Location
  • Ghana
    • Accra
    • Cape Coast
    • Kumasi
Length
1 to 52 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Age Max
70
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
85
Price Details
This price is for a 1 week stay with us. Some education placements require a 4 week minimum duration with us to ensure a high social impact and chance for you to experience a new way of life. The longer our volunteers join our program, the lower the program fees reduce - dropping down to $70 per week.

This weekly program fee covers your pre departure support, accommodation, utility bills, support staff and orientation day.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities
What's Not Included
Some Activities Airfare Airport Transfers Equipment Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa Wifi
Mar 27, 2024
May 02, 2024
22 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Atlas offers the lowest volunteering fees in Ghana and various volunteering placement types providing a high and meaningful social impact. Our projects are located around the Abetifi district which is based on top of the Kwahu mountain plateau and Akwidaa coastline.

The shared volunteer houses and surrounding rainforests offer breathtaking views. We focus our placements across Education, Sports Development, Renovation, Eco Protection and Sea Turtle Conservation.

Our placements run throughout the year and there's always a team of volunteers out with us, so you can plan when fits best with your schedule to join us. As previous volunteers in the local area we set this organisation up to remove the business element out of volunteering and work with the local community to assist in their development, one step at a time.

Ghana is often referred to as Africa for beginners and offers a safe, serene environment for your trip whilst experiencing new cultures and warm welcoming people.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Low Cost - Lowest available weekly fees in Ghana. Starting from only $65 per week.
  • Support Staff - A wide range of support staff will be on hand to answer any question you may have, from drivers to project coordinators.
  • Shared Housing - You will stay with your fellow volunteers in a shared volunteer house overlooking the rainforest - the perfect backdrop to create friends for life.
  • Sustainability - We work alongside the local communities in all our projects to ensure that our impact has a long and lasting affect.
  • Free Time - Weekends are free to travel the local waterfalls, national parks, safari and canopy walks.

Program Impact

You will be working directly alongside the local communities and authorities to provide assistance and further development where we can. Depending on your placement and area of focus we aim just a small travelling distance from some of the most remote communities off the beaten track. Projects and proposals are Ghanaian led to ensure that we are making as strong and relevant an impact as possible.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating
based on 80 reviews
  • 5 rating 97.5%
  • 4 rating 2.5%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.85
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 5
  • Value 4.95
  • Safety 5
Showing 57 - 64 of 80 reviews
Default avatar
Lia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fantastic Trip

Atlas is an incredible organization dedicated to helping Ghanaian kids in the Abetifi region of Ghana. So glad I had the opportunity to get involved with this group. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a way to travel that is safe, affordable and helps others. Sam, Libby and Frank were available for help or questions at all times both before and after arriving in Ghana. Meeting other volunteers from around the world was extremely eye opening and unexpected. The kids we got to know were sweet and always eager to learn. We never felt unsafe while travelling. All in all a great experience.

What was your funniest moment?
An adorable stray cat decided it loved us and wanted to live in the volunteer house. We named it Mogli.
60 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
D.
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Powerful smiles

Thank you Atlas Volunteer and thank you Ghana for all those contagious beautiful smiles that I was lucky to observe everyday. Kids and adults, locals and volunteers, friends and strangers, in Pepease and nearby towns, made me feel part of the community since the beginning. I feel very lucky to have found Atlas Volunteers - since the first moment we established contact, the coordinators were very helpful and prompt in their responses. While in Ghana, they were always ready to help in anyway we needed. From what I could observe, it is an organization that is very transparent and very focused on the social impacts in the communities. They know the area and the people around very well and that makes everything much easier and more reliable when it comes to starting and to continuing volunteer projects. I highly recommend Atlas to any person who is seriously thinking about a volunteer program in Ghana.

52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Teresa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A part of me belongs to Ghana!

My time in Ghana with Atlas was simply phenomenal! At every level.

Atlas is a group of beautiful people always ready to help every single volunteer and that I admire since day one. They are always concerned about our well being and making sure that things are going well. Receiving all this support from an organization that we don't really know (at first) in a totally new country made me feel very comfortable since the first day :)

They are also always ready to listen to our ideas and discuss them, so no need to be shy :)

Working with the children was very special, challenging but very special. They are so genuine and pure! They are kind, really worry about us and are very curious. The teachers are also very helpful and friendly and are always ready to understand how to improve their teaching skills (I found this super important). When in the school you get a lot of freedom on what to do. Therefore, you get the chance to talk with the teachers and really understand what subjects/topics they need help with. Easily you become friends with the teachers and everything gets easier.

Ghana is a wonderful country with so many beautiful things to see and places to go, a massive culture to discover, delicious food and more important than everything: lovely and kind people!

Safety was never an issue and travelling between places is also easy. Free time activities were also not a problem, we just have to be creative. There are many interesting things to do!

There are still many more things to say about this fantastic programme and about ATLAS but to sum up: I stayed in Ghana longer than what I was meant to and that was the best decision I made in the last couple of years ;)

Medase ATLAS!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go with the flow and try to embrace the Ghanaian way of living as much as you can :)
If you are going to work with children prepare yourself to be creative, it is quite challenging. I would say that creativity is something the kids and the teachers need. The kids learn better if they see new things and if they are thaught with creativity (they need to think out of the box). The teachers will also learn a lot because they will start to understand that there are many ways to teach a kid and get his attention besides just writing the topics on the board.

Enjoy :)
60 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Aaryn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Atlas Volunteers Review

In January 2019, I traveled to Ghana to partake in a 4 week volunteer program in the small rural community of Pepease, Kwahu.

Through this experience, I was able to create lifelong friendships and immerse myself into the Ghanaian lifestyle. I spent majority of the 4 weeks teaching in a small school in a nearby community and can genuinely say, that of all the things ever I've done, this was by far the most rewarding. The students welcomed me into their classroom with open arms, curiosity and excitement. We spent our time engaging in learning activities, playing games, creating artworks and enjoying every opportunity to learn grow from one another. I still maintain very regular contact with my beautiful teacher George and some of the other teachers who formed close bonds with me in the school.

This is by far one of the best organisations I’ve been associated with. The application process was easy to navigate and the overall organisation of the volunteer program was impeccable. I knew I was in good hands from the beginning as the team at Atlas provided me with all the information I needed and kept me constantly informed/updated in the lead up to the trip. The team provided accommodation, travel, airport pick up/drop off and even went as far as to help with any extra adventuring that myself and other team members took part in outside of the program. I am forever grateful to Atlas volunteers/The Bryan Acheampong Foundation for providing an opportunity I will never forget! I highly recommenced this to anyone thinking about giving it a go!!! I could not speak more highly of the professionalism and I recommend this to anyone thinking about giving it a go!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
You will get out of this as much as you put in! If you want to make the most of it and dive in/take hold of every opportunity that it offers, it will be one of the most mutually beneficial experiences you ever have. All the best things in life are on the other side of a little risk, uncomfortably and fear, so if you're on the edge but just can't decide, let this be your sign. GO FOR IT!! I dare ya.
49 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Aaryn thank you so much for this! I was so happy reading over your review and glad to see you had such a good time with us. Couldn't agree more with your point of advice for future volunteers! If there is anything at all you ever need please do get in touch at any point.
Speak soon,
Sam.

Default avatar
Claire-Estelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Authentic stay

Hi everyone !
I had the chance to stay 2 months at the volunteer house in Pepease.
I worked in Primary school for both vacation and regular school, and helped in Junior high school in Abetifi, and I just loved the experience!
Libby and Sam from Atlas are so supportive and made me confortable as soon as I arrived, and the atmosphere at the volunteer house is so friendly and convivial.
I enjoyed every trips around Ghana we have made during long weekends we had :)
Thank you for this great time in Ghana!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be open! As the ghanaian culture is very different from ours, and the way of life not the one we are use to coming from occidental countries, let's adopt an open spirit to enjoy the stay!
52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Dan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best time

I spent a total 5 weeks in the volunteer house - which was located in a small town called pepeasi. I was volunteering as a teacher and an assistant in a local clinic. Teaching took part in kotoso which was two town away from where we lived. Atlas were great as they arranged daily travel to and back from the placements, during the entire duration of my visit.

Staff and SAM, and Richmond were always available to answer any questions you may have. And willing to give advice / help you with anything.

The school was nice, with the best kids and and colleagues, all being very welcoming and helpful. Same goes for the clinic placement.

Overall I had an amazing time there, and am very grateful for all the experience I was able to endure on. If I could return I would, in a heartbeat.

The house itself is situated within a very safe area up in the mountains. It was very clean, and had running water & electricity ( which are very luxurious in Ghana).

Placements would usually start at 8 am. Ending at 3pm. And after which you’re free to do whatever you’d like. Weekends ofcourse are yours to spend how you see fit; whether thag be chilling at the house, swimming, or going to cape coast / safari parks.

You may find activities being slightly limited up near the house. However bigger cities such as Kumasi and Accra are close by, which has much more going out. Especially Accra which has many European activities around.

So really I’d recommend this programme, especially with Atlas.! As I had the best of times with them. So I’m sure you will too.

Cheers Atlas & Sam.

Dan

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Teaching itself. I was very worried, as I’ve never taught before. But the teachers in the school are so helpful. Always there to assist should you need it.

The kids are the best bunch to teach. So eager and willing to learn.
52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Laura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

This was my first experience of solo travel and I loved every minute. I was pretty hesitant at first but after speaking to a friend about his trip to Ghana I decided to give it a go and I’m so glad I did!

I didn't have any teaching experience but I was soon helped to plan and complete a lesson with the other volunteers. The children are always so happy and grateful to learn which makes you feel like you're really making an input. The project was really flexible and the work to holiday ratio was great for me.

In the free time in the weekdays the other volunteers and I would relax in the house, play card games and have a few drinks on the night. There’s also a beautiful waterfall nearby and the local town where you can go to. On the weekends we would go to different parts of Ghana to do the touristy parts, such as the canopy walk, the safari park, the slave castles and to the beach resorts.

The friendships I’ve formed through going to Ghana are amazing, because you spend a lot of time with each other and are often all experiencing a totally new environment, it creates such a close family like bond. Sam, the coordinator, is so helpful and supportive and puts you at ease straight away.

Ghana is a beautiful, friendly and mesmerising country, be prepared to fall in love with a lot of amazing people!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to try and really immerse yourself in the Ghanaian culture. Living in the house can be really fun and I made some really amazing friends who I had really good laughs with. I do wish I’d got a bit more into the culture though, mainly by going out more on the evenings and eating more local food, I could have definitely pushed myself more!
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emily
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ghana 2018

Amazing experience with atlas volunteers in 2018 Sam was great offering enough support but also the freedom to get the most out of the experience and learn for myself. Anyone wanting to volunteer in Ghana should consider contacting these guys.
The projects are well organised and you are welcomed into the community and feel like you are doing something worthwhile. There is also free time in the Afternoons and weekends to explore the local towns and further afield. I had the best time and I miss Ghana now I’m home. I will be returning and will use atlas volunteers without a doubt

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Arriving and the culture change. However 24 hours in and I was loving every minute
52 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers