Getting to play with the children and make their day were my favourite moments from the entire experience. Living with no running water, power cuts and bucket showers pushed me outside my comfort zone - I did not think it would be easy, but it was an amazing experience! I urge people to go in with an open mind and give it time! On my first day, I was debating on going back to the airport and leaving but after pushing through, it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.
Construction and Renovation Volunteer Project in Ghana - Accra Region
Purpose
Improve infrastructure for the local community
Start dates
Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
Duration
Choose from 1-24 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 5 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Accommodation
Volunteer house
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Volunteers with a good level of physical fitness who are willing to help out wherever it is most needed. No construction experience is necessary to volunteer on this project as you’ll work closely with the local team.
Project details
Handy with a hammer and want to get stuck into Construction and Renovation volunteering in Ghana? International Volunteer HQ’s Construction and Renovation project is a great way for volunteers to gain building experience while improving the infrastructure in rural towns. Volunteers work alongside locals to build, repair and upgrade clinics, community centres, toilet facilities and schools to make them safer, healthier and more functional for the people who use them.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Helping to build and renovate infrastructure is a tangible way to help local communities. By volunteering alongside locals to improve facilities in rural townships, you know you’ll be making a lasting impact for years to come.
As a Construction and Renovation volunteer you’ll follow local priorities and help build or upgrade the facilities of a range of community services. Volunteer work varies depending on placements, but can include:
- Painting
- Brick laying
- Plastering
- Digging
- Block shaping
- Carpentry
- Steel bending
- Mortar mixing
Volunteering hours are in the morning and evening, to avoid the hottest part of the day. You can supplement your time by contributing to other projects between shifts if you like.
Volunteers should bring a flashlight, a lightweight scarf for sun protection, a hat, insect repellent, gloves, working boots and water bottle.
Why do Construction and Renovation volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ?
As a volunteer builder in Ghana you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Helping develop community infrastructure
- Supporting locally-driven initiatives
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining construction and renovation experience
- Immersing yourself fully in the Ghanian way of life
- Exploring Ghana’s rural communities
Volunteer requirements
Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.
All volunteers are required to pre-arrange a visa to enter Ghana, obtain adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide IVHQ with a criminal background before departure.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Ghana photo gallery
IVHQ Childcare project
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IVHQ Medical project
IVHQ Construction and Renovation project
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IVHQ Teaching English project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Childcare project
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
NC
Nicholas Cohen
14 Jun 2023
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SM
Sabrina Mogollon
09 May 2023
The IVHQ staff was very helpful in answering any questions and concerns I may have had before the trip. The local team was also great and made me feel very comfortable during my stay. I felt as if they really cared about our well-being and experience during my time there. I felt very prepared going into the program due to all the information that I was given. I would encourage volunteers to just push yourself and it will be worth it. Its normal to be hesitant about something so foreign and unknown, but it when the most self growth is made.
...
MB
Martin Brindley
24 Mar 2023
The local team were really friendly and helpful and the accommodation was better than expected. There was always plenty of tasty food to eat. This program was a very rewarding and safe way to experience a new country.
...
LH
Louise Hagman
13 Sep 2022
One of my favourite moments was dancing with the local staff, volunteers and children. I found it very impactful to gain insights from experiencing another culture.
...
JC
Julien Comeau
01 Sep 2021
At my age of 75, I just spent an extraordinary 3 weeks in Ghana with 9 outstanding young adults from around the world. It was the most incredible and rewarding trip in my 50 years of traveling. Volunteering is for anyone with an open mind and a desire for adventure. I strongly recommend it for capable seniors and retirees who can spend a few weeks helping in a community in need of assistance. There is no age limit to volunteering… There is no limit to giving. I have found the road to a fulfilling retirement.
...
KC
Killian Coghlan
28 Jul 2021
My favorite moments were meeting new people from all over the world, and feeling like we were actually able to help the local people.
...
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditLocation
Location
When you volunteer in Ghana with IVHQ, you’ll get the opportunity to experience the country’s vibrant, diverse culture and get to know the people who are said to be some of the friendliest locals in Western Africa. While Ghana is a rapidly developing country which has seen an economic upturn in the last decade, there are still many places where people face the challenges poverty brings. This is especially true outside of the major cities in the rural areas where volunteers are most needed.
Rural volunteer placements are typically in low-income areas which often lack the funding, labour and resources they need to develop their communities. By choosing to volunteer in Ghana you can make a real difference by assisting with local initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life for the people who live there.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month, or just on the 15th of every month for those taking part in the Healthcare Outreach & Education project. Volunteers need to arrive in Accra on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Accra. Please note that you will stay in Accra city for one night, unless it is the weekend, in which case you will stay in the city until Monday morning. Once you have completed your orientation, you will move to a rural community in the greater Accra region where you will be placed for the remainder of your stay. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are travelling in Ghana prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at a prearranged location in Accra on the day before your program orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our local team in Accra and begins on the morning of your chosen start date. This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program Ghana – an introduction to Ghana, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.
After orientation you will be taken to your placement in a rural Ghanian community.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On the first day of volunteering, volunteers will be escorted to their placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff they will be working with. A typical daily schedule would be as follows:
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house. |
| 8:00 AM | Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break. |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Work at the project usually ends and you are free to relax and use the remainder of the day as you wish. |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. |
Please note this schedule can vary depending on your project and placement.
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to discover the brilliant colours, music, food, fashion, history and nature that combine to make Ghana a true feast for the senses. Head to the capital city of Accra to see markets, museums and live music, or take a trip to Cape Coast and Elmina where you’ll find the Elmina Slave Castle - the first trading post built South of the Sahara - and pretty, palm-lined beaches where you can relax in the sun. You can also spend long weekends visiting other Western African countries like the neighbouring nations of Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.
Looking for more ideas of things to do in Ghana? Check out our Ghana Travel & Tours page!
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll stay in a volunteer house with other volunteers. There are separate rooms for male and female volunteers with shared common room and toilet facilities. Living is basic but the majority of volunteer houses have electricity, while only few have running water. Power cuts are common in Ghana and most rural houses do not have running water during times of drought. Pillows and sheets are provided, however it is recommended that you bring your own towels and mosquito nets - or buy them in Ghana.
There is WiFi access available at local cafes and restaurants in a nearby village, which is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the volunteer accommodation. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.
Meals
Volunteers in Ghana are served three meals per day. Breakfast generally consists of tea and coffee, and a hot breakfast. A typical lunch and dinner can include meat and vegetables with rice or noodles. If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you.
Typical volunteer house dining room
Typical volunteer house dining room
Typical volunteer house kitchen
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer bedroom
Typical volunteer breakfast
Typical volunteer lunch
Typical volunteer dinner
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$299 (approximately AU$483), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately AU$483) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $459 Equivalent to $66/day |
| 2 weeks | $712 Equivalent to $51/day |
| 3 weeks | $921 Equivalent to $44/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,130 Equivalent to $40/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,339 Equivalent to $38/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,548 Equivalent to $37/day |
| 8 weeks | $2,026 Equivalent to $36/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,504 Equivalent to $36/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,994 Equivalent to $36/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,998 Equivalent to $36/day |
| 20 weeks | $5,002 Equivalent to $36/day |
| 24 weeks | $6,006 Equivalent to $36/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately AU$483) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Ghana generally find US$50 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including water, toilet paper, transport and miscellaneous spending.
- Meals
- Airport pick-up
- Transportation to and from placement
- US$69 per week to cover the additional supervision, materials and logistics involved in your project
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Return airport transfer when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Ghana
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Ghana program.
Airport Drop-off
Enjoy a stress free ride from the volunteer accommodation back to Kotoka International Airport arranged by our local team.
AU$148
Extra Nights of Accommodation
Arriving early or departing a few days after your program finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.
From AU$67
Check what's required to visit Ghana
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | Accra |
| Population | 30.42 million |
| Languages | English |
| Currency | Ghanian Cedi (GHS) |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 |
Weather and climate
Weather and climate: Ghana has a tropical climate and the average temperature falls between 21°C to 28°C (70°F to 82°F). In the north, there is a rainy season from April to June and September to November. The rainy season in the south lasts from April to mid-November. The weather is typically humid however, over the dry season, desert winds in the north can create cooler evenings and a drier atmosphere.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
