Make a REAL difference in Ghana with Love Volunteers!

Going to Ghana to volunteer with children sounded like the best idea when presented to me by my friend and travel companion Bailey. Little did know how much the experience would fill my heart! The beauty of the Ghanaian culture and people were like no other. I felt safe, welcomed and very well taken care of at all times. The kindness and warmth in each one of their hearts was pretty extraordinary, unlike some other countries I have visited. The affection, smiles and laughter from the children I worked with will be in my thoughts and heart forever. The Love Volunteer staff members were so helpful in creating a smooth process from start to finish with regular check ins, and always being available to assist. I have already recommended this experience to family and friends and would love to go to Ghana!

Ghana stole my heart. I cannot explain how sacred this journey was. Not only did I become a member of a beautiful family of 50 children; but I gained a much better understanding of myself and the world around me.
As Americans, our worth and happiness is based upon our materialist mindsets. We all fall victim to unnecessary complaining, judgment and negativity. Unknowingly, we let our egos get in the way of the interactions we have with ourselves, others and the world around us. We forget how auspicious our lives are here in America and (me included) take a lot of things for granted.
In Ghana I witnessed joy, love and happiness like I’ve never seen before. The kids at the orphanage live beyond what you and I would consider minimal; yet they are the most grateful, compassionate and intelligent humans I have ever met. The kids range from 2-23 years old; most have never seen a computer and none of them have phones. They don’t have social media; therefore, their interactions and relationships are genuine and unfeigned. Their culture is flip flopped to that of America.
People live on .25 American cents a day which in their currency is 1 cedi. Their minimum wage per WEEK is 5 cedi’s which is equivalent to $1.50. Yet this is all they need to survive and never did I hear a complaint. They are the most magnificent people that I have ever had the privilege learn and grow with. I am already planning my trip to go back during Christmas. Always sending my love and blessings to everyone who shared their lives and their wholesomeness with me.

It was one of the best decisions in my life to go to Ghana for Volunteering. I will never forget this experience. I've received so much love from all the people there. I feel in the love with the kids there, i think anyone will do! I can totally recommend you going there. This is something you will carry in your heart a lifetime.

Beside all the medical preparation beforehand I can recommend you to go there with an open mind and heart and it will be the best time in your Life.
Everyone is so helpful and caring that you will feel like you are visiting family! :)

I spent three weeks in Ghana through Love Volunteers teaching in a local village primary school - staff were great and very helpful, as were host family! I felt safe and well looked-after as was first time in Africa and a lone volunteer. Only downside was lack of teaching materials in the local school, though not project's fault - more, the school's!!!

Like most people I was nervous about signing up to volunteer. I felt like a big leap of faith, but I'm so glad I chose Love Volunteers. They were helpful throughout the process - answering questions before I signed-up, checking up on me after I'd arrived and getting my feedback throughout.

The local team are super helpful and friendly and I felt that there was real need on the projects.

There are obviously some tough issues to deal with, but largely that is the same when doing any kind of travelling in any developing country.

Overall the experience was enlightening and incredibly rewarding and I would recommend it to anyone :)

Hospitality

Africans are known of their hospitality and Ghanaians make no exception to this. Hospitality is the first thing you notice, when you arrive to Ghana. It can be noticed everywhere, especially when you are visiting somebody's home.

Food

Talking about hospitality easily turns to a discussion about food. I think that Ghanaian food is very good, although sometimes it might be a bit spicy. Be also prepared to eat with your hands, (it's very simple, when you learn the technique) but usually you can get a spoon or fork if you ask for that. When you have been a couple of weeks in Ghana you notice, that most of the foods are even easier to eat with your hand, for example Fufu, a traditional Ghanaian food, which looks and even tastes pretty much like a smashed potato, although it's far from it.

Accommodation

During my visit to Ghana I was staying in a family in the city of Kumasi near the place I was working in. The family was very nice and they helped me in everything that I needed help for. The Ghanaians are very friendly and you can expect of getting enough food no matter where your accommodation place is.

Placement

I was working at an orphanage, which was located in the village called Apire, at the outskirts of the city of Kumasi. There were about 25 children at the orphanage, aged between 1 and 17. Even since the car carrying me arrived there, I could feel that I'm welcomed. My work included playing with the children, helping with some construction work they were doing there and assisting with everything I could do. For everybody coming to volunteer I can say one advice: forget the things you thought you cannot do, you can learn them there! Just be open-minded and everything goes fine.

The organization staff

Love Volunteers' partner in Ghana doesn't have much personnel, but they are professionals in the work they are doing. They concentrate to the work and you can feel free to ask them about the things you don't know, or about the problems you might meet. You can trust that the organization helps you no matter what happens during your trip.