Children's Homes

One of the major concerns in Ghana, as in many developing countries, is population growth. Both the government and NGOs have worked to establish orphanages to help give a home to children that have been abandoned or abused. ELI works with several different orphanages throughout Ghana, helping the often overworked staff to keep the facilities running. Orphanages rely on the assistance our volunteers can provide to insure that they can accept as many children as possible. Each orphanage houses anywhere between 20 and 100 abandoned children. All these children have come from poor families and many have suffered from malnutrition or neglect. The children thrive on the attention and love our volunteers can share with them. Volunteers don't necessarily need care giving experience; just energy, enthusiasm, an open mind and an open heart. Orphanages often operate with very limited resources; this requires a high level of creativity and flexibility on the part of the volunteer. Questions? Click here

See descriptions of projects in children's homes in Ghana here

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

Women

ELI works with several organizations throughout Ghana that work to empower women in the community. These organizations range from centers that assist women who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse to cooperatives that help women start and run their own businesses. Depending on their experience and education level, volunteers can assist with day-to-day activities and chores, or help with planning and implementing programs. Questions? Click here

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

Teaching

Schools in Ghana are extremely underfunded. Students often lack the most basic of school supplies, and teachers tend to be underpaid and overworked. ELI works with local schools throughout Ghana to help provide additional teachers to work in these schools. Volunteers may teach a variety of subjects, but are primarily useful for their English speaking skills. Students benefit greatly from volunteers who can bring a variety of perspectives to the classroom. This placement does not require teaching experience, though it may be helpful. Successful volunteers are highly motivated and very flexible. Questions? Click here

See descriptions of teaching projects in Ghana here

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

Health

Throughout Ghana, as in much of Africa, there is a severe lack of funding for medical equipment and personnel. ELI works with clinics and hospitals throughout the country which provide care primarily toward high-need communities. Volunteers shadow and assist doctors providing general medical care in mostly rural environments.

Swedru Government Hospital

As a government Hospital this is a large institution that handles a wide variety of acute and public health issues for the public and National Health Insurance Scheme. It was originally a municipal clinic that has grown to provide the needed services of a hospital more out of the desperate need then the actual expansion of services or capacity. This government hospital serves all of the communities in the Agona municipality and can be quite busy. It is a great place for interns and volunteers to see a wide variety of medical issues acute and chronic and become well versed in the treatments for malaria.

Tamale West Hospital

The hospital serves the people of tamale and its environs with a population of not less than 399,359. It is a 24 hours service provision facility. The hospital serves as a referral center for tamale metro sub-district health centers. The hospital has seven (7) functional wards: Men’s ward, Women’s ward, Maternity ward, Labor ward, Children's ward, Surgical ward, Emergency ward. Questions? Click here

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

Conservation

The entire continent of Africa has a wealth of biological diversity and Ghana is no exception. Our brand new programs allow volunteers and interns the opportunity to get involved in aiding the preservation of this biodiversity in a variety of different ways throughout the country. 

Juaso Project

The Juaso Project is a conservation project in the forest designed to develop community based eco-tourism in the region, with a view toward helping the community to conserve the forest and reduce destruction by illegal mining, timber operations and the cutting down the trees for firewood.

The forest is located at Akim Juaso in the Eastern Region. It is an upland evergreen forest with hills and valleys drained by two streams Subri and Kyeboa. In terms of Biodiversity, the land is rich in fauna such as birds, primates, and butterflies as well as unique floral species like trees ferns, liens, economic timber tress and medicinal plants. Questions? Click here

Afadjato Agumatasa Project

The Afadjato Agumatasa Project was initiated by the local community in 1998 and is funded by the Dutch Government.  This project is run in conjunction with the Ghana Wildlife Society with the goal of conserving the natural resources at Mount Afadjato for the social and economic benefit of the local communities. This can be achieved by creating alternative methods of generating income and managing the sustainable use of the conservation area. One key way to create new income is to encourage eco-tourism to the area.

The area is designated as a community nature reserve. It is prohibited to hunt, to log or to farm in the area. Dead wood is the only thing that can to be removed from the area as long as it is not for commercial use. The project employs a number of rangers to patrol the area to protect it.

This is a long-term project so volunteers work on part of the overall plan while they are there.  This means that it is not possible to determine EXACTLY what tasks volunteers will be given in advance of their arrival.  Group work will be discussed once they are at the project and participants will be given a planned schedule of what needs to be achieved at that time.

Kazigo Reforestation Project

The Kazigo Reforestation Project is an indigenous, environmentally focused project which started about 20 years ago. It is a multispecies a variety of different tree species that are being nursed and planted yearly throughout the region. The project uses indigenous knowledge and resources in the implementation process. Most of the seeds nursed and planted are of indigenous species. The Kizugu community is focused on decreasing deforestation (as a result of bush burning among and other factors), through education and tree planting.

The primary activities volunteers will assist with are the nursing and transplanting of seedlings. Questions? Click here

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

Construction

Sometimes the most helpful way to volunteer is to simply be an additional hand for the people already actively working in the field. Volunteer projects in construction offer participants the opportunity to tangibly see the results of their labors as they assist with the actual building process. Participants aid skilled contractors and builders to build schools, orphanages, or community centers throughout Ghana. No prior construction experience is required, although it may be helpful. Participants must be in good physical shape. Questions? Click here

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

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Application Fee: $200
The application fee is a separate administrative charge for all programs. It does not apply to the program fee. (Please see our application fee refund policy here

Credit card payments: Payment by credit card will be assessed a 3.5% surcharge. This is the fee that we will be charged for the transaction. Contact us about alternative forms of payment.

Programs may last up to one year. Each additional two weeks costs $135.

Program Includes:

*Pre-departure Information
*Airport Pickup
*4 Day Orientation
*Accommodation
*Breakfast During the Orientation
*Breakfast and Dinner With the Host Family
*24/7 In-country Support

Program Does Not Include:

*Round Trip Airfare
*Return Trip to Airport
*Required Travel and Medical Insurance
*Travel Within Ghana
*Visa Fees

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After you fill out the Application Form on our website, our Application Advisor will be in touch to help you with the next steps.

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