Ghana: Children of Africa ™ 
Its villages will charm you, its scenery amaze you, and its children welcome you
Highlights
- Volunteer at a village primary school
- Confront history at the slave forts – check out the video
- Absorb social issues facing women and children
- Hike to the tallest waterfall in West Africa
- Learn traditional African dance and percussion
Overview
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 to where many African-Americans can trace their roots.
Besides volunteering to help local children, you will immerse yourself in the vibrant African culture, visit the historic slave forts on Cape Coast, and hike through lush tropical forests and large natural reserves home to monkeys and hundreds of species of birds and butterflies.
- Read student blog
: GLA Alum Rashaad describes the slave forts. - Read student blog : GLA Alum Leah Sodowick shares her essay about her experience 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 chalkboard and your own skills to share. Other service activities include making bricks that will be used in the construction of classrooms or engaging a group of youth in a soccer tournament.
- Read article
: GLA Alum Lauren Sundstrom talks about how her summer experience inspired her to start “Clothes for Hope” in Boston.
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.
- Read article : GLA Alum Mackenzie Kelleher talks about starting The Global Awareness Club at her school after returning from Africa.
Adventure
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 a 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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