About Teaching in Ghana

World Endeavors Teaching volunteers in Ghana help to educate and empower the nation’s poor, rural, indigenous, and female students who may not otherwise have a chance at a good education. Volunteers usually work with children between the ages of 5 and 12, sometimes assisting teachers and sometimes taking full responsibility for a class. Although English is the official language of Ghana, it is rarely spoken within the home.  Volunteers who speak English and are willing to teach it to Ghanaians are invaluable to the community. Depending on their experience and skills, volunteers may also teach other subjects including math and science. By bringing their knowledge and enthusiasm into Ghanaian classrooms, volunteers can make a difference to teachers and students alike and help local children build better lives for themselves.

A Typical Day in the Life of a Volunteer in Ghana

World Endeavors volunteers inGhanacan expect their days to be a combination of meaningful volunteer work, cultural experiences, and free time for relaxation and reflection.  The sample schedule below represents a typical day for a volunteer inGhana.  Keep in mind that when volunteering abroad, a typical day can be anything but typical!

7:30 am: Breakfast with your host family or at the volunteer site.  Breakfast in Ghana often consists of ampesi (a dish consisting of a cassava, cocoyam, yam, and a plantain mixture that is boiled with onion and fish, and then pounded and boiled a second time).

8:00 am: Walk or catch the tro tro (local bus) to get to your project site.

8:45 am – 12:30 pm: Work at volunteer placement.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch with your host family or at the project site.  Lunch in Kumasi often consists of fufu (cassava, plantain, or cocoyam dough), palm fruit, fish, beans, eggplant, and groundnuts combined and eaten over rice.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Work at volunteer placement.

3:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Free time for exploring town, visiting the internet café, browsing through the Kumasi Central Market, going to the zoo, playing soccer with local children, or hanging out with other volunteers.

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Dinner with your host family.  Dinners inGhana often include rice and boiled yams with stew (okra, fish, bean leaf, peanut) or soup.

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Relax at home, chat with your host family or fellow volunteers, read a book, prepare for tomorrow’s volunteering, or plan a weekend trip to Elmina, theCapeCoastCastle, the coast, or one ofGhana’s national parks.

Project and class schedules, meals, and free time activities may vary depending on the details of your placement.

Eligibility

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. Successful volunteers are hardworking, flexible, and open to truly immersing themselves in Ghanaian culture.