Fit and active volunteers who are keen to get stuck in with a range of farming tasks, including some that can be physically demanding. No prior knowledge of farming is required but volunteers with farm experience may be able to assist in developing the project and teaching new techniques to locals.

Project details

Interested in getting your hands dirty as an Agriculture volunteer in Ghana? International Volunteer HQ’s Agriculture project aims to be a sustainable food provider for IVHQ’s Childcare volunteer placements in the region. Volunteers will gain experience in agriculture and animal husbandry while helping local farmers provide food and resources for disadvantaged children in their communities.

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Food can be scarce for those in low-income communities in Ghana, and there is much to be gained by having it grown by local agriculturists. Volunteers can be a great help to farmers who need extra pairs of hands to scale their production and make their operations more efficient and sustainable. The focus of this project is to address the difficulties facing IVHQ’s Childcare projects in terms of providing a sustainable food source for the children. To support the placements where our Childcare volunteers work, the produce grown through the Agriculture project is donated to supplement the children’s diet.

As an Agriculture volunteer your tasks will depend on the season and your exact placement, which will be determined based on the needs of the local community. You should expect volunteer work to be physical and labor intensive. More experienced volunteers may be able to assist in developing the project and teaching new techniques to locals, helping them to farm their crops and animals more effectively.

Farming volunteer work usually involves:

Helping with crops including corn, eggplants, capsicums and palms
Farming animals like pigs, rabbits, goats and chickens
Clearing and developing land for crops
Fertilizing, planting and nurturing crops
Teaching farming techniques to locals
Fencing
Assisting with purchasing, moving and caring for stock

Work on the Agriculture project usually stops during the hottest period of the day. During the break you are able to help with other projects if you like.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

As job losses escalate as a result of Covid-19, it is estimated that nearly half of the global workforce is at risk of losing their livelihoods. We must improve access to jobs, decent work conditions and community services in order to achieve peace, sustainable economic growth and a better quality of life for all.

Why do Agriculture volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ?

As an Agriculture volunteer in Ghana you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

Improving food security for young children
Providing much-need help to local farmers
Supporting sustainable farming practices
Developing your communication skills
Gaining agriculture experience
Immersing yourself fully in the Ghanian culture
Experiencing life outside the main cities of Ghana

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?

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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

IVHQ Agriculture project

IVHQ Medical project

Construction and Renovation Volunteer in Ghana

IVHQ Construction and Renovation project

IVHQ Medical Outreach project

IVHQ Teaching English project

IVHQ Childcare project

Volunteers pose with the local children on the IVHQ Ghana Childcare project

IVHQ Childcare project

What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

Abigail Adamu - Alamba

26 Sep 2024

Reflecting on my experience as a volunteer in Ghana, this experience has strengthened my adaptability, teamwork and communication skills, in new environments and has deepened my sense of empathy towards others. For anyone thinking of embarking on a trip like this, I would recommend that you embrace the unknown and stay open to partaking in various opportunities that would definitely add to your growth as an individual. I had the best time in Ghana, and this trip is definitely a highlight of my 2024, so far.

...

Peyton Cattoor

18 Sep 2024

This experience showed me the true reason I want to be a doctor. Healthcare outreach has always been important to me, but going to Ghana shed a whole new light on this. I realized how important it is go out into under-served communities to offer healthcare to those in need. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full health potential, and even the smallest acts can make a difference in someone's life.

Ghana left a lasting impact on me. I learned so much and left with so many life lessons. This trip, despite only being a week long, truly changed my life! To anyone who is hesitant about doing a service trip, I would tell them that they will regret it if they don't go. I was hesitant, too, but after doing one, I am already looking at where I can go serve next. It is one of the best experiences you will ever have.

...

Zhenyu Wang

02 Aug 2024

I gained a more accurate world view of different circumstances in living conditions around the world. Advice I would give to future volunteers is: embrace the process and you will discover remarkable things.

...

Connie Williamson

08 May 2024

Do it! Volunteering is something I’ve always wanted to do and this experience didn’t disappoint. The integration between locals and the children was something I've not experienced, the love you feel is incredible. The joy you experience is something that is hard to find at home. Everyone on the local team was amazing, they helped us all, taught us lots of things, and went above and beyond. Everyone is so full of love and kindness you cannot not enjoy yourself, the volunteer work makes you feel as if you are making a difference, and the bonds and friendships you make you will carry with you forever.

...

Caleb Houser

21 Mar 2024

My Program Manager and the staff at IVHQ were more than helpful when it came to preparation. They were always available to answer my questions and provided me with so much information! I was nervous when I got to Ghana, however, as the days unfolded I developed tight bonds with fellow volunteers and locals, learned about a new culture, and made memories I still catch myself smiling over. By the time I left, I wasn’t going home - I was LEAVING home. Ghana left a monumental impact on me and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. To anyone who is thinking about joining this program, you’ll be in for a life changing experience if you do.

...

Nicolas Basse

29 Jan 2021

I spent 6 weeks in Ghana on the agriculture program. It was amazing, the placement is so chill, we lived like a real family with all the volunteers. I went to the farm every morning (except the weekend) and I have learnt so much with the farmer and the other volunteers. Then I taught in one of the schools, the children are so happy every time. Every weekend we traveled around Ghana. I know that it is really hard to leave and to decide to go abroad alone, but when you arrive everything becomes so simple.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

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 credit

Location

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, labor 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 traveling 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 socializing.

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 colors, 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.

Volunteer dining room in Ghana with IVHQ

Typical volunteer house dining room

Volunteers eating dinner in Ghana with IVHQ

Typical volunteer house dining room

IVHQ volunteer accommodation kitchen in Ghana

Typical volunteer house kitchen

IVHQ volunteer accommodation bedroom in Ghana

Typical volunteer bedroom

Volunteer accommodation bedroom in Ghana with IVHQ

Typical volunteer bedroom

Typical volunteer breakfast

Typical volunteer lunch

Typical volunteer dinner

Pricing

USD
- United States Dollars - $
- Australian Dollars - AU$
- Brazilian Reals - R$
- British Pound Sterling - £
- Canadian Dollars - CA$
- Chinese Yuan - CN¥
- Euros - €
- Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
- Mexican Pesos - MX$
- New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
- Singapore Dollars - SG$
- Swiss Francs - CHF
- UAE Dirhams - AED

Duration	Program Fee Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you. USD United States Dollars - $ Australian Dollars - AU$ Brazilian Reals - R$ British Pound Sterling - £ Canadian Dollars - CA$ Chinese Yuan - CN¥ Euros - € Hong Kong Dollars - HK$ Mexican Pesos - MX$ New Zealand Dollars - NZ$ Singapore Dollars - SG$ Swiss Francs - CHF UAE Dirhams - AED
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 CA$440) 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
Personalized 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.

CA$135

Extra Nights of Accommodation

Arriving early or departing a few days after your program finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.

From CA$61

View all add-ons & experiences

Check what's required to visit Ghana

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.

Learn more about IVHQ's safety

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.

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