FAMILY VOLUNTEERING VACATION – Ghana Volunteers

They are short-term programs that are designed to fit in with your children’s school semesters and school holidays. Our family volunteering programs range from 1-week to 2-weeks with flexible start dates, making them ideal for families traveling with children under the age of 18. We work closely with you to tailor the program to suit your interests, age groups, and needs. See below for more details on each of our family volunteer destinations.

Our family volunteers can choose existing programs helping children with English teaching in school in India, after school clubs in Accra, or working with sea turtles, and school renovation projects in Agona Swedru. Volunteering with your family allows you to collectively enhance the lives of others while deepening bonds amongst yourself as a family. Our programs instill the importance of responsible travel and philanthropy, whilst demonstrating the importance of family teamwork to overcome odds and achieve common goals.

What is involved

Your volunteering program will be between 1 to 2 weeks in total and you will be based in Accra, Agona Swedru or Koforidau, living with a host family. Our host families have all been carefully selected so every volunteer will get the opportunity to get to know the local people and fully immerse themselves into the Ghanaian culture; we find that placing teachers with host families allows for the most authentic travel and you will definitely be well looked after.

The families we work with are extremely hospitable and welcoming, and they will treat you as a member of their own family. Main meals will be included during your stay so you will have the chance to taste real Ghanaian cooking and you will have plenty of time during evenings and weekend to go exploring or sightseeing in and around your region. Your teaching experience will require you to teach English and Maths to students aged between 6 years and 13 years in local schools and in local community centers.

Volunteers must also have some flexibility and have the desire to help out in other areas too, as every school is different and will have its own needs. You may work with students in other subjects such as sports, art or music.

We often place family groups and happen to think that there’s no better way of spending time together than volunteering to help others! There are a few things to consider when volunteering as family and the notes below may help with your planning.

Family Volunteering

Can we volunteer as a family?

Age: Generally we recommend that children be over 5 years of age to volunteer. It is often possible for us to make arrangements whereby families stay together and some family members volunteer or take turns volunteering. Contact us to see what might work best for your family group.

Accommodation: Typically we offer dormitory style or host family accommodation. It may be necessary to make alternative arrangements for your family group and we will work through the options and costs with you.

Suitable programs: Depending on the age range of your group it is often best to choose programs that work with either children or animals.

Cost: Flights are often the biggest cost factor, particularly when travelling as a group, so be sure to research these when deciding on a destination.

Applying: Generally children under 13 years can be included on an adult application, under the ‘Group volunteering’ section. Participants aged 13+ should submit their own application.

Fees: All volunteers pay program fees to cover the cost of hosting them and arranging the placement. In addition volunteers register with us. The registration fee is EURO 300 for all volunteers 17 years and over.

What programs are recommended for families?

We’ve got you covered – with over 8 programs in 4 destinations in Ghana, there are a large number of programs that are perfectly suited for family volunteer groups.

Love Volunteers program options for family groups generally include the Childcare & Development, Environment & Conservation, Wildlife & Animals, and Construction & Outdoor Work programs, and these options are available in almost all of the countries we work in.

Other program options are also available in some counties. Contact us now to discuss the best option for your family.

What programs are recommended for families?

We’ve got you covered – with over 8 programs in 4 destinations in Ghana, there are a large number of programs that are perfectly suited for family volunteer groups.

Ghana – Volunteers program options for family groups generally include the Childcare & Development, Environment & Conservation, Wildlife & Animals, and Construction & Outdoor Work programs, and these options are available in almost all of the countries we work in.

Other program options are also available in some counties. Contact us now to discuss the best option for your family.

Which programs are the most family-friendly?

We’ve found that the most family-friendly programs are those that work with children, animals or the environment. On the childcare programs, your children will be able to play with the children in care and create lasting friendships. The animal and conservation programs are also a great option as they often allow volunteers to get ‘stuck in’ on a project together and feel that sense of achievement as a family on completion. Please note that during your volunteer program, children and teenagers under the age of 18 will need to be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

Do you recommend volunteering as a family?

Absolutely! Volunteering is an amazing experience – so to share this as a family could be one of the most important family vacations you ever take. Giving ones time in support of others or to help make the world a better place highlights important values – compassion, a desire to help and share, understanding, work ethic, selflessness, and importantly, it raises awareness of the world and what real life is like for so many millions of people. The wonderful times, the joy of helping others, and even the trials and tribulations of being outside of your comfort zone, will undoubtedly strengthen family bonds and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Love Volunteers have many family-friendly programs throughout the world that offer fantastic family experiences. From working with children to environmental programs, there are sure to be a number of programs to best suit the needs, ages and requisites of your family group. Contact us with your requirements and one of our team will be in touch with some exciting recommendations.

How long are the family-friendly programs?

The possibilities are endless! How much time do you have to give? We have programs suitable for families that range from one week to months on end. While some programs have minimum requirements of two – four weeks, many are happy to simply work within your travel itinerary and vacation time. Our team will help you find a program to suit your needs and other travel desires. Our team know the locations well and can recommend other destinations and experiences that will work with your volunteering plans. Some programs even offer additional sightseeing and tour options as another way to raise essential funds for their program. This is a further way your family can help support the wonderful work these organizations do in their communities.

What type of accommodation is best suited for family groups?

We’ve found that family groups with young children are best suited to staying in volunteer guesthouses and with host families, rather than in dormitory situation. Staying with a host family will be a unique cultural immersion experience, giving your family a true glimpse of the lives of others. You’ll get to learn more about the people, the food and the culture. Your children will love playing with their host family’s children, showing there’s no cultural barrier to having fun! And one of the best things, is that you’re likely to make friends for life. It’s through interactions such as these that true learnings are made and cultural understanding is reached. Volunteer guesthouses are also a great option for families with older children/teenagers.

In many locations it is also possible to arrange your own accommodation if preferred and the program fees are adjusted accordingly. Just get in touch with our team to discuss the best option for your family group.