Travel, volunteering and teaching possibilities in Ghana, West Africa

  Ghana

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: anytime

Description: Jolinaiko offers various volunteering and "work and travel" arrangements. All based on mutual learning that has proven to be an extraordinary Africa experience for students, adventurous travellers and others interested in really getting to know our people and culture.

On a regular basis we have received requests from people who are willing to combine their travelling with voluntary work. Therefore we started this new initiative in order to contribute to the development of our country and to stimulate the aspect of mutual learning.

Depending on your interests, educational background and working experience, a suitable placement and accommodation can be organised. For example: recently a social work student was placed within an AIDS project in the Upper West Region and there are available vacancies at the School for the Deaf, Day Nursery and the Computer Unit of the Secondary School in Kibi in the Eastern Region. In the Volta Region, volunteers did teaching projects in the local primary and junior secondary school, and a volunteer worked in the school for mentally challenged children in Battor.

Amongst other projects, at the moment we are looking for volunteers for different projects in Aveyime, Battor and the surrounding area. Aveyime and Battor are small towns on the green banks of the Volta River in the southeastern part of the Volta Region. It is very quiet, surrounded by nature, ricefields and pineapple plantations. Aveyime and Battor can be reached from Accra in about one and a half hour by car. In both towns everything you need is available.

Aveyime, Volta Region

In Aveyime we have the following volunteering vacancies:
- Teaching in the local primary and/or junior secondary school;
- Running of the local village library, set up by former volunteers;

Battor, Volta Region

In Battor/Manya we have available:
- Volunteer opportunity in the school for mentally handicapped children;

In Battor we have available:
- Volunteering opportunities in the Battor local hospital, for medically educated volunteers;
- Volunteering opportunity in the computer room of the secondary school;

Atsiekpoe, Volta Region

In Atsiekpoe we have available:
- Teaching in the local primary of junior secondary school;

Atsiekpoe is a little village on the opposite side of the river from Aveyime. To get to Atsiekpoe from Aveyime, you need to cross the river by local ferry-canoe. The village itself is small-scale, consists largely of mudbrick houses, and has a community square and a fairly large school. At the moment there is no electricity yet (although funds are being raised by the village itself for that), and water is coming from boreholes. Accomodation for volunteers in the school in Atsiekpoe will be provided in Aveyime. You can take the canoe over the river every day.

Interest and motivation are more important than formal qualifications and work experiences to have a successful experience.

Highlights: Jolinaiko Eco Tours is a small company offering small-scale adventure and culture tours through Ghana, Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso with related services. Jolinaiko Eco Tours started in 1999 with the wish to share the interest and the curiosity in their region West Africa with others.

Our goal is to let you experience the culture and meet the people of West Africa and to understand what the region is really about. Jolinaiko Eco Tours brings you close to the people, close to their local life style in a way that is in harmony with both parties. Jolinaiko Eco Tours tries to use local services as much as possible in order to contribute to the development of the local people.

Jolinaiko Eco Tours is very flexible. You have your own say in the way you want to travel and what you want to experience (cultural heritage, nature and wild life, music and dancing etc.). In every tour we adapt our means of transportation, accommodation and food to your own interests, background and budget. Jolinaiko is experienced in organising from one-day trips to fully arranged three weeks tours. We also advise people with planning biking trips through Ghana and organize introduction tours for people who are going to work here (either voluntarily or professionally) for a longer period of time.

Qualifications: Interest and motivation are more important than formal qualifications and work experiences to have a successful experience.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: 400 plus 140 per month

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: The volunteers we had so far were in the age range of 24 to 28, mostly solo or duo travelling female, staying 2 to 4 months on the volunteering/teaching project. After that, most of them travelled for a few weeks through Ghana. Backgrounds vary from various students, medical, educational and social background/education.

Age Range: 20-40

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Ghana Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

Jolinaiko Eco Tours's Mission Statement: Jolinaiko Eco Tours seeks to be the key for visitors to experience the culture and meet the people of West Africa and to understand what the region is really about. Jolinaiko Eco Tours brings their visitors close to the people, close to their local life style in a way, that is in harmony with both parties. A challenging offer is our "work and travel" arrangement. An initiative based on mutual learning that has proven to be an extraordinary Africa experience for students, adventurous travellers and others interested in really getting to know our people and culture.

Year Founded: 2005