Location
  • Ghana
    • Kumasi
Length
2 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
17
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
375
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Nov 01, 2024
Sep 04, 2023
93 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Ghana with Plan My Gap Year – an award-winning, international volunteer abroad organisation with programs based in Kumasi, Ghana. PMGY provides safe, trusted and affordable programs overseas, with a wide range of volunteer projects in Ghana, including Childcare • English Teaching • Medical & Mental Health opportunities.

PMGY Ghana is located in the historic city of Kumasi, in the central Ashanti Region. The Ghana volunteer programs start on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month. Our projects in Ghana run across the year and participants can join us from 2-24 weeks. Volunteers in Ghana are provided with an extensive pre-departure support service, airport pick-up, orientation, meals, accommodation and local support.

Video and Photos

Impact

Plan My Gap Year is committed to providing ethical volunteer opportunities that truly benefit the local communities. We have personally vetted all of our Volunteer Programs in every destination. We support a small network of Volunteer Programs abroad that we have specifically chosen due to their efforts being sustainable for our volunteers and the local communities alike. We work closely with each of our local teams to ensure we are assessing and adapting to ensure quality experiences for all involved.

For this reason, PMGY does not provide volunteer opportunities in orphanages in any of our locations. Research and studies have shown that visiting and volunteering in orphanages has the potential to generate an industry that separates children from their families. In turn, putting children at increased risk of neglect and abuse. Therefore, we do not support these institutions with our volunteer network.

Instead, we focus on offering alternative childcare volunteer opportunities whereby children come to and from the placement setting each day. In other words, our local teams collaborate with childcare projects which do not offer any form of residential care. These are safe, responsible, and vetted projects, where participants continue to provide valued assistance supporting local staff.

Program Highlights

  • Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.
  • Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.
  • Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.
  • Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.
  • Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

Popular Programs

Portfolio-Ghana-Childcare.jpg

Brighten up the lives of vulnerable children in Ghana and make a vital and important contribution to their daily lives.

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Help young children develop the skills that will help improve their future job prospects. Teach a variety of subjects such as English, Maths and Art.

Portfolio-Ghana-Medical.jpg

A fantastic opportunity to gain experience and insight into the health care system. Learn from local staff and get involved in supporting them.

Portfolio-Ghana-Mental-Health.jpg

Designed for those currently studying mental health or psychology, this is an opportunity to gain insight and awareness within a hospital based setting.

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Spend a life-changing 6, 9 or 12 weeks of volunteering across the world’s second-biggest continent in Ghana, fascinating Tanzania & epic South Africa!

Program Reviews

4.94 Rating
based on 127 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.49%
  • 4 rating 5.51%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.85
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.75
  • Safety 4.95
  • Program Selection 5
  • Pre-departure Help 5
  • In-program Support 5
  • Impact on Student 5
  • Value 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 127 reviews
Default avatar
Marta
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Mental Health and Psychology associate - Ghana

I must say that it was definitely a wonderful experience! The best part was getting to know the other volunteers and creating wonderful friendships that I will definitely carry with me for life. Even just for that reason I would recommend this experience to anyone!
On the other hand, I was a little less satisfied with the project. It certainly was interesting to observe how to work in psychiatry in such a different context. The problem was that the patient interviews were not in English but in Twi. Sometimes the nurses would explain and translate to me but other times there was no time between patients to explain or they didn't feel much like it.Also, sometimes they would call me 'Obrouni' and touch my skin and hair since I am a white person. One nurse also asked me to call her brother who lives in my country on the phone and all this made me feel very uncomfortable. So, I learned a lot from the project but I would say that was more like an internship than volunteering because I couldn’t give my help. So I was a little disappointed because I thought I was going to volunteer. Nevertheless, they listened to my complain and made me chan project accordingly to my needs. They are just so flexible and available for you. I appreciated so much.

Another negative note was the food, maybe because I am used to eat very well, I didn't like the food and also it was very repetitive. Even more difficult were the hygienic conditions: the house is dirty, especially the kitchen and the bathroom. The smells are intense and hard to bear.

Anyway, the weekend trip was great and I recommend it to everyone. Also, the staff people who live in the house are all very nice and very kind, especially always available for you! The people definitely made my experience.
Although there were some downsides, I would suggest everyone this experience! It is challenging but also life changing :) if I could come back in time I would definitely do it again!

Pros
  • Meeting amazing people
  • Great communication with staff
  • Great weekend trips
Cons
  • Lack of hygiene
  • Bad food
  • Low social impact
156 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Poppy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ghana volunteer

I’ve just arrived back from my trip to Ghana with pmgy , and my over all experience was amazing. The workers in the house made me feel at home (cooks , coordinators and taxi drivers) and would always go the extra mile for the volunteers . The atmosphere in the house is amazing and everyone always has such a good time !! Traveling to Ghana was such an amazing experience and I’m so glad I did it with plan my gap year. One off the best benefits to traveling with plan my gap year was the safety the workers provided , you never go anywhere on your own and you always feel 100% safe .

Pros
  • The culture
  • The safety provided
  • The Tourism spots
150 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ciara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ghana

My experience in Ghana is by far the best experience I’ve ever had in my life and I would not have been able to have that without the amazing staff at PMGY. They’re so attentive and are with you the entire experience looking out for you- especially the designated taxi drivers who are incredibly friendly and welcoming! They always make you feel safe and really add to the experience of the trip. Being able to experience an entirely different culture to what I am familiar with is a once in a life time experience I am forever grateful for thanks to PMGY.

Pros
  • Experiencing a new culture
  • Meeting people
  • Self growth
Cons
  • Lack of time management
  • Lack of hygiene
  • Lack of necessities
142 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Charlotte
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible experience with PMGY

Absolutely amazing experience i would recommend it to anyone. The coordinators in the volunteer house and all the people there make you feel so at home and put you at so much ease doing anything they can to help you out. The projects are really insightful, the childcare programme was amazing, the kids at the school are the best. Also, I definitely recommend the weekend trips, they were such a fun part of the experience, i made so many memories. Overall its a really rewarding experience and definitely worthwhile.

Pros
  • Sociable
  • Rewarding
  • Insightful
164 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alannah
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ghana

I loved my time in Ghana, i felt like I was able to see the country well with PMGY. The weekend trips are amazing and 100% worth doing. Be aware that you will need to pay the taxi drivers any time you want to go somewhere, which can add up. The workers at the house are all lovely and welcoming! The accommodation is very basic but secure and safe with the guard by the gate. The food is traditional Ghanaian food, which is lovely to try and adds to the experience. The afternoons are free for you to do what you like, but I was always exhausted from placement so used the time to rest.

182 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Luisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Perfect Time

I had a wonderful time in Ghana with PMGY. The projects were interesting, the weekend trips were amazing and the people are the best. The people in the house, the drivers and the people in the projects are wonderful. They help in every situation and are always there for you. Also in the projects are people who help you and explain a lot of things to the volunteers. Also at the volunteering house you have always a great time with the people who are working or living there.
I went to both of the weekend trips. They are awesome. The cape coast trip is perfect to relax and the one to Mole Nationalpark gives so much new experiences.
Also I had a look at 3 projects. At the medical one I had a great time and saw 4 births. At the school project I met a lot of wonderful children and also in the orphanage it is great and a lot of fun with the children there.
Kumasi (the city where the volunteer house is) is a wonderful city. Not to big and not to small. The people there are so wonderful, everyone wants to talk to you and they are very interested. Also I felt very safe there. You can do nice things in Kumasi. I enjoyed my time in Kumasi very much.
I would like to go to Ghana with PMGY again and I can just recommend to do it.
I am so thankful for my perfect time in Ghana.

189 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ghana

I’ve just got home from spending 3 weeks in Ghana. I spent my time doing the childcare program (the orphanage) while your at this placement you’ll be changing nappies, feeding the children, giving them all your attention and comforting them. I can’t describe the feeling it gives you looking after them, they’re so precious and every single one of them will have a special place in my heart always. It’s a really rewarding thing to do but it is very emotional. I was originally supposed to be going to Ghana in July but I had a few problems with my visa being processed as there was a hold up and I can’t thank Cassy enough for all her help, every problem and question I had she got sorted, her replies were also very fast too. While I was staying at the house there was never a time I felt unsafe and I’d like to thank all the staff and taxi drivers for that, they really do make your time there extra special. I’d definitely like to come back to Ghana one day

218 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Charlotte
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience with Ghana PMGY

An amazing experience that allows you to find out about other countries cultures and lets you discover more about yourself. The people are amazing and extremely welcoming. PMGY cater to all the needs of participants. Whichever project you are going into you will gain full in depth knowledge in that area that provide you with a different view of the world. The experience provides you with a whole new look on the world allows you too develop yourself while helping other people. I highly recommend and the support that you get from plan my gap year is amazing from the minute you go onto to the website to the point when your booking your trip and all the way to the end when your coming back.

Pros
  • Gain culture knowledge
  • Learn about new things
Cons
  • In country is expensive
  • Have to travel to aiport on your own
208 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers