Triple Impact
2013


Green Ghana Project


VPWA is registered 
Charity No. DSW/3932,
Limited guarantee no.G-24,222,
  IRS Number ACLC 114251 
under category 9191.

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Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa on LinkedIn

VPWA IS AN NGO PARTICIPANT OF UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT
How to Volunteer‎ > ‎

Living conditions & cost

Volunteering in Ghana is an eye-opening and rewarding experience. You will live in a country where family and the community are the most important things in life. You will learn how resourceful people can be and how much can be done with seemingly so little, and whatever project you are part of, you will see what a difference a small amount of help can make in someone’s life. 

Volunteering in Ghana is not without its challenges. As VPWA volunteers, you will have to adapt to conditions that may be dramatically different from yours at home and you will learn to develop new routines. Many of the volunteers who come to Ghana find the pace of life slower, which is tough when you have deadlines to meet. The public transport you will use can be unreliable and communication can sometimes be challenging. However, by successfully adapting to your new environment and integrating with the community, you will be richly rewarded with a deep understanding of a new culture, new and potentially lifelong friendships, and a profound sense of humanity. 

For most VPWA volunteers, living and working in Ghana is quite simply the experience of a lifetime.


Ghana's geography and climate

Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa and extends about 450 miles from north to south, and 250 miles from east to west. Geographically, the country can be divided into three zones: the southern narrow coastal strip of savanna; a broad tropical rain forest extending 150-200 miles north; and the northern savanna area. Lake Volta, formed by the construction of the Akosombo Dam, is the largest manmade lake in the world and is an important geographical feature of the country.

(VPWA Youth Centre in Darmang, Eastern Region of Ghana)

The climate in Ghana is tropical with two main seasons, the dry season from November through March, and the rainy season from May through to August. During the dry season, the Harmattan affects the northern and southern regions with days of continual cool air, haze, and fine dust. 



Health and safety

Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. In the Global Peace Index it is ranked above both the United Kingdom and   the US. It is the perfect introduction for first time volunteers to Africa. It has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. VPWA team shall ensure your health and safety at all times and you'll have emergency support 24/7. All VPWA Volunteers live in a very safe community with friendly people.




Accommodation & Getting to Work                                                                       (Below: VPWA Pokuase Residence-Accra)



VPWA placements are mostly within the Greater Accra Region, Eastern Region, Ashanti and Volta Region of Ghana. If your chosen program is in Greater Accra, you shall be living in either our apartment in Pokuase(North of Greater Accra) or our house in Achimota Mile 7 (Middle Belt of Accra) . Volunteers placed in the Eastern Region will live in VPWA Centre in Darmang Anhuntem (a small village about 60 minutes away from the capital). Most programs require volunteers to commute by local transport (Taxi or Bus-Trotro) from their residence. 

Cost

VPWA volunteers are requested to donate some money to cover the cost of accommodation and dinner.  
All other services are provided by VPWA to its volunteers at no fee. 
The cost for accommodation and dinner starts at 400Euros for up to 4 weeks. Each                additional week is 100 Euros.                                                                                          
(VPWA reserves the right to change it policies and review cost and inform volunteers accordingly before their arrival. Please note information on cost and living arrangement on this website remain final.)

VPWA Currency Converter


 LENGTH OF STAY     AMOUNT REQUIRED(EUROS)
 2 Weeks     400 Euros
 4 Weeks  (1month)                       400 Euros
 8 weeks  (2months)     800 Euros
 12 weeks (3 months) 1200 Euros
 16 weeks (4 months)     1600 Euros
 5 months     2000 Euros
 6 months     2400 Euros
 8 months 3200 Euros
 1 year 4800 Euros





Group Volunteers

 

There is specific arrangement for group volunteering and specific cost package, please refer to the link here to read more.

                                                                                                                             (Below:VPWA Achimota Residence-Accra)

 

VPWA volunteers receive the following services at no cost...
  • Application processing, interview and pre-departure information and all administrative works to prepare for your coming
  • Airport pick up only
  • Placement
  • 24 hour emergency support service
  • Orientation prior to beginning of work

The following services may also be offered depending on availability...
  • Mobile phone SIM card number on arrival in Ghana
  • Use of internet at VPWA operational head office. (It can be inconsistent so you may want to bring your own laptop and buy a modem to use)                                         
  • Certificate of Recognition for dedicated volunteers and an opportunity to serve as VPWA ambassador in your city, college or community

"The volunteer placement I was given with VPWA provided an incredible experience for myself and I hope for those I interacted with as well. Working on the farm with the moringa trees in particular was a new and enjoyable experience. The afternoons spent at the Street Library were eyeopening experiences as well. It was incredibly memorable to be able to see multiple villages around the area of Darmang. The most rewarding moments for me though were interacting with the children at the Children's Centre. They
are a great group of kids whom I felt lucky to have had the chance to meet. Helping them with their homework each evening was a great way to interact and offer guidance'' - David Brown - USA, September- October 2012

''The accommodations at the VPWA compound are by far the best, compared to other volunteers in Ghana''

- Samantha Koches ,Vanderbilt University-USA  (October 2010 Volunteer).

 ''I originally chose VPWA because they seemed a good value, grassroots organisation. For many people the concept of paying to volunteer seems strange but with VPWA you are able to see exactly what your money is used for. Included in the cost are things which make your trip easier such as the airport pick-up and drop-off and a sim card. Some of the fee goes towards your accommodation and food but lots of it is used in a very innovative micro-finance project working with women’s groups.''
- Sarah Grant, Cambridge University-UK (September 2010 Volunteer)

''Overall VPWA is not the sugar coated Gap type experience where you pay vast amounts of money to volunteer for an hour or so each day when you can be bothered and spent the rest of the time on a playstation – you will be working in real life environments with probably not all the resources you would expect by western standards, but you will be directly helping the people, it will be making a difference, and it will be very rewarding!''
- Charles Hills -Mechanical Engineer,UK (September 2009 Volunteer)