Sign standing outside Tore Eikeland School

Volunteer for Youth Empowerment in Ghana

Support community development and encourage youth to engage with politics

Destination

Ghana

Age

16+ 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 £1,675 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Organise campaigns on human rights

Research issues like child slavery, develop campaigns, and engage in activism to protect Ghanaian youth and promote social change.

Analyse fair trade in cocoa

Research unfair trade practices, explore solutions for fair pay, and contribute to increasing prosperity among youth in Ghana’s largest export.

Provide basic medical care

Assist nurses with wound dressing and health checks, contributing to community health and empowering youth to focus on political projects.

Lead educational excursions

Explore local sanctuaries, national parks, and parliament, providing hands-on learning experiences and fostering critical thinking skills.

Grow alongside the community

Encourage critical thinking, lead discussions on global issues, and build your own confidence and soft skills while making a global impact.

What you need to know

Overview

Think about these two questions:

Why is empowering youth important?
How can we empower the youth?

In any country, these questions matter. In countries where democracy is new and fragile, it’s more important than ever to educate the leaders of tomorrow. Find answers to these questions through our Youth Empowerment Project in Ghana.

Through this volunteer project, you can:

Become part of the fight to foster peaceful and free societies in the world
Add global, hands-on experience to your CV
Explore concepts of politics and human rights in a developing country

You don’t need any experience to join this project. You’ll be guided by professional staff, who’ll teach you everything you need to know to participate. The only thing we need from you? A passion for politics and a commitment to justice!

We offer flexible dates, which means we can organise your trip around your schedule. We recommend staying as long as possible to have a bigger impact on Ghana’s youth.

The project runs all year round; you can start on any day, and it’s fully supervised. So all you need to do is decide on some dates, complete our application form with a £195 deposit, and we’ll take care of the rest.

A Day in the Life

In your small, quiet corner of rural Ghana, you’ll likely begin the day being woken by nature’s alarm clock: a rooster! You’ll share a breakfast of porridge, eggs, and toast with your host family before getting ready for the day’s work.

From your host family, you’ll travel to a local high school. You’ll discuss politics with your students and engage in activities like debates.

During your free time, you can participate in traditional cooking, language, dance lessons, and more. Perfect for bonding with other Projects Abroad volunteers! In our opinion, taking in the sunset from the beach is the perfect way to end a productive workday before the rooster wakes you up again for more exciting activities!

Activities

Through our international youth development programmes in Ghana, you can expect to engage in several different activities:

Work on political campaigns

Man stands by sign for demonstration farm in Ghana

Find fair solutions to the flow of money in the cocoa trade

Work with nurses to do basic medical care

Participate in excursions to learn about nature and politics

Work on political campaigns

You’ll actively research human rights issues in Ghana and help to organise campaigns for change. Child slavery is a huge focus for us since it continues to be a significant issue. 21% of 5-17-year-old Ghanaians are working, and the majority are ages 5-7.

Through your campaign work, you’ll:

Learn how social norms and poverty contribute to issues like child slavery
Gain the insight needed to work towards a solution to human rights violations
Become part of a movement that actively protects Ghanaian youth
Engage in activism that is safe and legal

Find fair solutions to the flow of money in the cocoa trade

Ghana’s economy is largely dependent upon trade. However, unfair practices cause poverty, which contributes to an unstable democracy. By understanding the problems and potential solutions in trade, you can help to increase prosperity among the youth.

You’ll focus on cocoa, which is Ghana’s largest export. It’s grown in the rainforest, and most farmers have an extremely low income. Unfortunately, the West African cocoa trade relies on the labour of two million unpaid child workers, and most profits go abroad or are distributed among a small number of elite farmers. It’s critical that regulations are strengthened to ensure fair pay, so you’ll work on issues like this.

Work with nurses to do basic medical care

There’s a strong link between the health of citizens and the health of their democracy. A strong and fit youth will have the energy to focus on high-level political projects. This is why we have volunteers like you doing public health work in the community.

You don’t need previous medical experience, as you’ll be working under supervision to do things like:

Dress minor wounds
Carry out simple tests for hearing and respiration

Participate in excursions to learn about nature and politics

The work you do is tailored towards your students’ ages, so activities will always be age-appropriate. We don’t believe that learning is only for classrooms, so you’ll also venture out into nature. Together with your students, you’ll get real-world experience of the issues you’re debating.

You’ll do things like:

Observe conservation efforts at local monkey sanctuaries
Walk among the birds along the canopy bridge at Kakum National Park
Watch elephants in their natural habitat
Take a tour of Parliament and see democracy in action

Aims & Impact

The three main aims of our Empower Youth programme in Ghana are:

Foster cultural exchange
Broaden elementary school curricula
Introduce youth to politics

Foster cultural exchange

Most of our volunteers come from countries that are long-standing, stable democracies. Democracy is a relatively new concept in Ghana, but one that has brought political stability and prosperity to its 30 million citizens.

While you’re there to share your ideas with Ghanaians, we encourage you to immerse yourself in the culture and strive for understanding yourself. Under supervision from a Projects Abroad Coordinator, you’ll have a healthy exchange of ideas with students. We also ensure this process continues when you leave Ghana by facilitating continued interaction via social media.

Broaden the curriculum in elementary schools

To answer the question “How do we empower youth?”, we have to go beyond the fundamental subjects typically taught in schools. While maths and English are important skills, subjects like sports and music also have a lot to teach kids.

Topics like nature and music aren’t part of the national curriculum in Ghana, so it’s critical for volunteers like you to teach them and encourage creativity and teamwork. This is also done through hands-on projects, such as cultivating a botanical garden, which will come to symbolise peace in the community.

Beyond these skills, children will also improve their English and build their confidence by interacting with you and learn about the history, geography, and culture of other countries.

Introduce youth to politics

One of the most fun and engaging projects you’ll work on is to set up debating societies in high schools. Teenagers have opinions, and healthy debates help them explore new ideas, think rationally, and learn to use their voices. You’ll take part in these debates, covering topics from terrorism to women’s rights, and help encourage the critical thinking skills that drive society forward.

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.

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.