1. Volunteer in Africa: Ghana
WEBINARS
Tuesday, July 17th
4:00-5:00 p.m. EDT
www.crossculturalsolutions.org

2. Introductions
Pete Bryan
Program Advisor – Senior Team Leader
Alumnus of CCS Brazil, China, Costa
Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, and
Morocco
Sara Young
Program Advisor
Alumna of CCS Ghana and Peru

3. Agenda
• Introductions
• Review of Agenda
• About CCS
• About CCS Ghana
• Life in Ghana
• The CCS Experience
• Volunteer Work
• Home-Base
• CCS Ghana Staff
• Cultural & Learning Activities
• Free Time & Weekends
• Pre-departure support
• Questions & Answers
• Next Steps

4. About CCS
Our Approach
Respecting Local Expertise in
Community Development
• Volunteer Placements
• Placement Process
• Partner Programs
• In-Country Staff
• Cultural Immersion
• Home-Base located in a residential
community
• Cultural & Learning Activities Our Mission is to operate volunteer
programs around the world in
• Fostering Relationships partnership with sustainable community
initiatives, bringing people together to
work side-by-side while sharing
• Flexibility perspectives and fostering cultural
• 4 Programs, 12 Countries, and Year- understanding. We are an international
not-for-profit organization with no
Round Start Dates political or religious affiliations.

5. About CCS Ghana Experience the culture and
warmth of West African people
• Over 2,200 CCS volunteers have been sent to
Ghana since 1998 – nearly15 years!
• Located in the Volta Region
• All programs offered: Volunteer & Insight
Abroad, Intern Abroad, Teen Volunteer
Abroad

6. Life in Ghana
• Hohoe is a warm, welcoming, friendly
environment, unlike any other country you’ve
been to.
• Often referred to as the “Gateway to Africa”
• Close-knit community and easy-going nature
• Volunteers have a chance to relax and unplug
while volunteering and making a difference

7. The CCS Experience
A TYPICAL DAY
•Breakfast
•Volunteer at your placement in the
morning
•Lunch
•Welcome a local group and learn a
traditional dance
•Dinner
•Play cards with fellow volunteers,
discuss weekend plans, & talk with
the in-country staff about your
placement

8. Volunteer Work Ensuring our Volunteer's Impact on
the Community Remains Positive
Volunteer Placements -
Teaching and Caregiving
• Mainly children, ages 7-10
• Teach basic subjects (reading & writing in
English, math, etc.) or co-curricular subjects
(dance, athletics, art, etc.)
• Teach students with special needs such as a
school for the deaf
• Caring for children in nurseries and day care
centers

9. Volunteer Work Ensuring our Volunteer's Impact on
the Community Remains Positive
Volunteer Placements -
Healthcare & Community Development
• General care in a health care center
• Nurse and/or administration assistance
• Nursing/health background preferred
however, volunteers with no background
can observe first before assisting

10. Volunteer Work Ensuring our Volunteer's Impact on
the Community Remains Positive
Volunteer Placements -
Teen Volunteer Abroad
• Teaching & caring for children ages 7-10
• Community development projects

11. Volunteer Work Ensuring our Volunteer's Impact on
the Community Remains Positive
Volunteer Placements -
Intern Abroad
• Area of focus available: healthcare,
education, social services
• Intern Supervisor
• Pre-departure process
• Summary project

12. CCS Home-Base
Your Home Away From Home
• Safe & comfortable living environment
• 24-hour staff presece
• Resource Center
• Meals: Three delicious authentic meals
a day by CCS staff cooks & safe
drinking water provided
• Transportation: Airport pick-up and
drop-off, and safe transportation to &
from volunteer placement
• Communication: Phone access &
some Internet access

13. CCS Ghana Staff
In-Country Support
Providing Expert Support for our
Volunteers and Partners in the Community
• Strong history & presence in the community
• Year-round CCS Staff & members of the
local community
• Director & Program Managers
• Makafui Amenuvor
• Cooks, housekeepers, licensed drivers
• Security
• Alfa, Security Guard – A favorite among
volunteers; warm, friendly, and an
impressive geography guru that
volunteers can’t stop talking about.

14. Cultural & Learning Activities
Cultural Immersion
Getting the Insider’s Perspective
• Batik making – Fabric dying method; staple of
Ghanaian culture
• Traditional Drumming & Dancing
• Trip to the highest waterfall in Western Africa!
• Mountain Hiking
• Monkey Sanctuary
• Language lessons
• Guest speakers – Range from Health &
education to folklore & fairytales

15. Free Time
A Chance to Explore the Community On Your Own
Afternoons & Weekends
• Re-live Cultural & Learning Activities!
• Shopping for Ghanaian clothing, musical
instruments, etc.
• Hiking trails
• Kakum National Park, Cape Coast Historical
site and possible
• Historical site including canopy walks,
and tree-house stays
• Lake Volta (Day trip or overnight)
• Fishing & boating
• Walking to meet people!

16. Enrollment & Pre-departure Support
Support From • CCS HQ Staff were all volunteers before they were staff
• We work closely with local organizations to match
Start to Finish volunteer skills with the needs of the community
• Alumni references & fundraising support
• Staff Support: PAs, PSSs, In-Country,
AES
• Travel Documents and Necessities
• Passport, visa, & vaccinations
• Things to bring: Snacks, walking
shoes, bathing suit, sunscreen, and
energy!
• Climate: Lowest temperature: 60° F
• Rain season in Ghana is mild
• We’ll advise you on how to pack for the
time of year you travel

17. Questions?

18. www.crossculturalsolutions.org
Determine where, when, & for how long you want
to volunteer:
Next www.crossculturalsolutions.org/enroll/enroll-checklist
Steps
Contact a Program Advisor
1-800-380-4777, Monday-Friday 9am-9pm EDT
Pete: pete@crossculturalsolutions.org
Sara: sara@crossculturalsolutions.org
Stay In Touch Upcoming Info Sessions
•Charlottesville, VA (July 17th)
facebook.com/crossculturalsolutions •Hollywood, CA (July 26th)
twitter.com/volunteerabroad •New York, NY (July 28th)
•Santa Monica, CA (July 29th)
youtube.com/ccsvolunteerabroad •Albuquerque, NM (Aug 9th)
ccscommunity.com
Find more events near you:
pinterest.com/volunteerabroad www.crossculturalsolutions.org/events