Volta Region

test

Volunteer Work in the Volta Region

All volunteer placements in the Volta Region are with locally-run organizations, dedicated to improving the lives of Ghana's residents. Volunteers working in the Volta Region may work in:

• Caregiving : Volunteers can care for infants and children and people with disabilities in orphanages and community centers that benefit from an extra pair of hands and the energy and excitement that volunteers can bring.
• Teaching : Volunteers provide extra support by teaching children, teaching conversational English, or assisting teachers of special education. As with many public services in the area, the schools are often overcrowded, leaving many children without the personal attention and assistance they need. Learning English from a native English speaker is so appealing that the sheer presence of international volunteers can increase attendance at local schools.
• Healthcare : While the AIDS epidemic is not as big in Ghana as in some other countries, volunteers can work with people affected by HIV/AIDS by helping to provide basic sex education to young community members. Since there are few hospitals, and not a high prestige associated with medical careers in Ghana, the medical facilities are often overcrowded and understaffed. Volunteers can observe and assist local health professionals in a variety of ways.
• Community Development : Sharing your professional skills and experience through cultural exchange can be a powerful placement for volunteers in Ghana. The community is made up of artisans, fishermen, and farmers. Most people who do receive other training and education move elsewhere for better opportunities, therefore the community doesn’t often reap the benefits of that education. Volunteers share new ideas, techniques, and even technologies that can help to foster and advance local organizations in the region.

Volunteer Abroad, Intern Abroad, Insight Abroad, and Teen Volunteer Abroad programs are offered in Ghana. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community.

test

Cultural & Learning Activities in the Volta Region

Building on your volunteer work in Ghana, Cultural & Learning Activities help to develop your insight into the local traditions and culture. You might visit a small village for a home stay or ceremony, join in a drumming and dancing performance, learn about herbal medicine and traditional healing with a local practitioner, or attend a traditional Ghanaian funeral.

test

Free Time in the Volta Region

In their free time, many volunteers in Ghana stay nearby and engage with the local community. They play soccer with the local children, or go for a short hike and meet families nearby. Volunteers can be found wandering around the markets, visiting a bead factory, or watching traditional clothing being made at local shops. Some choose to visit other parts of the country during their free time. Examples of popular free-time excursions include an ecological canopy walk tour in the rainforest of Kakum National Park, visiting a monkey sanctuary, nature hikes to view gorgeous waterfalls, visiting a traditional bone setter, and exploring historical slave forts near Cape Coast.

test

Home-Base in the Volta Region

Cross-Cultural Solutions' Home-Base in Ghana is in the Volta region, the Southeast region of Ghana between the coast and Lake Volta, the largest manmade lake in the world.

Volunteers' meals are provided by staff cooks and include traditional Ghanaian dishes such as fufu (a mash of plantains and cassava) and porridges. Dishes like chicken or vegetables and rice are also provided for volunteers. Transportation to and from your volunteer placement and any Cultural & Learning Activities in the Volta Region is provided by local CCS staff. This Home-Base is also accessible to people with mobility restrictions.

test

In-Country Staff in the Volta Region

Local CCS staff in Ghana will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who want you to feel at home and will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Ghana staff below.

Country Director - Besa Amenuvor, Ghana Country Director
For more than thirty years, Besa Amenuvor has worked in international development. Born in Ghana, he moved to the U.S. to study at North Dakota State University, after which he served as the Associate Director for the Peace Corps in Ghana. One of Ghana's leaders in community development, Besa has also worked as a consultant for social service agencies and volunteer programs for Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO).

Program Director - Makafui Amenuvor, Ghana Program Director
Makafui was born and raised in the Volta Region of Ghana, and has been working with Cross-Cultural Solutions in Ghana since 1998. Before he became Program Director, he was the Office Manager for the CCS Ghana program, supporting the Country Director in developing volunteer work placements and ensuring that the needs of partner organizations in the local community and volunteers' skills and interests are well-aligned. He has studied and lived in both Canada and the US, and has completed his bachelor's degree in management information systems at the University of North Dakota.

Program Officer - Christine Kafe 
Christine is in charge of the volunteer placements and also acts as a liaison between volunteers and the Partner Programs.

Office/House Manager - Atsu Michael Adzigbli
Atsu is in charge of day to day administration and logistics in Ghana. He also leads volunteers on the weekly cultural and learning activities.

Cooks - John Ohene and Grace Doamekpor
John and Grace prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all volunteers. If you want your food spicy, just say "Ginger up!"

Housekeepers - Millicent Nyametse and Esther Agbeviade
Millicent and Esther are in charge of keeping the house clean and comfortable for the volunteers.

Drivers - Dela Koka "Wakye"
Dela coordinates airport pickups and drop-offs of volunteers. He also provides transportation to and from the volunteer placements as well as cultural and learning activities.

House Guards - Zakari Gariba and Godfred Nyarko "Joe"
Zakari and Joe are in charge of the safety of the house and the volunteers.