Location
  • Ghana
    • Accra
    • Cape Coast
    • Kumasi
Length
1 to 52 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Age Max
70
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
85
Price Details
This price is for a 1 week stay with us. Some education placements require a 4 week minimum duration with us to ensure a high social impact and chance for you to experience a new way of life. The longer our volunteers join our program, the lower the program fees reduce - dropping down to $70 per week.

This weekly program fee covers your pre departure support, accommodation, utility bills, support staff and orientation day.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities
What's Not Included
Some Activities Airfare Airport Transfers Equipment Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa Wifi
Dec 29, 2024
Feb 01, 2025
29 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Atlas offers the lowest volunteering fees in Ghana and various volunteering placement types providing a high and meaningful social impact. Our projects are located around the Abetifi district which is based on top of the Kwahu mountain plateau and Akwidaa coastline.

The shared volunteer houses and surrounding rainforests offer breathtaking views. We focus our placements across Education, Sports Development, Renovation, Eco Protection and Sea Turtle Conservation.

Our placements run throughout the year and there's always a team of volunteers out with us, so you can plan when fits best with your schedule to join us. As previous volunteers in the local area we set this organisation up to remove the business element out of volunteering and work with the local community to assist in their development, one step at a time.

Ghana is often referred to as Africa for beginners and offers a safe, serene environment for your trip whilst experiencing new cultures and warm welcoming people.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Low Cost - Lowest available weekly fees in Ghana. Starting from only $65 per week.
  • Support Staff - A wide range of support staff will be on hand to answer any question you may have, from drivers to project coordinators.
  • Shared Housing - You will stay with your fellow volunteers in a shared volunteer house overlooking the rainforest - the perfect backdrop to create friends for life.
  • Sustainability - We work alongside the local communities in all our projects to ensure that our impact has a long and lasting affect.
  • Free Time - Weekends are free to travel the local waterfalls, national parks, safari and canopy walks.

Program Impact

You will be working directly alongside the local communities and authorities to provide assistance and further development where we can. Depending on your placement and area of focus we aim just a small travelling distance from some of the most remote communities off the beaten track. Projects and proposals are Ghanaian led to ensure that we are making as strong and relevant an impact as possible.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating
based on 99 reviews
  • 5 rating 97.98%
  • 4 rating 2.02%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.8
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 4.9
  • Safety 5
Showing 89 - 96 of 99 reviews
Default avatar
Cindy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Review

Airport pick up/drop off: This volunteer experience was for me the first trip out of my country (Canada). This is why I was really grateful when I knew that someone was about to pick me up. Not only they pick me up, but they made sure I had everything that I needed by going shopping at the mall. Same gratefullness for the drop off.
Housing: I think it's a really good thing to have two seperate houses. The more we are in a house, the more conflicts we can possibly face. Plus, as a non-smoker, I really appreciated the fact that there was a house for smoker and one for non-smoker (If it wasn't planned, it might be a good idea to do it ... )
Coordinators: A thousand thanks for my two coordinators who made sure all the way long that I was feeling good and if something were bothering we tried to figure this out together. It might not always be rainbows and butterflies so it's important to know that we can count on someone if we need it to.
Placement: I really loved working at school. The children were sooooooo lovely. I also appreciated the fact that I had the opportunity to teach them a new subject such as French and to teach them tips in Math that no one showed them.
Location: Pepease such a beautiful and peaceful place. I really enjoyed living in the mountains. The views that we had on are way to school was just incredible. Plus our house was located at a good spot, not to far from the main street, the taxi station, the Modak (Hotel), etc.

What would you improve about this program?
Housing: First, we should have a bigger fridge or two of the size that we had. Plus, we should have more tupperware. Finally, the most important, we should established cleaning rules. It can be hard to share a house with people that we know, so sharing one with strangers from probably a different culture can be hard. But with rules we can coexist peacefully.
84 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this Cindy, it's really useful for us to be able to monitor and maintain standards as we go.

I've ran through your development points with my team of Libby and Frank who is now taking care of the volunteer housing, it's a tricky one in regards to the cleaning as it falls ultimately on the volunteers to take care but it's a fine line between us parenting them to enforce a cleaning schedule and the volunteers as a team producing this. Of course as you can imagine this really depends on who you are living with in the house at that time but I have notified Frank so at least he can offer an example cleaning schedule as a suggestion to future volunteers.

In regards to the fridges and kitchen equipment, as you joined us over the free placements it was a difficult balance for us. We need to ensure the budget permitted covers the accommodation rent, utility bills, maintenance and fuel for transport to projects due this we didn't have the luxury of being able to buy everything we would have liked in the housing in the ideal world but as a fairly new organisation we hope that in time these develop and people add to the kitchen little by little as they go. (The tupperware was actually provided by previous volunteers). Also large electrical appliances such as fridges etc are unfortunately generally more expensive here so it's difficult to balance along with maintaining a sensible electricity bill.

I'm very happy to read that you would the airport collection was useful and appreciated and that you had such a nice time at the placement site which you remember so fondly. Once again thank you very much for taking your time to help us develop and please do let us know if there's anything we can help with.
Take care,
Sam

Default avatar
Olivia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My trip in Ghana

My experience in Pepease has been absolutely amazing !

The all team is friendly and very supportive. If you are struggling with any kind of issues Sam and Libby will always look after you and try to solve things with you.

The kids and the teachers are unforgettable. I had really great classes lessons with them.
Ghana is also a very pretty country to visit. I felt at home very easily.

I absolutely recommend this experience ! It will be a real added value in your life and will definitely change your way of thinking.

What would you improve about this program?
The volunteers's house. It needs to be more clean
82 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you for your kinds words Olivia they're really appreciated! It was a shame that I had to leave during your stay with us so didn't get chance to spend much time together but i'm sure we'll get chance next time! These reviews are really important for new volunteers to get a feel of our project and what to expect so I really appreciate you taking the time to complete it.

Apologies for the issue with the house cleanliness. It's a difficult one to balance, as overall it lies on the volunteers to keep their housing tidy in shared areas. Depending on the current volunteer team it really changes on whether groups create rotas or take a laid back approach and sometimes it can feel a bit overbearing if I request my support staff in house to enforce a set cleaning rota. We have now added Frank as Volunteer Support to our team living in the housing so he helps with keeping the place in shape and some general cleaning but if you have any suggestions we'd be very happy to hear them on how he can manage expectations moving forwards. Hope to speak soon - Sam.

Default avatar
Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best time of my life

My three months in Ghana were the best three months of my life. I made friends for life with the other volunteers, the teachers I was working side by side with and the locals. Atlas Volunteers gives you freedom that not a lot of other volunteer programs offer you. I was a teacher and worked weekdays, but weekends were yours to explore Kwahu and venture out to the other beautiful regions of Ghana with the help and support of your volunteer family. The kids I worked with and the work I did there will stay with me for the rest of life, all I can say to Atlas is thank you! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising was the kindness of the people.
82 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you very much for your kind words Madi, they're really appreciated. It was a pleasure having you join the team showing so much enthusiasm and being able to adapt to a different culture so easily from the get go.
I 100% made an error not realising just how good your art skills were! So rest assured you're going to have a huge list of tasks to do once you do get the opportunity to join us again! Please do let me know if there's anything we can help with in the meantime. I look forward to catching up over a cold Club at some point!
Speak soon,
Sam

Default avatar
Libby
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So good I never left

I originally went over to work on a scholarship programme for the local area. However, after falling in love with the area and the people I decided to stay out in Ghana as part of the management team for Atlas.

Ghana is such a welcoming country that if you go with an open mind and an open heart you are certain to have the most incredible time. Where we live in Ghana is a perfect mix or villages and towns so you get to experience so many different ways of life and there is always someone around to want to teach you something new or take you somewhere special.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go with an open mind and fresh eyes and ears. You are free to make a massive difference in this area of Ghana if you are willing to and you are trusted to bring about new projects. Be willing to get involved and don't be shy to try new things.
76 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you very much for your kind words Libby. It's a pleasure to have you as part of the team now and we look forward to later in the year when we can resume placements and welcome you back home to the motherland!
Sam

Default avatar
Harlee
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Feels like home

Atlas Volunteers are very helpful and supportive as soon as you step in the country. From the start, you’re shown places where to get certain items you’re looking for, what to do in an emergency, best places to have a drink/eat, and a lot more helpful ideas. I stayed in Pepease for 3 1/2 months and am going back very soon. The town people are very lovely. I worked in two schools in the area and had the best experience. You can choose whether to help in the class by tutoring or you can teach your own class! All the kids are AMAZING and SO SMART. Weekends are crazy!! You’re free to do whatever you want so take advantage of that. Every weekend I went somewhere new. A must see is boti falls, definitely the spot if you love nature. Also, before you leave you must take a trotro( public transportation) and try out the unique foods they offer! ATLAS is the best volunteer group in Ghana.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would definitely suggest Mosquito spray and sunscreen. It’s very hard to find her and it’s more expensive in Ghana than USD. Also don’t forget malaria pills if you’re coming in rainy season!
70 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you so much for your kind words Harlee! So happy to see you felt it was a home away from home for you. We look forward to welcoming you back once we are able to resume placements, in the meantime stay safe and make sure you enjoy all the chocolate and cheese you need!
Speak soon!
Sam

Default avatar
James
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Renovation Volunteer with Atlas Volunteers for 6 weeks

I volunteered as a Renovation Volunteer with Atlas Volunteers for 6 weeks from January/February 2019. I discovered Atlas via Volunteer World and was attracted by its various programs and the benefits they bring to the local community in a semi-rural area of Ghana. They are a relatively new charity but are building strong foundations in the areas they work in. They view their social impact as paramount. Overall the experience was fantastic; from achieving and seeing the works progress, chilling with fellow volunteers, traveling up and down the country during time off and just generally experiencing what Ghana has to offer. It was a truly wonderful experience. Atlas and the Ghanaian communities are exceptional hosts.

To my fellow volunteers, to the communities I worked in and to the volunteer coordinators and the rest of Atlas – thank you. This was an experience I will never forget.

67 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you so much for your kind words James. We can't describe how much we appreciate you putting so much effort into the renovation site and it was amazing to watch transform. You should be very proud of the work completed and we look forward to keeping you updated on further developments at the school site once we are able to resume placements!
Speak soon and stay safe,
Sam.

Default avatar
Clara Ela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable experience

I had the pleasure of volunteering with this organization for five months in 2018. My whole experience was simply amazing, from beginning to the end.
From the kindness and support I received from the staff, to the second family I found with the rest of the volunteers and the children in the school. I enjoyed my stay and truly believe I made a real change in my community, working closely with the teachers and the kids.
I would definitely recommend this organization if you are looking for a project that fullfills you and that truly impacts the community you work with.

66 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Clara aka Pepease Queen!
Thank you so much for taking your time to submit this. As our first 'proper' volunteer with us all that time ago, I really appreciate you helping us to get setup and supporting the new members of the house in such a kind way.
I know it's only a matter of time before we get to catch up once you're able to visit again so all of your Ghana family is here waiting for you. (Along with the new puppy!).
Speak soon and stay safe,
Sam

Default avatar
Nesi
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience in Ghana with Atlas volunteers

I came for a month to teach Math in a local school in Ghana and received amazing support from the Atlas volunteer organization. First few days I was guided by one of the organization workers on the local culture and visited important sites in Accra. Great way to settle in this new country.

Later I travelled to the rural area where I met the teachers in the school I volunteered. Everyone was super nice through all the experience and I had a place to bring my unique ideas. I feel a strong connection to the people of Kwahu and hope to visit there soon.

In general, This experience was above my wildest expectations and I could write much more about it but I'll just say that you won't regret. For sure.

What would you improve about this program?
I'm not a big fan of the traditional food in Ghana but I managed to find other solutions.
66 people found this review helpful.
Response from Atlas Volunteers

Thank you very much for your kinds words and for your enthusiasm and effort to help the local communities here even after your return home!

We look forward to planning future projects with you to draw on your passion and waiting to welcome you back in Ghana hopefully not too long in the future!
Take care and speak soon,
Sam.

Questions & Answers