may be given money to purchase food and cook on your own.
Host families in Ghana are very carefully chosen, often have been taking guests for years, and are usually “middle-class” families. You should expect far simpler living conditions than what you are used to. Families often do not have running water or electricity, and most do not have a telephone. In general, the more rural the area is where you are volunteering, the simpler your living conditions will be during your gap year in Ghana.
The people of Ghana are very hospitable and social. You should be prepared to have far less personal space than you have at home. Many friends and relatives of your host family will often be in the house. Your sleeping place may be in a room that people walk through. Even though the many people around you may become a bit stressful at times, you will have the great opportunity to get to know the culture of Ghana and to meet many interesting people.
Will I live and work with other volunteers?
You can request to be placed in a project and/or host family with other volunteers during your gap year in Ghana. Although we are often able to place fellow volunteers together, we cannot guarantee that you will be living or working with other volunteers.
Is there a volunteer “base”?
The offices of our partner organisation in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale are there to help you if you have any questions, problems, or concerns during your gap year in Ghana.
Can I contact my host family before my departure?
You probably will not be able to contact your host family before your departure for Ghana, because many families do not have telephones or an internet connection.
Can I contact other volunteers before I depart?
Yes. You will receive a list of other participating TravelWorks volunteers and their contact information 3-4 weeks before your departure for Ghana.
How will I get to my volunteering site each day?
Host families usually live close enough to the project site that you will be able to go by foot to your volunteer project.
What is the health/safety situation in Ghana? Do I need vaccinations?
Ghana is a developing country, where the health risks are much more serious than those in Europe or the United States. The risk of malaria is especially high. It is important that you visit a doctor as early as you can before your departure for advice about necessary vaccinations and health precautions. Please wait to receive your vaccinations after you have definitely been admitted to the programme. You can find useful information regarding vaccinations at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. In Ghana, there are several private clinics where English is spoken.
Ghana is a politically stable land where travelling is safe, as long as you are careful. The people of Ghana have a cheerful and friendly mentality, and it is easy to adapt rather quickly to the culture. You can find more detailed information regarding safety and health in Ghana and other countries on the website of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk or on the website of the U.S. Department of State: travel.state.gov.
Do I need to apply for a visa?
If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom or the United States, you will need to apply for a tourist visa for your stay in Ghana. In order to obtain the visa before leaving your home country, you will need to have a valid passport and certification that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever.
If you are not a resident of the United Kingdom or the United States, it will be necessary to check your country’s visa agreement with South Africa to determine if you will be able to participate in the gap year in Ghana programme.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes, we strongly recommend that you get travel insurance to protect yourself abroad. WorldNomads offers flexible travel insurance for short-term and gap year travellers like yourself. Note that this is only a recommendation. Feel free to search for the travel insurance which is right for you.
Are food and accommodation included in the programme price?
Yes. Your stay at the hostel during orientation and with your host family during your volunteer work is included in the programme price. Breakfast will be included during the orientation. You will receive half board (breakfast and supper) during the week, and will need to pay for your own lunch. At the weekends, you will receive full board from your host family during your gap year in Ghana.
How much money should I expect to spend on extra costs such as travel and food?
Our partner organisation estimates that you will spend about £ 135-225 (about US$ 225-375 / 150-250 €) each month in extra costs during your gap year in Ghana. Of course, this will depend on your personal lifestyle, so you may spend more or less than this. You should factor the following expenses into your trip’s budget:
- Flight ticket
- Visa costs
- Travel insurance
- Vaccinations
- Lunch during the week
- Drinking water
- Miscellaneous personal expenses
When does the programme start? How long does it last?
The gap year in Ghana programme starts every first and third Sunday of the month. You must take part in the programme for at least 8 weeks and 5 days, and you can book 8 weeks and 5 days to 6 months through TravelWorks. If you wish to extend the programme, this is possible through our partner organisation in Ghana. You may be able to stay in Ghana for up to one year, depending on your country’s visa requirements.
Will I earn money during my project work?
No, this is volunteer work! This means that through your work, you are supporting people in need and assisting in projects which usually have barely enough money to cover their own essential expenses. Please do not expect payment for your volunteer work. Instead, look at this as an amazing opportunity to help people and gain meaningful life experiences.
What are my next steps?
If you decide to participate in the gap year in Ghana programme, just fill out the PDF or online Booking Form. Please note that if you are booking online you will need a credit card (we accept Visa or MasterCard). If you choose the PDF booking form, please print, fill out, and sign the form before faxing it to TravelWorks. As soon as we have received your application, we will process your booking. At this point your application will be legally binding. We will contact you if we need any additional information.
You will receive various application materials by e-mail after you have applied for the gap year in Ghana Volunteering in Ghana: Travel and help people in Africa, volunteering in Ghana with TravelWorks. Our services and prices for volunteering abroad in Ghana.programme. These documents need to be completed and returned to TravelWorks.
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