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.
Teaching English Volunteer Project in Ghana - Accra Region
Purpose
Improve access to quality education
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:
Patient volunteers who speak fluent English and are interested in education and making a difference to local students.
Project details
Dreaming of Teaching English in Ghana? International Volunteer HQ’s Teaching English project is a great opportunity for volunteers to help with lessons in schools in rural Ghana. A shortage of teachers in these areas means even in a country where English is spoken, there are often few quality learning opportunities for students outside the main cities. Native and fluent English speakers bring a high level of expertise which can make a huge difference to the learning ability of students.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Although Ghana is officially an English-speaking country, under-resourcing means school children often don’t have the best opportunities to learn the language. Volunteers who can speak English fluently can provide assistance and guidance that can help boost the quality of education especially for disadvantaged students in rural areas.
Teaching English volunteers will be based in schools in rural communities, either teaching solo or assisting local teachers. Duties often include:
- Teaching English
- Tutoring students
- Teaching music, math, geography and arts
- Lesson planning
You are welcome to bring your own resources to assist with these lessons.
Please note the school year is broken up into three terms, with four week breaks in between. Because volunteers assist children in schools, if you apply for the Teaching project during these holiday breaks, it will be unavailable. During these times, you can instead work with school directors and placement staff on school holiday workshops. These often include fun and physical activities that you will be able to lead in English.
Why do Teaching English volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ?
Why volunteer to Teach English in Ghana with IVHQ? As a volunteer English teacher in Ghana you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving the quality of English language education in rural Ghana
- Helping students in a range of school subjects
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining teaching experience
- Immersing yourself in the Ghanian way of life
- Exploring beautiful Western Africa
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
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IVHQ Medical Outreach project
IVHQ Teaching English project
IVHQ Childcare project
IVHQ Childcare project
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
CW
Connie Williamson
08 May 2024
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MP
Megan Palmer
25 May 2023
Take the leap and do it; you will not regret it. It is so amazing to be able to immerse yourself in a different culture, build on yourself as a person, and be able to help others in the process. The people in the community were so amazing.
...
JH
Jacob Hamaker
09 May 2023
My experience on this program was amazing, as I was able to work with Children in the morning and then assist on the medical outreach project in the afternoon. My trip confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, especially in regards to global health. One of the greatest experiences of my life!
...
AP
Alina Palmer
26 Apr 2023
I have volunteered with IVHQ once before and I really enjoyed everything about it, so I decided to volunteer with them again. I was very thankful for the quick and helpful response I got for every question I asked my IVHQ Program Manager!
Everyone was amazing, kind and always there to help with anything we needed! I never once felt like I couldn't ask for anything! I absolutely loved the food the two cooks prepared for us! Being a vegetarian, I wasn't sure whether that would be a problem but the cooks instantly adapted and always made a vegetarian version for me! For that I am very thankful! The food in general was also very good and they even prepared us some local meals, which was amazing!
I loved so many moments, as they were all unique and beautiful! For me, just being around the kids and locals and making new friends there must be my favorite moments. The volunteering trip reminded me about the things that are truly important in life and that there is still so much in the world that is unfair. However, it also showed me, that no matter how small the impact is that one makes to make the world a better place, it is always worth it!
It is a very special experience and the memories you make will stay with you for a lifetime.
...
JJ
Jorja Jansen
24 Mar 2023
The local team was absolutely awesome!! They were so welcoming and really made my experience great - accommodation was great also! Meals were perfect with more than enough food and all of it was fantastic!! The trip made me really reconsider what i take for granted.
...
TB
Thomas Barratt
02 Sep 2022
My favorite moment from the volunteer experience was witnessing the delivery of a baby girl with no complications. This trip has pushed me to pursue a career that I was too scared to commit to! Taking the plunge is one of the scariest but greatest experiences I’ve ever had in my life and I would encourage everyone to push themselves out of their comfort zone.
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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 creditRecommended online TEFL course
Recommended online TEFL course
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified onlineLocation
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.
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 $299), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately $299) 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 | $390 Equivalent to $56/day |
| 2 weeks | $574 Equivalent to $41/day |
| 3 weeks | $714 Equivalent to $34/day |
| 4 weeks | $854 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 5 weeks | $994 Equivalent to $28/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,134 Equivalent to $27/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,474 Equivalent to $26/day |
| 10 weeks | $1,814 Equivalent to $26/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,166 Equivalent to $26/day |
| 16 weeks | $2,894 Equivalent to $26/day |
| 20 weeks | $3,622 Equivalent to $26/day |
| 24 weeks | $4,350 Equivalent to $26/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately $299) 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
- 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.
$92
Extra Nights of Accommodation
Arriving early or departing a few days after your program finished? Book your extra nights of accommodation.
From $42
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!
