Living conditions & cost
Volunteering in Ghana is an eye-opening and rewarding experience both the young and the old. 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.
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.
(VPWA Youth Centre in Darmang, Eastern Region of Ghana)
Accommodation & Getting to Work
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) . All rooms are shared with other volunteers. 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 required to donate some money to cover the cost of accommodation and dinner.
All other services, base on availability are provided by VPWA to its volunteers at no fee.
(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.)
(Above: VPWA Pokuase Residence-Accra)
*****Please note: All programs attract a Registration Fee of 150 Euros/ 100 GBP/ 160 USD on top of the Program Fee.
WHAT DO MY FEES PAY FOR?
Registration Fee (Non Refundable if you choose not to go) – Application Review and processing, administration costs, Visa Support letter, 24/7 emergency support from VPWA, Program marketing costs, Pre-departure information, travel costs to inspect programs, VPWA Education & Health Fund and communication costs with volunteers.
Program Fee – Airport pick up only, orientation, Supervision, accommodation and meals(dinner) during volunteer placement period, In-country 24/7 volunteer support and In-country administration costs.
FEES DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Airfare to Ghana
• Visa Fees
• Vaccinations and immunizations
• Personal insurance
• Personal spending • In-country travel
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)
The following services may also be offered depending on availability...
Mobile phone SIM card number on arrival in Ghana
Certificate of Recognition for dedicated volunteers and an opportunity to serve as VPWA ambassador in your city, college or community. You will need to complete a volunteer report before a certificate is issued.
''Ghana drove home one important revelation for me. It doesn't matter what you do in this world. No one can judge or place value on what one does. But what does matter is that you do it with love and with an intention to push it forward again and again; That you feel inspired by it and that you fully embrace it. I’ve struggled with such a thing all my life but I feel that it will finally take rest. I can finally move forward without inhibition and fear; at least begin to.'' Jacob Raether, USA
'VPWA is not a commercialized organization. It is not a "volunteer vacation" where you go on organized tours and have great amenities. But you will do real work. You will deal with the real day-to-day challenges of operating an NGO in rural Accra. Things move slower, and unexpected events will come up. But everyone at VPWA is solely focused on the organization's goals. And Hayford, the founder, has real passion for his country and his projects, and this shows in the success of VPWA and the reputation it has in the development sector.'' Amanda Marie Oakes, USA
''When searching for an NGO on the Internet, I found tons of organizations offering a similar experience. I came across VPWA and contacted former volunteers and Hayford to know more about this association. I really don’t regret my decision to come in this association. The other volunteers were really nice, the work very interesting and enriching and Hayford is definitely a great and active social entrepreneur.''- Hugues Le Chevallie -France ,
"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,
''The accommodations at the VPWA compound are by far the best, compared to other volunteers in Ghana''
- Samantha Koches ,Vanderbilt University-USA
''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
''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