Teaching English in Ghana

To receive precise information about the particular projects we consulted the project managers on the spot. They know best about the country and its inhabitants and they are familiar with the duties of the volunteers and the living situation in the community. They are experienced in handling international volunteers and know their needs, wishes and worries. They have answered our questions about the following topics.

Questions and answers about the project:

Where do the volunteers exactly work? – Right in the community.

Is it important to have some particular equipment in this project? – First-aid kid, if possible.

What daily work can be expected? – Teaching basic English, some administrative tasks, playing and singing songs with the pupils, handcrafting and pottering if necessary.

Is there a curriculum, which has to be followed? – Yes, the volunteers will receive a curriculum and there will also be an instruction in the teaching methods.

Are telephone and internet available and if not, where can the next telephone / internet café be found? – The volunteers live close to an internet café and public telephones. We do recommend bringing a cellular phone.

Give us an example of a typical day on the project. – Monday through Friday it can get quite hectic between 8 am and 3.30 pm.

Accommodation:

What kind of accommodation can volunteers expect? – A host family, your own place or a guest house. Volunteers are free to share a house or flat.

Will men and women be accommodated together or separated by gender? – Men and women will always be accommodated separately.

Where is the accommodation located? – All accommodations are very close to the project site.

How are the accommodations equipped? – Running water, electricity, bed, bathroom and toilet, kitchen.

How far away is the project from the accommodation? – All projects can be reached by foot.

How do volunteers get to the projects and back to their accommodations? – You can get there by foot or with public transportation.

How can the volunteers wash? – Volunteers do their own laundry by hand.

Meals:

Are the meals free as well? – Yes, food will be provided and volunteers will also learn how to prepare their own food.

How many meals per day? - Twice a day. Volunteers eat lunch at work. On the weekends you will receive three meals a day.

What kind of food is it most likely to be? - Local food.

Will there also be vegetarian food? - Yes.

In case that the food is not provided, where can it be bought and prepared? – Volunteers are free to eat in the local canteens as well as in the hosting families.

Weather and climate:

What is the approximate temperature? – Between 16° the lowest and 32°C the highest.

When is dry and when rain season in the country? – Rain season starts in April and ends in August, dry season runs from September till December.

What kind of clothing shall be brought? – Summer clothing.

Currency:

Name of the currency? – Cedis.
             

Can Credit cards and Traveller Cheques be used in the country? – Credit cards can surely be used. Traveller Cheques are not recommended.

Is there an ATM close by? – Yes, you will find ATMs in the banks close to the project.                                                 

Free time activities / other:

Will volunteers have free time for extra activities? – Yes, they will be off work on Saturdays and Sundays.

What kind of free time activities can be found in the area? – Sightseeing, meeting relatives of the host family, festivals, cultural events.

Are other volunteers participating in those activities? – Volunteers are free to do their activities in small groups.

What has to be considered concerning the visa? – Either a tourist visa or a volunteer visa.

What is included in the Price?

• Airport Pick-up:
  Arriving in a new country is always exciting. We want your arrival to be as relaxed as possiple. One of our staff members will pick you up at the airport and bring you to your host family. He/she will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign with your name on it.
• Orientation Program:
  Within the first days of your arrival one of our team members will pick you up and show you around. We try to do the orientation with several volunteers simultaneously, so there will be idel options to gain new contact.
• Accommodation:
  You will stay in well selected host families in your own room. This families could be with or without pets or children. The accomodation will be as close as possible to the project. In general you can reach the projects by foot or by public transport.
• All Meals:
  2 meals per day are offered at the school. At the weekend 3 meals will be provided.
  
  

What is not included?

• Visa
• International Health Insurance
• Flight
• Personal Expenses

More Tips and Information:

• Project Start:
  The projects run all throughout the year. Therefore your project will start on an individual date depending on actual openings and your schedule.
• Time of Arrival:
  It is quite comfortable to arrive a few days before the start of your project. You will have enough time to recover from the journey and to do the first trips. This allows you to acclimatise and to get to know your host family, the country and the people.