Ghana

Volunteer in conservation on the beach in Ghana

Q: How far in advance do I have to register?

Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date , But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible. But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.

Directly at the sea
Work outdoors
Diverse cuisine

Get involved in environmental protection and nature conservation, in recycling and in educational work to secure habitats for humans and animals. By documenting the species population, cleaning the beaches and planting the coast to protect against erosion, you are counteracting local environmental problems in the long term. Be there and discover the wonderful Ghana at the same time!

Axim

from 18 years

4 - 52 weeks / from €1.220

Wednesday, Sunday

life under water

Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Project ID : FA-GH190

As a volunteer
Ghana

4 - 52 weeks / from €1.220
to the cost overview

What's the matter?

In tropical Ghana there is a rich variety of flora and fauna. However, it is severely endangered by pollution and marine erosion. Because the country's waste management is not working well, a lot of waste, especially that from the capital Accra, ends up in the sea. The ocean current then washes this rubbish onto Ghana's beaches.

The population in Ghana is hardly aware of this precarious situation - but feels its effects. Above all, erosion is a major problem: the villagers in the coastal region suffer because their habitat is severely endangered. Villages that used to be a safe distance from the coast are now beachfront; Huts are swept away by the sea. Since moving to another region of the country is very expensive, this is out of the question for most residents of the area.

Large sea turtles, which have long been threatened with extinction in many other regions, also found a safe place to lay their eggs on Ghana's beaches for a long time (September to January). Unfortunately, this is now also threatened by environmental pollution and the number of sea turtles is declining sharply. This also applies to fish stocks, which are declining sharply. This is largely due to overfishing of the seas, mainly by industrial fishing. But in Ghana about 10% of the population lives from fishing.

This overall situation should be sustainably influenced by your voluntary work in nature conservation and be changed into something positive.

Your location is a small oasis in the middle of the otherwise endangered coastal region of Axim - a paradisiacal beach resort. With 45 hectares it is probably the largest of its kind in Ghana and has been committed to environmental protection, education and sustainable development aid for over 25 years. The resort has become an indispensable institution for the local population. It does important educational work, offers secure jobs, trains underprivileged people and attaches great importance to the conservation of natural resources - all in the pursuit of a holistic approach. Any profits are always invested in new projects.

The aim of the project is to educate local people so that their breathtaking habitat can be protected in the long term.

Your tasks as a volunteer

During the patrols on the beach you collect rubbish and also document its origin. You also collect driftwood and bamboo for further processing in a local carpentry shop. It can also happen that you do beach patrols with the security team at night.

Likewise, there will be regular months when trees and palms need to be planted to protect the coast from further erosion. You can also get involved in educating the population about the usefulness of sea turtles as the largest algae eaters and the protection of endangered fish species.

Turtles usually come to the beach to lay their eggs between September and January. During this time you look for turtle eggs during your inspection rounds, mark them and take any protective measures. You will also monitor the nests and hatching times during your volunteer work. You document the information obtained.

Your working hours will be around 30-40 hours a week, five and sometimes six days a week on a part-time basis. Your working hours depend on the tides, seasons and the moon. Public holidays are roughly the same as in Europe. You can have lunch at the Beach Resort from 12 p.m. to 13 p.m. The employees and volunteers usually eat together.

Accommodation Catering

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Volunteer bungalow on the beach

Here in Axim you will be accommodated in the "Volunteer & Staff Village" together with other volunteers and interns as well as the employees of your assignment location. The village consists of bungalows located directly on one of the most beautiful beaches on Ghana's west coast. The Village is also not far from the mysterious mangrove river Ankobra!

You usually share your room with one to three other volunteers and interns. All rooms are equipped with a standard above Ghana, a fan and electric light. There are shared bathrooms, separated by gender.

Your breakfast and dinner are included in our services and will be prepared for you on site. A special feature: Here you get Slow food served! The ingredients for this – such as fruit and vegetables – are mostly home-grown and taste excellent. It is also possible to book lunch here for a small fee.

During your free time, you can go for walks on the nearby beach, learn to surf and relax in the shade of the facility's pretty gardens.

Location

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Axim

Ghana seew Akwaaba! – Welcome to Ghana! This culturally and scenically diverse country will immediately cast its spell on you. The friendliness and open-mindedness of the locals will certainly make it easy for you to settle in quickly!

In Axim you will do your volunteer work or your internship abroad in a sheltered bay on one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast of Ghana. The nearby town of Axim has around 13.000 inhabitants and is located on a mangrove river that flows into the Gulf of Guinea.

Also, Axim is still pretty traditional. There is a large fishing community who sell their fresh catches at the local markets daily. Here you can try many other typical dishes of Ghana, such as fufu!

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Your free time in Axim

After the work is done and on days off, you have enough time to relax and explore the area and the country.

One of the most beautiful beaches in the country awaits you in the immediate vicinity of the project site. Take the time to let this dream setting work its magic on you while you relax between white sand and palm trees, try your hand at surfing or admire the starry night sky with other volunteers around a campfire.

Should you ever feel like new impressions, we recommend a trip to the nearby town of Axim. Learn about the country's history with a visit to the old slave castle of Fort San Antonio and try your hand at a traditional market with freshly caught fish dishes and other delicacies such as the typical local fufu. Once a year, Axim also becomes the scene of the colorful Kundum Festival, where you can experience the Ghanaian lifestyle up close with plenty of drumming, dancing and food.

In addition to the beach and trips to the city, a canoe tour on the nearby river is definitely worthwhile, where with a little luck and patience you have the chance to observe crocodiles, turtles and monkeys in their natural environment.

But Ghana also has a lot to offer outside of the immediate vicinity of the deployment site that you should not miss. A special highlight is the Kakum National Park, where you have the opportunity to hike between the crowns of the jungle giants on a treetop path that is unique in Africa and to marvel at the rainforest from a height of up to 45 meters.

On-site procedure

Arrive in Axim

For your project work in Axim, you will first land in Accra, the capital of Ghana. If you arrive very late it makes sense that you spend your first night in Accra. Then you can start your onward journey to Axim relaxed the next day.

You have two options for your onward journey to Axim: Book a domestic flight to Takoradi (50 to 70 €) or a bus (10 €) – with our help. The bus ride takes about 4,5 hours. You can easily reach the bus station by taxi.

If you want, you can use our optional pick-up service. Our friend Ursula - a Swiss woman who runs a guesthouse in Accra - will be happy to pick you up from the airport. She will then take you to the airport or bus station the next day so that your journey can continue.

For a package price of 100 Euro you receive the following services:
• Airport pick up and transfer to Guesthouse in Accra
• 1 accommodation in a single room including breakfast
• The next day: escort to the bus station/airport, help with buying tickets and loading luggage

Orientation program in Axim

The orientation program takes place in the first few days after your arrival at our Axim location. This consists of a welcome and a first introduction to everyday life in the project. There is also a briefing on the house rules and rules of conduct on site, as well as a tour of the facility. On this occasion you will already get to know some of the charitable projects of our team.

Our on-site team will show you your room in a bungalow in the Volunteer & Staff Village and give you time to set it up. You have the rest of the day to look around the premises, meet your new colleagues and enjoy the miles of sandy beach!

Your first day in the project

Your project location is always as close as possible to your accommodation. Each project position has different working hours (five to six days a week), which will be agreed with you right at the beginning of your assignment.

In Ghana things are a lot more comfortable than here. For example, things often take a little longer than you are used to at home. That can be a challenge. However, if you get involved, the Ghanaian serenity can really do you good!
Here you find Tips for everyday work on site!

Our team is your number 1 contact for the entire duration of your stay abroad in Ghana. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact our team at any time!

Pricing

base fee

€ 1.220, -

4 weeks of participation
extension week

€ 175, - / week

up to 48 weeks

included
Services

Before departure

Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
Non-binding flight advice
Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
RGV t-shirt

On site

Orientation program with the team on site
Support and guidance from the on-site team
RGV 24h emergency number
Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities

Accommodation in bungalow

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

After return

Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
Reflection course on your experiences abroad
Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion

useful additional services

not included
Services

Round trip
Private expenses on site
Excursions with microlight flights
Travel and cancellation insurance
Visa and Vaccinations
All nights outside your agreed accommodation
Public transport and extra transfers

Airport transfer on the day of arrival and departure

Daily drive to the project

Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.

" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.

"Volunteer Teaching Focused" online TEFL/TESOL course

245 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course for volunteers
Intensive online TEFL/TESOL course (120h)

460 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course
Full board

35 €

per week
English language courses in Axim

150 €

Learn English in Axim - for RGV volunteers and interns
Fante and Twi language courses in Axim

150 €

Learning local language in Ghana - For volunteers and interns
Einzelzimmer

47 €

Per week
Surf lessons

160 €

Surf course on the Gold Coast in Ghana
Nzulezu day trip

110 €

Visit small Venice in Ghana
Ghana cooking class

150 €

Learn the traditional way of cooking in Ghana
Personal development introductory course

Free of charge

Two tools to get you started on your personal development

Axim Team
site

Isaac is the Volunteer Coordinator in Axim and responsible for the welfare of the volunteers. In doing so, he becomes musah and Mercy unterstützt.

Isaac is always excited to welcome and work with new volunteers. He also has good insider tips on the best places to spend time or shop in Axim/Esiama. Another contact person on site is Joel.

Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!

Testimonials

My experiences as Beach Cleanup Volunteer in Ghana

I decided on the beach project - a good decision as it turned out. I really liked the project and it was varied.

18.06.2020

Felix

More testimonials
Browse our magazine

RGV FAQ
to the project

How far in advance do I have to register?

Ideally your registration takes place at least 3-6 months before the desired departure date, But also short-term registrations are up 1-2 months before the planned departure is possible.

But it could be that your dream project is already booked. In this case we will try together to find a suitable alternative for you.

Can I travel with a friend or in a group?

Yes! On request we enable a double room if you for two with a friend or a friend, or an apartment or other suitable accommodation for groups.

We are very happy to enable our participants to go on a project and share accommodation with friends. Shared accommodation is usually possible both in the volunteer house and with the host family, although the room in the volunteer house may also be shared with other participants. In some locations there is also the option of sharing an apartment.

When registering, please always mention the person(s) traveling with you!

Can I combine projects?

Yes! You can combine projects at one location, at different locations, but also in different countries. It is also possible to combine a project with a trip. You can specify your desired combination directly when registering.

Combination options at a glance:

Combine programs in one country
Combine programs across countries
Combine a program with a language course
Combine a program with ours Adventure & Trips

There are a few things Project combinations to note: The minimum length of stay per project must be observed and you may incur additional costs for country combinations, for example for an intermediate flight.

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need for Ghana (Axim)?

For Ghana you have to apply for a visa in advance. It is best to get information from Foreign Office about the currently applicable entry regulations.

The visa should be applied for no earlier than three months before the flight to Ghana, otherwise it will expire. This is valid for up to 90 days and costs €110. The costs are €260 for six months and €360 for one year.

We will send you the necessary documents, such as a letter of invitation, as well as other important information in good time after your registration.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need for Ghana?

Proof of yellow fever and current Covid vaccination is required to enter Ghana.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What language skills do I need for the project?

In order to be able to communicate well with the team on site, you should definitely have good English skills.

What are the requirements for the environmental project?

No special prior knowledge is required to participate. Motivation, good health, the ability to work in a team, fun working outdoors and an interest in environmental issues are important.

What do I have to bring?

Long, neat clothing that covers knees and arms, and sturdy shoes.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Ghana? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

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Volunteer in conservation with turtles in Ghana

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