Volunteer Girls Teaching Program in Ghana

Overview

Volunteers working in the Girl's Education Project work in Tamale in Northern Ghana. The mission of this project is to help young disadvantaged females living in urban village around Tamale. Volunteers work in a school where the main objective is to educate the girl child in the area. Former volunteers have helped in the project substantially and have raised for the continued education and supply of essentials for the students of the school. Volunteers working in this program need not be qualified or trained teachers. The project is suitable for individuals who want to volunteer teaching on their gap year, summer placement or career break.

Background of the Program

Maltiti Girls School was not started as a school, but a program to give disadvantaged girls the chance to go to school. The program was started in 2016, by Mr. Frederick Addai, Mad and Mary Oliver - a retired social worker from the UK.

In September 2016 the program was able send the first 6 girls to Methodist Primary School at Ward K in Tamale. The program welcomed Mohammed Ishawu as the girl’s coordinator, who was responsible for making sure all the girls got to school. The program provided all that the girls needed for school, including books, uniforms, bags, shoes, bicycles and money for food at school.

Each year in September, the program was able to send 20 girls to Methodist Primary, SDA Primary, St. Joseph's Primary, St. Peter’s and Dapkaa Primary. The program provided all that they needed. At our 2012 monitoring and evaluating meeting, we realised that most of the girls were having a lot of problems. One of these problems concerned the girl’s bicycles. Most of the parents were using their daughter’s bicycles to go to the farm and this was making some of the girls miss school on certain days. Another problem was some of the girls were unable to attend school due to the vast distance of their school from their home. In addition, some of the older girls got “boy lovers” and as a result some became accidentally pregnant.

Due to these problems, we decided to start our own school in their own community.We organised a community evaluation meeting with the chief, elders of the village, all parents and the girls. We all agreed to build our own school in the Kalaniga village, since most of the girls came from Kalariga and Vittin village .The chief of Kalaniga donated some land to us to build the school and told us we should never change the school to a mixed school in order to help educate more girls in the community. Together with community, we gave the school the name Maltiti Girls School. Maltiti evolved from the outstanding support from the community and the number of girls who wanted to attend. The whole community knew that the program could improve their own lives and in view of this, the community gave the school the name ‘Maltiti’, which means “make it better for us”. Until this day, the community fiercely believes in the program and is grateful for the opportunities it offers them.

With the great partnership of Volunteering Solutions, the school receives volunteers from all over the world who also support these disadvantaged girls. In 2013, the volunteers were able to build a four classroom block. The community benefited from this project because total free education provided a reason for the girls to go to school. Many girls however see few opportunities in this location and therefore leave the northern region here to travel to Accra to look for work. The Maltiti School embraces these girls at a young age and exposes them to the benefits of education.

Maltiti Girls School now provides free schooling to girls from disadvantaged homes in the village in and around Tamale. These girls would otherwise have no access to education. The current enrollment of the primary school is 106 students and in Junior High School One and Two there are currently 30 students.

Maltiti Girls School’s long-term goals are to provide quality education to roughly one million girls in villages in and around the surrounding area of Tamale, along with partnership with GES. Maltiti Girls School also aims to increase the academic opportunities and earning potential of the girls who come from deprived villages, specifically from Kalariga village, Vittin village, Dabopka village and others on the Yendi and Salaga Road - who otherwise would be forced to stay at home and help their families.

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteering Solutions provide accommodation in Tamale with a local host family. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;

Saturday - Arrival at Tamale and transfer to accommodation
Sunday - Settling down in the area and orientation by coordinator
Monday - Visit to the project with the coordinator and starting your volunteer work at the placement
Tuesday to Fri - Volunteer work
Breakfast - 06:00 am onwards (provided at the accommodation)
Working hours at the placement - 07:00 am to 01:00 pm and 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Lunch - 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm (volunteers need to manage lunch on their own)
Dinner - 06:30 pm to 07:30 pm (provided at the accommodation)

The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards

Weekends - Free to explore the city and take short excursions trip to some of the best hotspots in and around Tamale, such as; Mole National Park, Monkey Sanctuary, Kintampo Falls. Learn about their elaborate festivals, the local cuisine comprising of Banku and Fufu - Ghana's most famous dishes, their colorful dresses, and the music and dances.

Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteering for girl education in Ghana requires volunteers to involve themselves in a number of activities, at the school, on a regular basis. This may include, but may not be limited to;

Assisting the teachers to deliver lessons.
Work with smaller groups helping them with their reading, writing and numeracy skills.
Teach one of the classes yourself but you’ll be fully supported if this happens.
Design a proper study module for the children to follow.
Involve students in out–of–the–class activities to teach them the importance of physical activity

Project Requirement

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative. All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.

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Living

Volunteering Solutions strives to provide best of the living and other arrangements to its volunteers. Like we keep saying, just pack your bags and arrive at your placement destination. From your airport pickup, stay, meals, weekend tours and other nitty gritties, VolSol manages everything for you.

Airport Transfer

You will be met by your program coordinator at Tamale Airport from where you will be transferred to your project location.Participants can book your flight to arrive at Accra International Airport and then a short connecting flight to Tamale. You can also choose to stay overnight in Accra and take the flight to Tamale on the next day. We can offer an optional Accra pickup service at extra charges. The service will include pickup in Accra, one night stay in a hotel/guest house in Accra and transfer to the airport to continue your journey.

Accommodation

Volunteers will be staying at a standard Ghanaian volunteer homestay managed by the local program coordinator. In case space is not available in the volunteer home, you will be accommodated with a Ghanaian Host family. Accommodation is either provided in an individual or shared room along with other volunteer. By staying with a family you will experience the local Ghanaian culture, language customs and traditions. There are separate rooms for male and female volunteers with shared toilet facilities. Participants should note that living is of basic standard and you should not expect luxuries. Power cuts are common in Ghana and most rural houses do not have running water during times of drought. Bedding is provided, however, volunteers need to bring their own towels and mosquito nets (these can also be purchased in Ghana). Air conditioning is available in the volunteer house and the participants need to pay the extra charge to avail the facility in the country.

Orientation

An orientation and briefing session will be provided by your local coordinator. Areas like culture, safety, locations, transportation are covered in the Orientation. After your orientation is over, you will be introduced to your project and also given a tour of the local market and town of Tamale.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) at the host family house. Ghanaian cuisine consists primarily of starches, soups, beans, meat, and fish. The Starches consist mainly of rice and doughy balls made from mashed cassava, plantain or yams. Famous Ghanaian dishes include Banku and Fufu.

During your Free Time

On the weekends you can head out to explore places such as Mole National Park and Monkey Sanctuary. Volunteers also visit Paga to visit Crocodile Park or further south to Cape Coast to enjoy the beaches. On weekdays, participants have free time in the evenings and spend time relaxing at their accommodation or socializing with other volunteers and the local people.

Dates

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out

Costs

Duration	Program Fee	Choose your currency
2 Weeks	$530
3 Weeks	$570
4 Weeks	$630
5 Weeks	$670
6 Weeks	$720
7 Weeks	$760
8 Weeks	$820
Extra Week	$120

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you Paying For?

24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
Airport Pickup from Tamale Airport
Orientation
Food - 2 meals a day
Accommodation
Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)

What's NOT Included?

International and Domestic Flight
Accra pickup package
Vaccinations
Local Transportation
Ghana Visa
Personal Expenses

FAQ's

Application and Program Details

Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the Ghana volunteer programs?: Every program has certain and prerequisites that are required to be fulfulled by the volunteers. Please refer to the respective program page for the detailed requirements.
Does VolSol provides discount if I choose more than one program or if I am a returning volunteer?: If you are planning to come for multiple programs in your trip, you will have to pay the application fees just once. Your application fee is valid for a year's time (from the date of application). You will not have to pay the application fees again if you come within the mentioned time frame.

For our returning volunteers, $50 discount is provided for the application fee for their next Vol Sol program.
Can I volunteer as part of a group?: We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.

In our experience of more than 6+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for student groups- college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.

Ghana is one of our popular destination among student groups and is highly recommended for family volunteering as well.
When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Ghana?: As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is recommended that potential volunteers book their programs well in advance to get confirmed placements. You can book your slot by filling the application form online and pay the application fee.You can pay your program fee later and also, in installments, however, the complete payment should be made 45 days prior the start of the program. If you are volunteering in a group, you can also fill a group application form.
What are the Program Locations in Ghana?: Volunteering Solutions offers projects in the capital city of Accra as well as in Tamale in Northern Ghana. Tamale is the fourth largest city in Ghana and one of the the fastest growing cities in West Africa.The Beach Conservation Project is located in Axim, which is a six hour drive from Accra.
For how many hours will I volunteer every day?: Volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day for 5 days a week depending on their program needs. You will have the weekend off to explore in and around the city. However, volunteers need to be flexible, open minded and understand that work requirements can change as well on certain occasions.
How long will it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: After you complete your application, your personalized ‘My Account’ will be active.You will need to upload your CV/Resume along with your photo in the same. Our backend team and the placement site takes around 10-12 days to review your application. After we review your CV and documents, your booking is confirmed and booking confirmation is updated in your ‘My Account’. Some projects need a mandatory criminal background check and the same is mentioned in the project info of your program. Approval of your application depends on your qualification and eligibility criteria for each project.
Does VolSol provides with a reference or a certificate after program completion?: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.

Health and Safety

How safe is Ghana in general?: Ghana is a safe and stable country with relatively low crime levels compared to other West African countries. You’ll meet some of the friendliest people in Ghana and their culture is a fascinating blend of traditional and modern.

However, as in any country around the world, you need to take certain precautions for safety. You will be given safety precautions and instructions by your coordinator during the orientation.
Do I need to buy a health insurance?: Yes, for all volunteers it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?: We recommend you to consult your physician or travel doctor before traveling to Ghana. All travelers are required to carry an International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card) to show proof of yellow fever immunization.

The recommended vaccinations for volunteers traveling to Ghana are as follows:

Yellow Fever

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid

Rabies

Accommodation and Living

Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?: We provide a wide variety of program options in Ghana and the accommodations vary depending on the program choice.

In Tamale, Volunteers will be staying at a standard Ghanaian volunteer homestay managed by the local program coordinator. In case space is not available in the volunteer home, you will be accommodated with a Ghanaian Host family. Accommodation is either provided in an individual or shared room along with other volunteer.

In Accra, volunteers are provided accommodation in the volunteer house with other volunteers or in a host family depending on the program choice.

In Axim, volunteers stay with other volunteers as well as local staff in the Volunteer & Staff Village! There are bungalows in the village, located by the side of the beach. You'll share a room with one to three other folks. The rooms are basic but you'll be provided with all necessities.

At all project locations, two meals a day are provided to the participants.
Are there more expenses once I arrive in Ghana?: Your program fee covers your accommodation, airport pick-up, orientation, pre-departure booklet and 24x7 in country staff support. You will need to cover your personal expenses, such as traveling, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing, return airport drop, weekend tours etc. You should carry around $50 - $60 per week for your basic personal expenses, such as water, local transport, phone etc.
Can vegetarians be accommodated?: Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can help ensure you are able to order the best food! Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
Where can I change my money in Ghana? Are there ATMs in Ghana?: On arrival in Accra, you can change your currency to Ghanaian Cedis (GHS) at the airport. There are many currency exchange counters at the airport. Also, there are ATMs available throughout the city. Mostly Visa and MasterCard are only accepted in some parts of Ghana.
When do I need to arrive in Ghana for my program? What will happen once I arrive in Ghana?: All volunteers need to arrive in Ghana on the mentioned start dates. Volunteers are picked up from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra (ACC) by the in-country coordinator or representative.

In Accra, the accommodations are provided in a guesthouse or a hotel for a night and on the next day, volunteers take a flight to Tamale. Those who are arriving overland or are already in Ghana will be picked up at a meeting point decided beforehand.

After taking the short flight from Accra, you will be picked up from Tamale airport and taken to your accommodation by our team. You will be given an orientation about the city, placement, safety guidelines and transportation by the in-country coordinator. Depending on your time of arrival, you will be given a tour of the town and nearby amenities on the same day or the next day when you start your project.
How do I get to the program location?: Your country coordinator will take you to your placement and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program/city/culture etc. You will be given the directions to the project from your accommodation and will also be briefed on the mode of transport.
Would I have free time during my program ? Can I do sightseeing during my program?: Volunteers typically work for 5-6 hours in a day, for 5 days a week. However, depending on the workload every day, working hours can vary. Evenings are free for the volunteers and volunteers usually get together and go out for social gatherings, eat out or watch football games in Tamale stadium.

Weekends are free for the volunteers to explore the city. You can go for short weekend trips to Mole National Park, Monkey Sanctuary or Kintampo Falls.

We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the Add-on Tours section in your ‘My Account’. You in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in the country.

Flights and Visa

Does Volunteering Solutions help with Visa?: All participants joining the programs in Ghana need to apply for Visa at the nearest Ghana Embassy. Along with the Visa application, you need to attach the required supporting documents. Volunteers are provided with all the necessary supporting document for their Ghana Visa application. More information shall be provided after you enroll yourself for our programs.
What are the recommended airlines to fly to Ghana?: Kotoka International Airport in Accra has direct connections from North America and Europe. Delta Airlines, KLM Dutch Airlines, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, British Airways are some of the major airlines that have direct connections to Ghana.
How do I reach Tamale from Accra? Do I need to book a flight to Tamale?: Tamale is well connected to Accra having daily flights between the two cities. You need to book your flight to Accra and the connecting flight thereon from Accra to Tamale. Please get in touch with your program manager for more details.

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions Ghana alumni as well as other former and current volunteers?: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering">https://www.facebook.com/VolunteeringSolutions/">Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook">https://www.facebook.com/groups/volunteeringsolutions/">Facebook Group and connect with other participants and our team.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit ?thehttps://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/meet-a-volunteer">; Meet a Volunteer section on our website.