GVI, Ethical Impact: Volunteer in Ghana

My time at GVI's base in Kokrobite, Ghana has been absolutely amazing. Not only is the community and local partnering schools (where we teach) great, but so is the staff, who are living at base with you. The staff make the base a safe and fun communal space to live in from the moment you set a foot through the door. I am certain that the experience would not have been the same if the staff and fellow participants were not as welcoming, openminded and including as they were.

Furthermore, it is obvious when you walk through the community that the locals respect and appreciate GVI's presence here - which is rewarding to experience as a participant, because you know that you actually make a difference here in the local community.

I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who are interested in volunteer work in Africa.

GVI Ghana was the start of my gap year after completing senior. It was so far from home and I was very nervous and scared when I first arrived. As soon as I met my fellow volunteers my fears quickly evaporated. The team were all so welcoming and we had so much fun on base. There’s always someone to have a chat and a laugh with. I went as an intern and worked across 6 schools. I was also in charge of my own projects including sexual reproductive health , girl guides, free being me & Rosies world. The experience was both rewarding & eye opening. The work GVI do in Kokrobrite is incredible and they’re very respected by the community. Ghanaians are such warm and welcoming people it’s impossible not to love being in their company. We also saw a lot a bit of the country on our time off. Beautiful & rich in culture & history.
I met people from all across the globe and have made friends for life. If you’re on the fence about volunteering with GVI Ghana my advice is to just jump in. You’ll love it!!

I joined the GVI Ghana Community Development Internship Programme in February 2024. I had a fantastic experience and enjoyed the programme so much that I arranged a 2 week extension, meaning I spent 10 weeks in total with GVI Ghana.

As part of my programme, I worked in local schools delivering lessons in areas such as the environment, JEDI (justice, education diversity and inclusion) and comparing Ghanaian culture to other cultures from around the world. Working in the schools was a wonderful experience as the teachers and students alike were enthusiastic and engaged. There is a wealth of knowledge on all these topics available on base to all volunteers/interns, meaning lesson plans are of a high standard and easy to teach to students.

Overall, I could not recommend GVI Ghana more highly. The staff on base make the transition to life in Ghana as smooth as possible. Every aspect of GVI Ghana is well organised; from the transport to and from the airport to the accommodation on base. There is also sufficient free time to explore the local area and really immerse yourself into Ghanaian culture. GVI is hugely respected in the community due to the hard work of volunteers and interns and the culture created by the staff members on base.

My third project with GVI. The previous two in 2020/2021 were reviewed then and I gave them 4* - one star deducted because dealings with head office were frustrating and tricky, but the projects themselves were excellent.

As a returning customer, I must say that head office / sales were effortless to deal with and looked after me well; the project was excellent as well. Most importantly, they are aware of (and continuing evaluating) the murky ethics of international development and I left content that I had contributed both in good faith and in a non-maleficent way. The decision to do this kind of work abroad is one that future customers should think seriously about, but if the decision is made, GVI are doing it as well as anyone out there, as far as I can tell.

The staff do everything they can to help you stay safe but the truth is that if you appear as an outsider, there will always be a vulnerability, so follow their rules and be vigilant… ans you’ll have a great time.

Coming from a background In sustainability and recently completing a master's, I felt like I could make a difference when volunteering in GVI Ghana, the pre-departure systems gave me a lot of comfort before arriving and gave me realistic expectations. My experience has been nothing but spectacular, the culture in Ghana blew me away, and GVI gave me such great training in how to deal with cultural differences and classroom behaviours! although there were challenges, mainly the heat and unexpected power cuts, GVI made my 8-week stay comfortable and maintained communication while offering me support through projects and any queries I may have had. The Staff at GVI were considerate and made me feel welcome. I am most thrilled about having the opportunity to reach so many students and experience the real culture of the community. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to make an impact and learn more from the people.

If you are considering volunteering abroad, I can highly recommend GVI. My experience with them at their Ghana base has been amazing. I was looking for a project that has good ethics and is happy with older volunteers. GVI Ghana has fulfilled both of these requirements. During my time here there has been an age range between 75 and 18. The training, support and encouragement has been first class. The work in schools is both demanding and rewarding. There is a perfect balance between project work and socialising, with great trips organised for the weekends and barbecues on the beach and beach cleans. If you at all nervous about taking this leap of faith, my advice is to do it! It has been a fantastic experience and one I'm glad I did not miss out on.

GVI Ghana was both a challenging and very, very rewarding experience. I loved the core principle for sustainable and IMPACT led change and the care and good intention of the GVI staff at base was evident throughout. It is hard not to be inspired by their dedication and the engagement of the community, especially the schools and pupils, that are positively impacted by the GVI Ghana programme. I would recommend to those looking to explore volunteering opportunities abroad and make responsible impact.

My journey started out pretty chaotic as my flight to Ghana got cancelled. I got on a new flight and when I arrived in Ghana a day later than expected, the airline had lost my luggage. I called GVI Ghana and the staff helped me to sort the situation quickly. Overall I am really pleased about my experience with GVI. All of the staff is very effective, acts fast and it is clear that they care a lot about their work. They make sure to give you the right tools and knowledge through training before starting any projects.
I have grown personally, learnt about cultural differences and gained a new worldview and would highly recommend GVI to anyone who wants to volunteer.