Volunteer in Northern Ghana

RELIEVEMENT OF GHANAIAN DEPRIVED COMMUNITY SECTORS  

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  1. Travel planning
  2. Books
  3. Tips
  4. What to take
                                                  
                                                        Travel planning

As early as possible, but at least 2 1/2 months in advance. Think about what you would like to do in Ghana and about what kind of host family you wish. Fill in the form (see Contact) to see if a place is available.
At least 2 months in advance. On our confirmation for  email that a place is available, you make an appointment with Lianne van Rijssel for further consultation about your plans. If an appointment is not possible, this consultation can be done by telephone. Then you can complete the application form and send it to Abd Errachid Buzu in Italy. You will receive a confirmation letter at short notice and then you can start all the necessary preparations.
Within a fortnight of receiving the confirmation letter. Pay the participants' costs to "Cregdes" in Italy.
2 months in advance. Book your flight.
2 months in advance Go to your healthcare service for the necessary vaccinations (Yellow fever, DTP, Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis A & C, Typhoid fever and Malaria prophylaxes; Lariam or Malerone).
1 month in advance Organize your medical and travel insurances with the greatest care.
1 month in advance Go to the Ghanaian embassy in your own country for a volunteer visa. Make sure your passport is valid until at least 6 months after your planned return.
2 weeks in advance Buy travellers' cheques and/or credit card (Visa is more practical then Master) with pin code and organize some euros or dollars in cash for your first money change in Accra.
                                                          Books

  1. Ghana; the Bradt travel guide by Philip Briggs. The best travel guide for Ghana in English.
  2. Novels by the writer Ama Ata Aidoo from Ghana.
  3. Segou, I & II by Conde.
  4. Malidoma, written by Some, 1994. 
                                                     Tips
    1. You can take your mobile phone (SIM-lock free) to Ghana, and buy a local prepaid Sim-card. In this way you can call cheaply within Ghana, and friends and family can call you on this number (most countries have cheap entry numbers for foreign countries). 2. Take a 2 litres of water when you depart for Ghana. It is nice to have some water on the airplane and when you arrive in Accra you won't have to look for mineral water straight away.
                                          What to take
  • Big backpack
  • Small backpack
  • Sheets and pillow-case
  • Mosquito net (big size and impregnated)
  • Some string and a hook to hang your mosquito net from
  • Clothing; loose and light is the most comfortable. Shorts are not acceptable to the local population
  • Shoes and sandals
  • Towel
  • Toilet articles
  • Handkerchief (to wipe your sweaty face)
  • Box with wet tissues (preferably antiseptic)
  • Tampons (not available in Ghana)
  • Suntan lotion (not available in Ghana)
  • Body lotion
  • Lip cream
  • After-sun lotion
  • Mosquito repellent with 40% DEET
  • Azaron
  • Multi vitamins (to increase your resistance)
  • Echineaforce (also increases your resistance; it appears to diminish the chances of getting malaria)
  • ORS (to be used in case of dehydration)
  • Paracetamol
  • Disinfectant cream or alcohol
  • Band-aid and anti-septic gauze
  • A set of sterile hypodermic needles
  • Contact-lens solution (not available in Ghana)
  • Thermometer
  • Water disinfectant
  • Water bottle
  • A roll of toilet paper
  • Passport and visa (+ copies)
  • Cash
  • Travellers' cheques (+ a copy of the numbers)
  • Money belt
  • Airplane ticket + copy
  • Insurance papers + copies
  • International driving licence (if you have one) + copy
  • Vaccination papers and blood group data
  • Pocket torch (a head torch is practical)
  • Pocket knife
  • Photo camera and films (available in Ghana, but quite expensive)
  • Mobile phone + charger
  • Adapter from European/American to British power points (in Ghana they use British power points)
  • Travel alarm-clock
  • Walkman
  • Addresses of family and friends
  • Travel guide (the Bradt guide is best)
  • Pen, paper, diary
  • Dictionary (if your mother language isn't English)
  • Novels and games
  • Pictures of your family and of your home country
  • Some typical souvenirs from your home country that can serve as presents