The GWF Volunteer Ghana program is a truly unique volunteer experience, unlike anything else being offered in Ghana. This page provides basic information regarding this experience. Interested individuals should fill out an initial application (below) in order to receive an introduction e-mail and program overview from the GWF staff.

What makes the GWF volunteer experience so different?

To begin with, GWF is NOT a volunteer organization. We are an American 501(c)(3) education-based organization. Our mission is to improve the educational opportunities for Ghanaian students through a unique approach to aid, an approach that relies heavily on service-learning (you can check out our mission statement here ). The GWF Volunteer Ghana program fits in perfectly with our mission, as we see volunteering abroad as the ultimate form of service learning (extreme service learning in a sense). Interested individuals can sign up with GWF for a learning experience of a lifetime; a learning experience that is both challenging and unique; a learning experience that will hopefully result in meaningful service to your host school/organization.

Service-Learning: It is important that you regard your experience in Ghana as a service-learning project. In fact, your effectiveness as a volunteer largely depends on this. In order to successfully complete any service-learning project, one must first fulfill the learning obligation. Thus, your time in Ghana should be learning centered. Arrive a blank slate and leave with a deep understanding, is our best advice to prospective volunteers. Those who go into their volunteer placement aiming to make a difference upon arrival often end up sadly disappointed. They have yet to learn. On top of this, their time in Ghana is too short, and so many of the obstacles too big. However, those who approach their time as a learning experience first and foremost, leave Ghana with the skills, the knowledge, and the connections to truly make a difference. Often times, it is only after leaving Ghana that the true service begins. What's more, GWF offers that bridge for the volunteer and school to stay connected after the volunteer experience is over. We also provide our volunteers with the guidance and tools necessary to truly make a difference at their host school upon returning home.

Second, GWF is NOT a volunteer organization. Yes, that was reason number one as well, but this distinction is doubly important. International volunteer agencies are in the volunteer business. This business is growing exponentially each year and more and more "organizations" are trying to get in on the action. But, make no mistake about it, this is a business, and a lucrative one at that. However, mixing business with aid is a slippery slope that often does more harm than good in the end. GWF realized this early on and to eliminate this contradiction is values we have taken profits out of the equation. In fact, we work hard to keep our volunteer opportunities and profits to a minimum! By taking this approach we can offer our volunteers something that the larger, well-known volunteer agencies can't: honesty, low costs, real relationships with our partner schools, and an opportunity to make a difference.

Honesty: When sending volunteers to a remote country so that they may help a group of strangers, the least you can give them is an honest evaluation of the situation they are getting into. Unfortunately, most volunteer organizations, (especially the larger, well known ones) cannot afford to be completely honest. They need to make money and fill quotas, and so they load their web sites with glowing personal accounts and "chance of a lifetime opportunities" without really preparing the volunteers for the realities on the ground. Sometimes this is a blatant advertising ploy, sometimes it is because the organizations don't really know what is happening at each school. In the end, nearly all volunteers land in Ghana with expectations that won't be met. Sometimes this blind ignorance is for the best, often times it is not. GWF purposely keeps our list of volunteer opportunities at a minimum. Therefore, we stay in tune with what is happening at each school. On top of this, we do not seek to make any money from your experience. Our reward comes when/if the volunteers make a positive impact with their host school/organization. In order for GWF to prepare our volunteers to do their best it is imperative that we are up front and honest from day one. If you are interested in learning the truth about volunteering in Ghana, the truth that other volunteer agencies won't tell you, fill out an initial application.

Low Costs: Because GWF is a 100% volunteer run organization, we do not have to pay our staff. Because we do not pay our staff we can keep our program fees lower than any other volunteer organization operating in Ghana. On top of this, we do not work with any "middle men" in Ghana (as the larger volunteer organizations do), therefore no one needs to get paid for any services. Besides the mandatory fees for room, board, and transportation, GWF takes a minimal program fee ($100) only if you are accepted. Our program fee covers the bare minimum expenses to run GWF (web site, a few supplies, minimal advertising). This fee can be waved for a number of reasons. On top of this, we monitor Ghana's and America's economy closely to provide up to the minute costs that are meant to make everyone - volunteers and hosts - happy. Because of the ever-fluctuating inflation of Ghana, and the similarly unsteady world economy, providing an exact cost on our web site is unfair. However, once an applicant is excepted a cost is agreed upon immediately between the host school and the volunteer. You can be guaranteed that this is the lowest cost offered to any volunteer in a similar situation. You can learn more about the costs of the GWF Volunteer Ghana program when you fill out the initial application below. A more detailed welcome packet will be mailed to you then.

Partner School Relationships: GWF purposely keeps our volunteer opportunities to a minimum so that we can work closely with each of the schools. Because of this, we are able to give you, the volunteer, specific details about all of our schools in order to prepare you for your volunteer experience. Upon acceptance into the GWF Volunteer Ghana program we provide volunteers with information about the schools, their accommodation, and their community. We also provide volunteers with the contact information to their host school, so that they can receive first person accounts of each school's situation. There is also a good chance that there will be other GWF sponsored projects and programs at the school, besides teaching, to get involved with. If there isn't, we can work with volunteers to create specific programs that may interest them and benefit the school. Finally, we encourage all volunteers to stay connected with their host schools. Therefore, GWF provides ex-volunteers with multiple opportunities to stay connected and to get involved with their host schools long after they have returned home.

Make A Difference: While other volunteer organizations offer the false promise of "making a difference" during your stay, GWF offers a more realistic approach: The GWF Volunteer Ghana program offers individuals the chance to visit Ghana and LEARN how they can truly make a difference in the lives and communities that they served. Making a real and lasting difference in a country like Ghana is most likely a long term commitment, not something that can be accomplished in one semester. In fact, even the volunteers who have stayed for a year, have realized that a year is about the time it takes to adjust to the cultural and learning differences of their students. Just in time for them to leave. A much more likely scenario and a more enjoyable one, is to visit Ghana with the mind set of seeing how you - with your skills and connections - can really make a difference in your host school or community. The chances are that you will find no easy solutions, rather only challenging possibilities. GWF is looking for volunteers who are ready and willing to take on these challenges and see through to the end these possibilities. GWF is ready and willing to help you!

Q: How do I sign up?

Step 1: Fill out the Application

Step 2: Upon completion of this initial application, prospective volunteers are sent an introduction e-mail along with a program overview packet that will provide a more detailed look into our volunteer program. If the GWF Volunteer Ghana program is right for you, we will move ahead with the application process. Please allow at least two months between your initial application and departure dates. Thank you!