Human Rights Internship in Ghana

Gain hands-on human rights work experience while empowering and educating marginalised communities

Destination

Ghana

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

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Starting at £1,995 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Gain real legal insight

Observe court proceedings, attend crime scenes, and learn about the Ghanaian legal system and the investigation of human rights cases.

Assist victims of abuse

Work directly with Domestic Violence and Victim Support units to provide support to survivors of violence, abuse, and other human rights violations.

Contribute to community outreach

Participate in educational campaigns and workshops to raise awareness of human rights issues and empower individuals to stand up for their rights.

Immerse yourself in Ghanaian culture

Live with a host family, learn about vibrant local customs and traditions, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the country.

Grow as a person

Challenge yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and develop independence, cross-cultural communication skills, and human rights understanding.

What you need to know

Overview

This internship is perfect for students interested in human rights work. By working in a developing country like Ghana, you’ll see different kinds of human rights abuses. You’ll learn how to approach and work with each of these issues.

This is a great way to help your CV stand out, and it will give you interesting points to talk about in interviews. This experience is especially valuable if you want to work in areas such as counselling, social work, or assisting with victims of domestic abuse.

If you don’t have a background in human rights but are still interested, then sign up! You don’t need previous experience. You’ll be supervised by professionals and there will be lots of opportunity to observe and learn from them. This is a great way to learn and get practical experience if you’re thinking about a career in law or human rights work.

A Day in the Life

You’ll start each day with breakfast with your host family. Get dressed in semi-formal, conservative clothing before heading off in a tro tro or shared taxi. On your first day, your supervisor will accompany you to ensure you know your way around.

Your day will start at 8am and you’ll finish up at 5pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll get an hour each day for lunch.

On an average day, you’ll arrive at the office and meet up with your supervisors before starting on the day’s work. Morning tasks could range from sitting in on interviews with victims of domestic violence, to attending court, depending on the weekly load.

In the afternoons, you’ll continue with work to support the Domestic Violence and Victim Support or the Merton & Everett team. You may get the chance to plan presentations for educational campaigns, attend meetings, or assist with project planning for future outreaches in the local community.

Once you are done for the day, you can spend time getting to know your host family. Over the weekends, you can explore the beautiful countryside and learn about Ghana’s history at one of the many national museums. You’ll also have the chance to visit Cape Coast and walk through the old fishing town, or relax on the beach.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to promote and protect the basic human rights of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in Ghana. In addition, we give you practical human rights work experience, and an insight into the challenges people face every day in Africa.

Ghana is a stable and democratic country in West Africa. However, it still faces many challenges and shortcomings with human rights. Issues like domestic violence and child abuse remain a significant problem.

Our partner, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) was established in October 1998 as a specialized unit within the Ghana Police Service. This was formed in response to the increasing number of reported cases of abuse and violence against women and children.

You’ll work towards the following goals in our Human Rights Management Plan:

Increase awareness of human rights
Identify and monitor human rights abuses and vulnerable areas
Resolve human rights abuses

Join our Human Rights Internship in Ghana and help marginalised communities while gaining work experience in the field of human rights.

Activities

You’ll work directly with local staff in the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the Ghana Police Service. You’ll assist with the following tasks:

Observe interviews and victim statements
Attend crime scenes, observe evidence gathering, and go to court
Help prepare for and assist on community outreach talks

At your Human Rights placement in Ghana, your work will focus on the following areas:

Observe interviews and victim statements

You’ll be working as part of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in the Ghana Police Service. You’ll spend the bulk of your time working alongside a supervisor, assisting in their important work. The unit exists primarily to protect the rights of the vulnerable against all forms of abuse, be it physical, sexual, emotional/psychological, socio-economic, or harmful cultural practices.

As a result of this, a large part of the work involves being available for members of the public and treating victims/complainants and their families with respect and courtesy. You’ll get involved by taking statements, joining interviews, and helping provide victims with information on their cases as well as details of the investigations.

Attend crime scenes, observe evidence gathering, and go to court

Another part of the job is traveling out into the community to investigate reported cases of domestic abuse and violence against local women and children. This is where you’ll get to see the whole, end-to-end process that takes place with a case like this. You’ll be out and about, observing evidence gathering and learning how cases are pieced together.

Often victims will be referred for medical services or specialised help from clinical psychologists, social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and counsellors attached to the Unit. The department also collaborates with NGOs and other civil society organizations that may be able to offer assistance to victims in need of necessary support services.

Finally, if a case can be made to prosecute, you may also be able to attend court with members of the unit. This will give you a chance to observe the Ghanaian court system, and see how cases are brought to trial.

Help prepare for and assist on community outreach talks

Many people don’t know their basic human rights and therefore aren’t aware when these rights are abused. We’re working to change this through ongoing awareness campaigns and workshops. Our goal is to share knowledge and empower people to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.

When possible, you’ll do research into human rights topics and use this information to develop these campaigns and workshops. You’ll also help run them.

Map & Location

Formerly called The Gold Coast, Ghana became an independent nation in 1957, and the first African country colonised by Europeans to achieve independence under majority rule. Still famed for gold and cocoa production, it’s a treasure trove of cultural and natural experiences.

Explore lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and golden beaches or get stuck in to the lively music and dance scene. With a rich mix of languages and traditions, its people are known for their warmth and hospitality.

Accra

Accra, the capital of Ghana, is a lively city on the Atlantic coast with a population of over two million. This sprawling metropolis blends modern skyscrapers with historic landmarks, artisan markets, and beautiful beaches. It has a tropical savannah climate with hot temperatures all year.

Accra is culturally rich, with traditional drumming and dance performances alongside an energetic nightlife and thriving arts scene. More than half of the population is under 24, so it’s never short of excitement!

Akuapem Hills

About 90 minutes north of the capital, Accra, lie the quiet and tropical Akuapem Hills. Known for their lush greenery, cocoa farms, and charming villages with traditional architecture, the hills are a perfect escape from city living.

You’ll never feel more welcomed than in the heart of the Ghanaian countryside and you’ll have access to all the essential amenities. Plus, Accra is well within reach for a day trip if needed!

Food & Accommodation

Immediately feel at home with a supportive and welcoming local host family. We’ve vetted each family to guarantee you get everything you need for a wonderful stay. This includes a comfortable bed, three daily meals, fresh drinking water, and daily transport to and from your placement, arranged by our team.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and they will welcome you as one of their own from the moment you arrive. Absorb the local culture, enjoy their incredible home-cooked food, and build a lifelong connection during the course of your stay.

You’ll stay with other Projects Abroad participants on your travels. If you share a room, we will match you with someone of the same gender and age. Whether you go it alone or with friends, you’ll have the time of your life.

Free Time and Leisure

Volunteering in Ghana is an ideal way to explore this colourful West African country. There’s a huge variety of different activities to do while you’re there, giving you plenty of exciting ways to spend your free time.

Music is a central part of Ghanaian culture. In the bigger towns, especially Accra, you will hear some great live bands and have some memorable nights out. Evenings spent at buzzing restaurants will also give you a taste of some of the delicious local cuisine.

For a look into Ghana’s history, you can tour the slave forts of Cape Coast and visit museums. Nature lovers will relish trekking through the rainforests of Kakum National Park or Mole National Park.

We run a wide range of projects in Ghana so there’s sure to be other volunteers there during your trip. This means you can explore the country solo or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Ghana Arrival Procedures page.