Ghana: Children of Africa ™ 
Ghana is often called the heart and soul of West Africa because of its welcoming, passionate, and peaceful people. It is a particularly important place, because it is where many African-Americans can trace their roots.
Come discover the Volta Region of Ghana, an area well known for its traditional African religion, kente cloth weaving, storytelling, drumming, and dancing. The northern part of the region is mountainous with lush tropical forests, and large natural reserves are home to monkeys and hundreds of species of birds and butterflies.
Besides volunteering to help local children, you will immerse yourself in the vibrant African culture and visit the historic slave forts on Cape Coast.
Highlights
- Visit the haunting slave forts in Cape Coast. Watch a brief video about the forts.
- Meet traditional healers and spiritual leaders
- Befriend local children while volunteering at a village school
- Explore hidden waterfalls and traditional villages in the Volta Region
Check out GLA alumna Rashaad’s blog about his experience volunteering abroad in Ghana.
Community Service
Service is an integral part of this program. You will volunteer in orphanages and schools working with Ghanaian children. Many children do not have access to education, and there is a lack of adequate facilities, books and qualified teachers. You may find yourself teaching a group of kids in a classroom with no electricity or even under a tree with only a chalk board and your own skills to share. Other service activities include arts and crafts, tree planting, brick making, sports or English tutoring.
Hands-on Learning
Through a variety of cultural activities, you will become immersed in this rich African culture. We’ll participate in workshops such as cloth making, drumming, and Ewe language crash courses. Additionally, we will meet with inspirational grassroots leaders to learn how they are addressing the pressing issues facing Ghanaian women and children today.
You will have the unique opportunity to meet with local tribe members and chiefs to engage in a deep analysis of traditional religion, the social construction of gender, the tribal system of chiefs, as well as the distinctive history of Ghana. Originally one of the hubs of the Atlantic Slave Trade, today Ghana has become a peaceful, democratic state.
Adventure
During the week we’ll visit some of the local sites, but on the first weekend we’ll travel deep into the Volta Region where we’ll hike to one of the tallest waterfalls in West Africa, visit a Monkey Sanctuary and learn how to weave kente cloth at traditional weaving village.
Students participating on the 21-day Flagship Program will spend the second weekend exploring the legendary and haunting slave forts including Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle. The Elmina Castle was one of the most frequented stops in the Atlantic Slave Trade, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll spend the night at a beachside hotel near the slave forts and also hike along rope bridges through the canopy of a rain forest.
Lodging
GLA operates two Home Bases in southeast Ghana, each located approximately 3.5 hours from Accra, the capital city. They are both typical African compounds in a rural village setting. Accommodations are basic, but clean and safe. The Home Bases have shared bathrooms and cold-water showers. All students sleep in gender-segregated rooms in bunk beds, with roommates.
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