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VOLUNTEER IN GHANA

 

Do you want to know how it is like  to live and volunteer in Kumasi, Ghana? Have you always wanted to go abroad and teach primary school children in a totally different context than you are used to? Take the adventure and volunteer with us!  




Trinity International school is looking for creative, open-minded, flexible and reliable volunteers to teach our children.  What we aim for is teachers with a creative mind to create interactive lessons in which the development of the children is central. Interactive lecturing, in opposite to the classical teaching method of a telling teacher and listening pupils, makes pupils more aware of their own capacities. Learning in a playful and fun way makes them pick up the material easier and faster. We challenge you to use all your creativity and fantasy to come up with inspiring lessons. We do not look for qualified teachers per se, but in our contact we would like to sense at least affinity with teaching and working with children. 

 

The school is not only looking for regular teachers, but also for artists who would like to give lessons in art. It would be great to give the children lessons in drawing,drama or any other form of artistic expression. If you are a fanatic in sports, you are also very welcome to volunteer as a sports trainer for the kids of the school. As sports is not someting that the children are doing all day long at school, we would like you to conduct other activities as well. You are free to organize things yourself and we are more than happy to help you a bit with this. 

 

The accomodation of the school is currently sober and can be perked up creatively in cooperation with the kids. Imagine that regular walls turn into colourful paintings that can be used in classes, in games or other activities. We can use the walls for a combination of creativity and teaching materials. If you know how to design and assemble furniture, you can create school benches or play attributes for the schoolyard. 

 

If you volunteer with us, you do not have to restrict yourself on just one task. We want to ensure flexibility and trust your dedication to the goods of the school and the children. You can combine several tasks, and even work on your own research. We discuss this all before you are actually heading to Ghana. 

 

Volunteering  consists of five workingdays in a week,  days the kids go to school. These days include at least 8 hours/day that you are supposed to spend on the volunteering duty. The other two days are free, namely the weekend. Volunteers can explore surrounding areas, stay in Kumasi, or rest in the accomodation. We have some accommodation for Volunteers . This accomodation is comfortable, basic and clean. Food can be supplied, but is optional. Volunteers are also free to decide where to eat, but please remember that there is no smoking at the school and accommodation provided by the school..    

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LOCATION

Oduom Community, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. For details, see the address below on the webpage

 

JOBS

Teach: English, Mathematics, Sports, Art Lessons, Social studies, or other disciplines 

Paint: The school building in cooperation with kids

Furniture: Useful furniture for the school and playing attributes for the schoolyard 

 

TRANSPORT

Your flight will arrive at Accra- Kokota International Airport. This is the capital of Ghana. A representative of the school awaits you in the terminal and provides for one night in Accra. You will travel by bus for around 4 hours from Accra to Kumasi the next day.  It is also possible to fly from Accra to Kumasi in 45 minutes.

 

Transport in Kumasi and the rest of Ghana is for your own responsibility, but we will inform you about the best way to go. When you are leaving Ghana for your homecountry we can optionally arrange a one night-stop in Accra to make sure that you catch your flight the next day.  

 

DURATION

You can stay for a minimum of two weeks to a few months. The duration of your stay depends on your goals and our availability. We discuss this before you depart to Ghana. 

 

ACCOMODATION

There is place for two persons in the house of the schoolhead. You can stay here together with a friend, but it might also be possible that you share this room with another volunteer. If you wish, we can also arrange a hostel or hotel close to school, but in that case you have to pay the regular fee for a room. Prices change per season, so we have to negotiate this in advance. Prices for a room vary from 20-35 dollar/night. The room in the schoolhead's house costs a symbolic 5 dollar/night for volunteers who fully dedicate their time to the school. 

 

FOOD

You can eat together with the host family or  cooks for yourself if you wish. You are welcome to join the dinning table any time. You can also  eat somewehere outside for around 5-10 dollars. Breakfast is something of your choice. You can make your own breakfast or eat have it with the family. The breakfast at the family is for free. You can also decide to eat somewhere in Kumasi. There are a lot of good foodstalls and supermarkets nearby the school. You inform the lady of the house before lunch about your plans for the dinner.

 

VACCINATIONS

Before you head to Ghana, you need some obligatory vaccinations: Yellow Fever and a stamp that Cholera is not indicated. Other vaccinations are: DTP, Hepatitis A and Meningitis.  

 

If you plan to stay longer than three months in Ghana, the following vaccinations are recommended: Hepatitis B and Typhoid (Buiktyfus). Which vaccinations you will get, depends on the vaccination centre you visit. We recommend you to get informed well before you head towards Ghana.

 

 To reduce the chance to getting malaria we also recommend you to purchase  malaria tablets. To prevent bites from mosquitos, you should protect yourself by wearing long sleeves after sundown, use DEET spray and sleep under a mosquito net.  

 

This seems like a big list of vaccinations, but don't worry. Foreigners do normally not face healthproblems, but it is better to prevent than to cure. The house of the schoolhead and the school are quite clean places. Kumasi is a big city in development with good medical services.   

 

VISA

You need a visa to enter Ghana. The type and price of your visa depends on the duration of your stay and the purpose of your visit. If you are only going to volunteer with us, a voluntary visa is sufficient. Always call the Ghanaian embassy to clarify what kind of visa you need. In some cases you need an 'invitation letter' which we will supply of course. 

 

INSURANCE

First of all we want to be sure that you are sufficiently insured for your health. Secondly it is recommended to arrange a travel insurance for your luggage and inconvenient issues. 

 

BANK

It is possible to take cash from the banks in Kumasi with VISA or MASTERCARD and sometimes with MAESTRO. It is 10-15 minutes away from the school to the cashmachine by car.  However, we recommend you to carry a VISA/MASTER card with you. If you decide to plan trips for the weekends, it is easier to take some cash with you, next to your card. The Ghanaian currency is the Ghana cedi (GHS). You can change euros or dollars at the airport of Accra or banks.

 

PHONE & INTERNET

It is cheaper to purchase a local prepaid SIMcard than using your own phone. we can arrange a SIMcard for you. You can charge the SIMcard by yourself. There is no WiFi available in the school or at home. However, local mobile phone companies provide internet data everywhere in Ghana.   

 

COSTS

We ask no weekly or monthly commission fee from volunteers. However, you can donate willingly to support the school .

 

Flights, weekend trips, public transport, ,  SIMcard, (own accomodation) and visa are for your own expense.

 

The pick-up from Accra to Kumasi with may be a  night in Accra are free for volunteers.     

 

PAYMENTS

Transactions are done personally in cash or tranfer before or after your arrival.  

 

LUGGAGE

It is important to take some stuff with you, depending on your volunteering job. Take materials with you that are necessary during your lessons. If you want to teach art, take papers, pencils, markers, paint, erasers, sharpeners or glue with you. There are materials available in Kumasi, but it is recommended to take some essential stuff from home with you.  

 

Are you going to combine your period as a volunteer with travelling? Take a backpack with you instead of a regular suitcase. If you are only going to volunteer, a suitcase is enough. 

 

Other important things to bring along:

- Anti-mosquito spray with DEET/malaria tablets

- Mosquito net

- Clothes -  like a dress for ladies, a shirt with jacket for gentlemen (for visiting churches, official institutions if you wish)

- Money belt (for under your shirt)

- Suncream

- A hat to protect you against the sun

- Medicines against diarrhoea, sickness and loss of moisture. (ask your doctor for advice)

- Toilet and shower materials

- Passport a vaccination card(needs to be valid till at least 6 months after your arrival in Ghana

- Bankcard, - Insurance papers, Sunglasses, Camera

 

 Don't worry if you forgot to bring something with you: Kumasi is a big city and you can find all kinds of stuff there. 

 

QUESTIONS

 

If you have questions or if things are unclear, contact us by e-mail: trinityint.schoolkumasi@outlook.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

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