Impact Areas
Child Education
While the Ghana Education Service offers a government-mandated curriculum for early childhood and primary school education, schools lack the resources and teachers for proper implementation. Students, particularly those with mild disabilities, do not receive individual assessments or one-on-one attention that is necessary to maximize their educational outcomes. CCS volunteers work closely with schools to implement curricula, provide individual attention, English training, and to provide experiential learning techniques to students who are typically taught solely through rote memorization. A number of schools have requested a variety of infrastructure projects suitable for groups of volunteers, such as libraries, educational murals and computer labs.
Check out our Ghana Summer School
Individual
Group +4Child Health
In a place where modern medical facilities meet traditional healing rituals, Ghana’s healthcare system is both diverse and complex. Rural communities, like Ho, are frequently without access to the healthcare causing negative health outcomes in children that could be prevented. To address these challenges, volunteers work in a health clinic to support mothers and children through well-child checkups, home visits, and educational workshops to stem the spread of malaria and malnutrition. To maximize our impact, volunteers are encouraged to form groups of 4 or more, to carry out a variety of health campaigns in public schools. The largest needs have been identified as building hand washing stations, conducting vision screenings, and supporting dental clinics for the school children.
Group +4Down a dusty road in the Volta Region of Ghana, the Royal Praise School supports children in kindergarten through junior high school, including low-income and orphaned students. The school faces many challenges, including a very small teaching staff, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate facilities for learning. With the majority of the students living below the poverty line, families often face the difficult decision of continuing education or dropping out of school to earn an income. Girls are particularly impacted, with female students leaving school an average of 2 years earlier than their male counterparts. Through our global education and health programs CCS volunteers are making a direct impact at Royal Praise School on the quality of academic programming, activities, and sanitation facilities, that leads to increased attention and advancement to secondary school.
Read more about the Ghana volunteer experience on our blog!
One of the most politically stable countries in Africa, Ghana is gifted with a diverse and scenic landscape, from beautiful beaches and waters to forests with a diverse array of wildlife. A mix of modern and traditional belief systems, the culture of Ghana is complex yet welcoming, and you will find a friendly face and welcoming hand at every turn. Although over 100 languages are spoken throughout the country, English remains the official language for business and in secondary education.
"The CCS volunteers have a very positive impact on my organization because they give pupils a reason to always be present in school and ready to learn."
"The love and empathy exhibited towards the students causes our school and the community to show more love and care for these children, too. The volunteers bring the school and the community together."
"Volunteers help to teach English and they promote cultural exchange and self-expression among the students."
The local community puts on an exclusive collaborative presentation just for CCS volunteers to formally welcome you, and you’ll get to join in on a traditional drum and dance circle, a very important cultural practice for the Ghanaian people.
Typically reserved for special occasions, the kente cloth has a long tradition in Ghana, and is said to have initiated from the observation of spiders creating their webs. Work with local artisans to help with the creation of a kente cloth, which can take months to complete, as you learn about the colorful meanings of these fabrics.
Get to know your new home away from home on a CCS staff-guided walking tour of Ho. Staff will be sure to call out all points of interest including silversmiths, money exchange sites, ice cream shops, and internet cafes. The tour ends at the weekly outdoor market where you'll catch your first glimpse of the ubiquitous handmade batik fabrics. Purchase some eye-catching fabric to bring over to the local seamstress and she will inexpensively transform it into a one of a kind souvenir.
Plunge into a natural pool at the base of the Wli Waterfall, the highest waterfall in West Africa. You’ll take a short hike to the falls where you'll witness the rainbows forming in the mist, and then you’ll paddle out to experience the refreshing spray of the falls up close. After drying off, you'll stop by one of the best souvenir spots in Ghana for a chance to buy wood carvings and batik clothes directly from the artisans who crafted them.
In a culture that practices traditional medicine alongside modern healthcare, witch doctors are still commonplace to treat ailments or for advice on future pursuits. Join in, at your choosing, to meet a local witch doctor and learn about the herbal treatments used in Ghanaian society.
Kpando Pottery, a business based in Ghana that takes its name from the Volta Region, is known for their skilled craftsmanship and distinctive pottery production. Learn how to make your own piece of pottery, and bring it home as your memory of Ghanaian artistry once it's been fired and cooled.
Although English is Ghana's official language, you’ll still have the opportunity to learn Ewe, the mother tongue of Ghana's Volta Region and neighboring Togo. After just one round of biweekly classes held at your Home-Base, you’ll be ready to greet your new neighbors in the local language.
Ghanaian folklore isn’t a strictly oral tradition; it’s conveyed through traditional “adinkra” symbols as well. You’ll quickly begin to notice adinkra in pottery, wood work, business logos, and fabrics. Visit a local seamstress to learn about these symbols, as well as the traditional batik process for fabric dyeing. Make your own batik handkerchief as a small but meaningful keepsake of all you've learned and seen.
While your Home-Base can be found at the end of a dirt road, just 45 minutes away, you'll find lush mountain landscapes. Try your hand at scenic Mount Gemi, or challenge yourself with Mount Adaklu, within view of your home in Ho.
You didn't realize Ghana has rainforests? Surprise! Explore Ghana’s most accessible animal haven, Kakum National Park. Scale the treetops on Ghana’s only canopy tour and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys and birds. For an extra dose of adventure, and perhaps even a super-rare glimpse of an elephant, camp out in one of the tree houses scattered throughout the park.
According to legend, when the residents of Tafi Atome moved almost 200 years ago, monkeys were seen in the nearby sacred forests that they believe had followed them on their journey. Considered 'representatives of gods', the people of this region protected the monkeys and the heritage of their sacred grove. Today, you can visit these friendly inhabitants and try your hand at feeding them a banana!
Along the palm tree lined shores of the Volta Region, local fishermen launch their boats at dawn to make a living on their daily catch. As you wait for the boats to return for the evening, there's plenty of opportunities to enjoy water sports, stroll through the sacred woods, or even visit a crocodile farm!
Have you ever met a genet? What about a western kob, grey duiker, bushbuck, serval, or civet? These unique animals, as well as baboons and monkeys, make their home at the Volta Region's Shai Hills Game Reserve and Quarry, along with 175 species of birds. So take a trip and discover your new favorite animal!
If you find yourself missing the niceties of urban life, Accra is the place! Ghana’s capital city provides a striking contrast to Hohoe’s small-town feel. Slip into the air conditioned mall for a movie or a snack from the food court, and find yourself surrounded by hip young urbanites clad in leather pants and high heels. For a bit of culture, explore Accra's museums or wander through one of the outdoor weekend markets.
Lake Volta, one of the world's largest man-made lakes, dominates the landscape of eastern Ghana at over 3,000 square miles. Boat across Lake Volta and watch as fishermen tow in the day's catch. Check out some of the recreational facilities lining Volta's shores, and even go for a refreshing swim in the lake!
In a small town like Ho, every day brings a new opportunity to engage with local people. Practice your Ewe language skills by greeting new neighbors, and don’t be afraid to accept a friendly dinner invitation from a new friend. After dinner, hail down a Fan Ice bicyclist to buy some ice cream treats, or get a coffee from a man vending from his cart. Next, make your way to a local watering hole to sip a cold drink and huddle around a televised soccer game with new friends.
Beading is taken to new levels at the Cedi Bead Factory, where artisans use recycled glass bottles to create unique beads sold across the world. If you're looking to up your own bead craftsmanship, stay overnight and create your own bead designs.
The present day Volta Region of Ghana, along with neighboring Togo, was once part of a large German protectorate called "Togoland." While the area was divided by post-WWI arbitration, eastern Ghanaians and Togolese still share the same heritage, culture, and language, and many local people travel across borders to visit friends and relatives. Once you've found your way around Ghana's Volta Region, cross the border to Togo for an international experience with a familiar feel.
Growing up in small town in Ghana with my grandparents, I have seen the vulnerability that comes from being raised in poverty and not having opportunities for education. I was fortunate to have parents who believed in the value of education, and attended a Technical School to further my talents in electronics. However, it was CCS volunteers who motivated me, as a young man, to follow my passions and goals of attending university to establish a career in social justice and change.
In Ghana, over 28% of the population lives in poverty at under $1 per day. With schools that are too often underfunded and overcrowded, the need for individual attention, guidance, and encouragement to children pursuing their dreams is key to a brighter future. I am committed, with CCS volunteers, to improving the possibilities for each child in my community.
Programs are available for 1-12 weeks with program fees starting at $2490.
