Rural communities in Ghana often don’t have access to proper childcare facilities. Volunteers on the Childcare project can help to address this by assisting with all aspects of early childhood education and helping make sure these children have what they need to develop and thrive. This is done in an informal manner, with less classroom time and more support outside lessons.

As a Childcare volunteer you’ll be based in local schools where you’ll assist local teachers with younger students. There may also be the opportunity to introduce your own educational activities and lessons.

Childcare volunteer work varies but usually includes:

• Providing care and support to children
• Assisting with homework
• Sharing your language and culture
• Playing games
• Helping with food preparation and meal distribution

You’re welcome to bring along books, pencils, basic first aid supplies and musical instruments to help your volunteering. These supplies can generally be purchased in Ghana, which also supports the local economy.

Please note the school year ​is broken up into three terms, with four week breaks in between. ​Because you generally work with children in schools, if you apply for the Childcare project during ​holiday ​breaks, it may be unavailable. During these times, you’re able to work with school directors and placement staff on school holiday workshops instead. These often include fun and physical activities that you will be able to lead in English​.

When you volunteer in Ghana with Helping Hand Ghana, you’ll get the opportunity to experience the country’s vibrant, diverse culture and get to know the people who are said to be some of the friendliest locals in Western Africa.

While Ghana is a rapidly developing country which has seen an economic upturn in the last decade, there are still many places where people face the challenges poverty brings. This is especially true outside of the major cities in the rural areas where volunteers are most needed. Programs are based in the rural and central areas of Ghana.

Rural volunteer placements are typically in low-income areas which often lack the funding, labor and resources they need to develop their communities. By choosing to volunteer in Ghana you can make a real difference by assisting with local initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life for the people who live there.

While volunteering in a children's home in Ghana, some of your duties will involve teaching small classes, and helping to organise structured games and activities. We run free educational sessions for local children and you may be asked to help out with these.

Helping to foster a sense of family and community at the home is hugely important. In addition, you will be expected to engage in a wide range of other activities, depending on the specific needs of your placement. This will include plenty of practical work such as cleaning, laundry, cooking and washing the dishes, as well as painting classrooms and gardening. 

As a childcare volunteer, you’ll be adding value to the local community, whiles developing personally and professionally by:

- Improving access to education and food for rural children

- Helping children develop life skills in a safe place

- Developing your communication skills

- Gaining childcare experience

- Working with local teachers

- Immersing yourself fully in the Ghanian way of life

- Discovering Ghana’s history and culture

Typical Day

Volunteers in Ghana childcare programmes are generally expected to work at their placement five days a week. Weekday mornings will start with breakfast with other volunteers, before you start working at around 8.30am. Children tend to learn best during the mornings, so your initial duties may well involve teaching a small class of children. At around 12pm you’ll get a break for lunch, which you can take with other volunteers and local staff. Afternoons are often devoted to games and activities and it will be your job to help run these. 

You will generally finish your placement at around 4pm, though you’ll find that the children will often want you stay around to play more! After your placement you’ll get a chance to unwind with other volunteers and local team members over dinner, and we often organise games and activities of our own in the evenings. 

You will arrive in Ghana at Accra Airport (ACC). 

Most volunteers fly into Ghana in the evening. As you disembark, the first thing that you’ll notice is the humidity. You will walk across the tarmac to the arrivals building and pass through immigration control to the baggage reclaim area. Once you have your luggage, you need to go through customs. Be ready to have your bags opened by security staff as this is done routinely even when you go through the "nothing to declare" channel.

As you walk out of the airport building, you will be met by a wall of people on the other side of a barrier. It might seem overwhelming at first, but one of our staff members will be there to meet you with a Helping Hand Ghana Placard. Seeing a friendly face there to welcome you and take you to your accommodation will immediately put you at ease.

As soon as you land in Accra, usually on Sundays, you will be met by our partners and brought to the hostel. Within the next two days you will get to know Ghana and its culture through initial information workshops and activities.

The main aim of this orientation is to help you get used to the local conditions and the heat. You will also receive important information on the topics of health, money, safety, food, customs, work and travel - and maybe you will learn a little "Twi" or another Ghanaian language.

On Tuesday you will travel to your place of work and will receive another orientation event there over the next three days as well as an introduction to the community and the upcoming project work. .

Accommodation is included in the program. First you will be accommodated in Accra in a shared room in the hostel with half board. During the volunteer work you either live with a host family (with breakfast and dinner;or in the volunteer house with half board during the week and full board at the weekend.

In the volunteer house you share a room with two or three other volunteers. The volunteer house is equipped with a kitchen, shared bathroom, fan and mosquito nets. Sometimes the project also offers overnight accommodation.You can specify your accommodation preferences when booking. We try to take your wishes into account, but there are not volunteer houses in all locations.

There is WiFi access available at local cafes and restaurants in a nearby village, which is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the volunteer accommodation. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.

Volunteers are provided with 3 meals at the host family's accommodation. Ghanaian cuisine consists primarily of starches, soups, beans, meat, and fish.

The Starches consist mainly of rice and doughy balls made from mashed cassava, plantain or yams.  Famous Ghanaian dishes include Banku and Fufu. Participants are given a mix of local and western meals.

Volunteering in Ghana is an ideal way to explore this colourful West African country. There’s a huge variety of different activities to do while you’re there, giving you plenty of exciting ways to spend your free time.

Music is a central part of Ghanaian culture. In the bigger towns, especially Accra, you will hear some great live bands and have some memorable nights out. Evenings spent at buzzing restaurants will also give you a taste of some of the delicious local cuisine.

For a look into Ghana’s history, you can tour the slave forts of Cape Coast and visit museums. Nature lovers will relish trekking through Shai Hills, Kakum National Park or Mole National Park. You can explore the country solo or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.