Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Ghana from $270

I came to Ghana as a medical student on my Christmas break from med school. It was an amazing experience! Being able to go out to the communities to treat various wounds and test for and treat patients with malaria was extremely satisfying! The local team (Joe and Millie and everybody) are great and always very helpful. We even went and fed some monkeys at a sanctuary and went to an amazing waterfall! Definitely recommend this trip for anyone considering a medical career - it will change your life! So go make a difference!

I've volunteered through other programs and this is probably one of the best.

I was originally set to volunteer as a Health Outreach and Education Worker in April, but my plans were delayed because of COVID-19. Thankfully, I was able to go as soon as Ghana re-opened, and I'm so glad that I did. I was the only volunteer because of the current situation, but I don't regret a minute of it.

Edward, the Founder of Volunteer Corps, IVHQ's in country partner, as well as the rest of the team, made sure that I was taken care of and followed safety measures due to COVID-19. There was no reason for me to fear or be nervous.

I was already in country and Benedict, a Program Manager, made sure that my transportation to the volunteer house in Accra was in place. When I arrived at the volunteer house, I was warmly greeted by the team there.

The next day, I had orientation (language, customs, health outreach/education program overview, discussion about excursions) and commuted with the Purple Program team to the Eastern Region, about 3 hours away from Accra, and stayed in the village of Frankadua which was the central location to the villages where work took place.

The volunteer house was clean and I felt safe because of the security guard. The food was great and Mary, the chef, can make food based on your diet. The team went above and beyond to make sure that I was taken care of. When I arrived, I was even greeted by respected community members

The night before volunteering, Joe, the Purple Team Manager, led the team meeting where we discussed more details about the work that I would be doing. Because I was the only volunteer due to COVID, I was asked to do blood pressure screenings (I brought my own monitor), teach on health topics based on my knowledge, conduct malaria tests, and provide first aid (I do have American Red Cross First Aid training, but it is not a must if you are not comfortable). The malaria tests are easy to perform especially if you already have lab experience. It is advisable to bring at least 3 - 4 boxes of your own gloves. So many people would show up (at least 75 per village) to learn and receive testing and care that the staff stepped up to assist in reading malaria test results, educate about malaria treatment, conduct blood pressure screenings, and assist with the flow of the day. They constantly made sure that I had everything I needed, inquired if I needed to take a break, and made sure that my overall health and wellbeing were taken care of.

During my time in the Eastern Region, I was able to provide health outreach in different villages near the volunteer house in Frankadua. The other villages are about a 20 minute ride from the volunteer house.

The team is organized, worked well together, and made me feel like family. There's so much that a volunteer can do. Overall, I was also able to teach about hygiene at a secondary school, teach a community about COVID-19, conduct over 200 malaria tests where treatment was provided (the tests and medication are covered in the program fee), conduct blood pressure screenings and education, and provide first aid care to people who aren't able to access a clinic.

Safety measures were taken because of COVID-19 like wearing face masks, using hand sanitizer, and sanitizing equipment (tables, chairs, etc.).

The need for volunteers is great and there's so much work to do. I will return again.

I went to Ghana to volunteer for medical outreach and I enjoyed my time in this program. I was supposed to go to schools to do malaria testing, but schools were all closed due to Coronavirus. Instead, I went to local communities to do malaria testing and wound care. The program allowed me to do meaningful work and see communities I would not otherwise be able to see. The volunteer housing was good, and the food was great! Ghana has friendly, welcoming people and I felt at home right away! I recommend this medical program to those who enjoy going into communities and doing hand on wound care and testing.

Had the best time volunteering in Ghana! IVHQ had a great program in which I got to live close to the locals, work on a meaningful project in which I felt like I made a difference, and I made a lot of new friends! By volunteering I got a unique insight into the culture in Ghana and since we had weekends if I also had time to explore the country. The team was helpful, project was great, and location was ideal. I also got a lot of help after I organized a fundraiser! The teachers at the school helped me by telling me what they needed, and the IHVQ staff helped me buy it! Over all a fantastic experience and I would recommend it a lot!

I spent 2 weeks in Ghana (Frankadua) and had no idea what I was in for, what an experience! My only regret is not staying longer. I started out in childcare then switched to medical. Both programs were incredibly rewarding, childcare perhaps the most exhausting, though I loved it. People soak up any help you offer, while I hoped to go to Ghana to make a difference and help people, I am the one who left changed and so impacted. I cannot forget this village. The people are welcoming, the program safe, the food (rice, beans, and plantains I still crave!) they want to make sure things are running smoothly for you and that you are happy. They’re quick to fix any kinks. I recommend this program to anyone looking a for a wonderful, eye opening, volunteer experience! Thanks Joe, TT, the Millies, Mary, the security guards, and all the local staff.

Go to Ghana, I will return myself!

My week in Frankadua was one that I will hold close to my heart forever. I am a senior nursing student in the US, and myself with 5 other students traveled to Ghana for the medical outreach program. Over the course of just a week we were able to test over 1000 children for malaria and treat those who tested positive.in addition we provided wound care and infection control/prevention. Joe, from the purple program was beyond helpful in many ways and made us feel at home for our stay. Tee Tee from the medical outreach program specifically helped to keep things running smoothly, and made us feel safe and welcomed. Each night we had a meeting about our day, and the plan for the next- the staff was consistently asking how they can improve and making sure we all felt comfortable. They genuinely want to help make this a good experience for you, even though you are there to serve. The people were unbelievably welcoming. I met so many new people- some staying one week others staying 6 months, and those who life there that I will continue to be friends with for life. The volunteer house is inviting and there will never be a dull moment. I recommend the medical outreach program to fellow nursing students who wish to make a difference during their breaks from school. This is an experience that you will not find anywhere else, and you have the opportunity to really impact a community, no matter the length of the stay. As with anything, you get out of it what you put in. If you want to work with amazing people, staff and spend your breaks meaningfully then I recommend this program to you!

I participated in IVHQ's Ghana partnership and highly recommend it for a short term volunteer travel experience. The company is ethically run, with very good and thorough pre-departure materials focused on cultural sensitivity and respectful behavior. The projects on site are locally run and managed. The construction project I worked on was hard work, not just a token project for photo ops.There was a good balance of work time and free time, and for a short stay it was convenient to have the IVHQ folks available for planning sightseeing on the weekends.

When I left Frankadua, I left a piece of my heart and my newest family. Frankadua is the cutest, most culturally dense village. The people are welcoming and kind. In fact, it is likely you will be welcomed with a local bonfire your first night. They will love that you are in their village to help and also learn about their culture. The clothing is bright, the music is upbeat and happy, and the dancing is something that I’ll remember forever.

I originally signed up for four weeks of childcare and six weeks of medical. However, I ended up switching to only two weeks of childcare and then eight weeks of medical. The childcare project is easily one of the hardest projects offered. As a volunteer, your main responsibility is looking after fifty of the most rambunctious children the village has to offer. At the end of the day you will be exhausted, but be the happiest volunteer in the house. Spending the mornings with those adorable children is just the best experience. I personally had a difficult time with the cultural punishments the teachers perform. Unfortunately, as volunteers we must accept that it is a cultural happening and it is not able to be changed. This was the main reason I shortened my childcare project to two weeks rather than four.

Switching to medical was the perfect decision for me. I felt that I was making a meaningful difference and could fix the issues I saw. Our duties included wound care, malaria testing, hygiene education, and sex education. I personally enjoyed the malaria testing most. I was able to test four different schools in my ten weeks. The positive percentage rates were crazy to me! Each school tested 50% or higher. At the close of each testing day we would prescribe and provide malaria medications to the positive children. I loved knowing that the children would not develop symptoms because we were able to catch it soon enough.

The best thing about volunteering in Ghana is that there is ALWAYS more to be done. If you are up for the challenge, you can be working from 6AM-6PM. Another volunteer and I started three after school programs for the children and teenagers. These include girls club, JHS reading club, and reading tutoring at the volunteer house. If I were to pick a favorite volunteer activity it would be these three things. Reading is a life long skill and I was always happy to see their progression. Dedicating time to their learning was a highlight of my trip.

I would like to express my appreciation to the staff that made my trip smooth and safe. There wasn’t one time that I felt in danger and that was extremely important to me. I felt supported by the staff and knew that I could discuss my issues with them. Joe and Evans were two men I could openly discuss my issues with. I would also like to commend IVHQ for listening to concerns and addressing them. In the middle of my trip, I discussed a few concerns with Meika, an IVHQ employee, and they were addressed and corrected within two weeks time. IVHQ and the Ghana staff are truly there to make your experience the best it can be.

You would be silly to not pick IVHQ Ghana as your future volunteer location. Be prepared to fall in love with the people and their interesting culture. Know that there will be extremely hard times, but that they will provide you with learning opportunists. If you make it to Ghana... please give them all a hug for me!