Program Reviews

It was a huge human experience for me, I enjoyed my trip and lived an incredible adventure. It took me a while to find a good volunteering organisation and I am so glad I found this one.
The best part of the trip was clearly meeting amazing people from Ghana and from all over the world. The landscapes are also breathtaking and meeting local people in their environement, learning from them et their culture was a blessing. I don't know if the work I did over there will really be useful in the futur but overall it was a life changing experience thanks to the people.

Where do I start. There are so many areas of this project which are amazing. I was quite nervous about travelling alone for the first time, but as soon as I was introduced to everyone I knew I would be ok. I felt that I was really lucky at the time I arrived, as there was an amazing group of people already in Abetifi. This made it really easy to adjust. I hadn't really planned on doing a lot of teaching when I first arrived, but it is hard not to when you see the impact that Atlas has.

A huge positive to Atlas is the amount of flexibility. Whilst I had applied for the Football academy, I was also given the opportunity to try almost every project. This was great as it meant that I could say that I tried everything. It was also great how flexible everyone was regarding trips and excursions, as we had the opportunity to travel to other parts of Ghana.

Everyone involved in the organisation is very friendly and helpful. If there are any issues that arise, or if there is anything that you are not sure about, then there is always someone that you can ask, either at the house or by phone. I didn't really know what to expect when I arrived regarding the safety of the place, but I can truly say that I did not have a moment where I was worried about my personal safety or my belongings.

I only stayed at the project for 5 weeks which was not nearly long enough, but in this time it allowed me to experience what life is like for people in Ghana, as well as build relationships with people I would otherwise not have met, and that I will keep in touch with for many years to come.

It was already my second time with Atlas in Ghana and it does feel like a second home for me.
I would definitly recommend staying there as long as possible. Because the longer I was there, the better I was able to understand and appreciate all the things that were so new at the begining and that had perhaps also scared me a little.
The second time was not as adventurous as the first time, but I think you have a bigger impact the longer you are there.
I was able to get to know the children a lot better and I hope I was able to help more.
Also I think that it is super intresting to have a completly diffrent erveryday life.
I felt super safe especially with the team who are always there to support you no matter what.
I have realized how much less I can live with and most importantly how much less I can be happy with. Nevertheless, I was glad when I had my washing machine back :)
I really can not do more than recommend it. So that the projects can continue and maybe you can help a little bit.

Everyone has a different reason for coming to Ghana. Honestly, mine was to help myself and to get over some things in my life - I expected that will do some work, and that will keep my mind busy, but I got so much more than that.

I experienced an entirely new culture, met some amazing people, had some great nightouts, took part in the Easter celebrations, visited the western rainforest, travelled through the country, spent some time in the capital, made some friends, had some great conversations, all in the span of two months. I can't recommend this organisation enough, Atlas made sure that we have a safe, fun and meaningful experience, that we wilI never forget as long as we live.

The volunteer house was spacious and comfortable, with running water, electricity and internet, which are all luxuries in Ghana. I lived with some great people, we cooked for each other, had movie nights, learned some of the local language, played games together, and enjoyed everything that Ghana could offer. The coordinators helped us to get to know the area, buy everything we needed, helped to start our projects, find the right people, spoke to the authorities whenever it needed, and generally made our lives a lot easier.

If you are looking for a sign to go to Ghana, this is it. I went there as a 30 year old guy from Hungary who has never volunteered before, and I had a lot of fun, it quite literally made me want to live again. The entire traveling procedure took less than three weeks for me, and I had a smooth flight.

Take some time off. Apply. Pack your things. Go. Yes, it's that simple. It's a trip you'll never forget.

I had a very great first volunteering experience during 4 months at Atlas Volunteers. People are very nice and the connection with the local schools is great ! People in the area are nice and respectful, it is simple to talk with them as most of the people speak english. The spot we are housed is perfect and very clean, located in the mountains area it is an absolutly pretty place and also not too warm wich is very appreciable. I really recommande to go their if you want to have an affordable education volunteering experience abroad !

I visited Atlas volunteers between early December to mid February. I honestly feel really lucky to have found this Organization and this feeling has increased since seeing other volunteer organisations around Ghana. It is virtually all I could’ve asked for when I envisaged coming to volunteer in Ghana. The Organization is run by a group of humble, real people and this just results in a much more happy and interesting stay partly through the conversations you have. There is absolutely no sense of it being a big business.
I took part at school and at the football academy. The football academy is brilliant in giving kids something to do after school and just providing them with a meaningful fun activity teaching them lessons on and off the pitch. I played in some local football games with the academy and they will be some of my best memories of this trip.
The teaching is obviously not as easy as this. You can imagine it being an idyllic time with lots of happy kids, as it can be, however it also comes with challenges. I recommend you come with some ideas of how to teach young children in order to give you the best chance of having an impact. Given the severe lack of resources, it would be really beneficial for both you and the kids to have some lesson ideas. Having said that you do not categorically need to teacher experience, as long as you come with confidence and energy you will find your feet. I will 100% return to the school I was at. You create real bonds with the kids and there persistent joy is lovely to be around. I couldn’t recommend this place more. It is a top place to volunteer for in Ghana and a time I won’t forget.

My time in Ghana with Atlas was incredibly nice and I would recommend such a trip to anyone.
I was there for three months and the time passed far too quickly.
I applied to teach, but I also helped on other projects.
Not all volunteers work at the same school. This means there is always something to do at your school and you can get involved very well. In the beginning I had some time to get used to everything before I started teaching.
For the weekends you could always plan small trips with other volunteers.
If you wanted to go on a trip a little longer, it was no problem to have a day or two off.
Atlas always gave me recommendations for excursions and also helped to organize them.
The weekends on wich I didn't travel weren't boring either. There is a large lake nearby, where you can swim or you can just go to Abitifi to spend a nice evening at the bar.
The house had a wonderful terrace from which you had a beautiful view.
Compared to the rest of the country, it wasn't that hot in our area. Pepease (the village in which you live) and the entire area feels super safe and it felt very like home.
The atmosphere within the organization was familiar and super relaxed. During my stay, I always had the feeling that Atlas is committed to you and your ideas. No matter what idea you had, Atlas was always ready to support you. You can tell that the team really wants to have an impact on the country and the people.
The only thing I missed during my stay was chocolate and coffee. But I was able to enjoy delicious Ghanaian food.
All in all, it was one of the best experiences of my life to take part in this project.

If you come to volunteer in Ghana with Atlas you can expect one of the best experiences of your life. You will meet the poorest yet happiest people you have ever meet. You will be received everywhere with a smile and you can expect being welcomed every morning by the kids at school with hugs and huge smiles. Having friendly farmers as neighbours. The house was good conditions, you would miss anything. Wi-fi, Shower, Toilets, Bed,Kitchen, Birds singing in the morning and the most beautiful view from the balcony. On weekends we explored Ghana: Cape Coast, Accra, Lake Volta or chilled at home. I always felt safe, day or night. The food is amazing, I was vegan during the whole experience and it was so easy. Drinkable water is cheap and good. You can get a big delicious meal on the way to school for 5 cedis. The team is super friendly and genuine. If you are looking for a genuine volunteer program in Central Africa, Atlas is the best. During my weekend away trips in Ghana I got to meet other volunteers in other organisations and realised Atlas really is special with the close help they give in school, football academy and housing. They are a really great volunteer organisation.

I had a wonderful time in Ghana and I wish I could've stayed longer. The Atlas staff members are super nice and supportive all the time. If you have any issues before the arrival, they answer your e-mails super fast and on site they will help you with arranging your weekend trips, planning the lessons and everything else you may need assistance with.
Working with the kids was so much fun, they are passionate to learn, especially when you show them new teaching methods such as quizzes to repeat what they learned in the lesson. Especially during the vacation classes you are very flexible in what you teach and how, so that you feel comfortable with what you do. Also it helps a lot that you just observe and support other volunteers on your first days, that way you can settle in, see how the placement works, how the school situation is (it's very different to western school systems) and get some input on how you could organize your classes.
The tree planting placement includes growing seedlings and then planting them in public space such as schools. You work together with other volunteers and support staff so that it gets a fun way to do something good for our climate.
The volunteer houses are located really nice in the rural area, you have a big garden and a wonderful nature view. The villages and small towns around are not too overwhelming and after a few days you will get more and more comfortable with shopping, grabbing delicious local food and going out in the evening. The people are super friendly and welcoming.
In your free time you can explore the region around Pepease, spend time with your fellow volunteers or take part in other volunteering programs such as ecobricking. During the weekends you can always go on trips to see more of the country, it has so much to offer. The landscapes are beautiful and this way you will learn more about the culture.
All in all it was a precious experience and I was more than happy to work with Atlas Volunteers.

Atlas Volunteers provides you the resources and opportunities to create an experience of a lifetime! I cannot stop telling all my friends and family about how truly amazing this experience has been. It offers full immersion into the local culture with the opportunity to create an impact in whichever way you would like. As a volunteer at the school placement sites, I was able to teach independently and implement my own lesson plans to engage students in new learning strategies.

Not only that, but I had the opportunity to collaborate and teach side-by-side with the wonderful Ghanaian teachers at the school site. As a school teacher in the United States, I was able to implement my own teaching strategies AND learn so much from the Ghanaian teachers and students.

I think the BEST part about Atlas is that they offer you the flexibility to pursue whichever project/program you would like. There is plenty of flexibility and NUMEROUS ways to achieve impact here. The staff within Atlas, as well as the local staff at schools, is very supportive of allowing volunteers to implement special projects/programs during and after school. For those who may not have a clear vision of what they would want to do, there are still many ongoing projects to choose from! Sam, Frank, Gem, and the rest of the Atlas staff are extremely helpful and supportive in making sure each volunteer is comfortable at their placement site. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure you are able to create an impact in the way you would like! I can only sing praises of how wonderful, meaningful, and authentic my overall experience in Ghana with Atlas Volunteers has been. You will not regret the decision to join Atlas Volunteers!