Feb 22, 2013 ... Information Pack ... Maranatha Community school is the only school provision for
... Building Project at Maranatha Community School, Ada.
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Updated 22
February 2013
GHANA 2013 Sports Development Projects Information Pack
Itinerary Disclaimer The itinerary attached is correct at time of writing. Please note our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research. This itinerary is given as a guide only and is subject to change. Many factors need to be taken into consideration when organizing the final itinerary including political considerations, road and weather conditions, social or economical unrest and local or national government interventions or changes. This may mean a change of village and project or placement location at the last minute. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you review a final copy of this a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Contents: 1. Ghana Projects Info 2. Accommodation and Location 3. Travel Visas 4. Arrival and Departure 5. Weekly Itinerary 6. Food 7. Weekends 8. Communications 9. Language 10. What to bring 11. Money
1. Ghana Projects Info Join a group of like minded volunteers to experience and contribute to daily life in a Ghanaian community. Madventurer was started in Ghana and has been in Ghana for 15 years. Currently we have projects in Ada Foah and Shia. Please note you can combine different projects. Sports Development Project (Ada) Education Project (Ada) Community and Building Projects (Ada and Shia) Fair-trade Cocoa Project (Shia) Part Time Medic Placement (Ada) So why not take part in a unique experience where you can really make a difference to a Ghanaian community!
Sports Development Project, Ada Madventurer ‘sports for development’ project is predominantly based at Maranatha Community School, on the estuary at Ada Foah. The school has been established for several years now and is the only source of education for children in the highly deprived fishing village surrounding it. The school currently provides basic education for students from the nursery level, through kindergarten, to primary 6 and it hopes to expand to the Junior Secondary level in forthcoming years. Children learn all basic subjects including Maths, English, Science, RME, Citizenship and Dangbe.
Sports Volunteers Role, Ada Sports volunteers will take on a number of roles depending upon their particular interests and specialism. The students have scheduled PE lessons every Friday and sometimes at other points during the week. Volunteers can take full control of these sessions which are usually unstructured and unmonitored by local teachers- teach the children warm up activities and stretches, play games and try new activities with them. In addition to this, the school warmly welcomes volunteers wishing to teach swimming to small groups of students in the estuary - an essential skill for those living so close to the water, learning to fish and possibly taking it up as a way to earn a living in the future. After school coaching sessions are also welcomed by the students, particularly the school has a football team, and matches can be arranged following coaching with a nearby school in the estuary. The children also have a keen interest in volleyball and are more than willing to try new skills that you can teach them - try showing them something different if you have it to offer. Please note that although there will be a large sporting element to your project, children will be in lessons from 8am until 2pm, and volunteers will be expected to assist in the classrooms when they are not conducting sports based activities.
Other volunteering activities you may want to get involved in: Education and Community Development Project, Ada Ada Foah has one of the lowest level incomes in Ghana and we hope to help alleviate this by supporting not only school pupils but the wider community. Volunteers can organise after school clubs and give children the opportunity to experience new activities such as arts and crafts. Evening classes for parents would also be greatly beneficial to increase education levels and increase job prospects. Volunteers are encouraged to involve themselves as much as possible in these parts of the education project. Just chat to your overseas crew and school representative about your interests.
Many of the children in the area are from the surrounding fishing village so they will have grown up speaking their local tribal dialect and little English. English is officially the national language of Ghana so this instantly puts these children at a disadvantage, particularly when they get older as all their lessons will be taught in English. Maranatha Community school is the only school provision for children living in the villages along the estuary in Ada Foah. Many of the children are forced to work due to poverty and uneducated parents, who see this as the best route for them to take. This leads to sporadic attendance and minimal exposure to education. Education and Community Volunteers Role, Ada The school is very basic and has few resources so volunteers should be prepared for this. However, this makes your contribution to the school all the more valuable so the more you get stuck in the more you will be able to see the amazing results you achieve! Maranatha has 85 pupils in total with ages from 4 to 15 years old. They study Maths, English, Dangbe, Citizenship, Integrated Science, Creative Arts, ICT, and Religious and moral education. As a volunteer you could help out with any or all of these classes. Your role will begin as a classroom assistant, working with a local class teacher, from here, as you gain confidence you can spend time working with small groups of children or individuals separately, particularly to improve their English. You may also wish to take over the teaching of some subjects yourself, when you are ready to do so, let your crew leader know. The Ghanaian dialect is often difficult to understand so they will also be keen for you to help teach spoken English, pronunciation, silent letters etc. Building Projects If you join a Building Project you can split your time between the main Build and teaching at a local school. Working alongside local builders, staying in the community and spending time with the kids, you'll become an essential part of the community. This project will tackle needs that have been identified by your host community to ensure that your financial and physical investment is sustainable long into the future. Madventurer was started in Ghana and has been in Ghana for 15 years. Currently we have projects in Ada Foah and Shia. With the average Ghanaian wage in villages being 1-2 dollars a day, most communities find it difficult to find the funds needed to repair their schools and build further facilities which are necessary for a healthy and standard learning environment for their children. The type of building project we get involved in varies and depends on volunteer numbers. In the past we have helped to build sanitation blocks, water storage tanks, school classrooms, clinics, community halls, basic housing and much more. In 2013 we are aiming to complete building work on new classrooms at school and a new crèche at a hospital in Ada, and also a HQ for a FairTrade farmers cooperative in Shia. The key to any project is the partnership between our team and the local community. As well as bringing essential funding to the project, the presence of a team of Volunteers in the village community can be a great motivator to local people. No previous building experience necessary, we hire local tradesmen or craftsmen to do the specialised work.
Fair Trade Cocoa Project HQ Build, Shia The MAD Foundation sets out to work alongside cocoa farmers in Shia to create a rich environment as well as develop an enterprising, self-sustainable income generator for the community and NORDU area. Our aims are to ensure better conditions, raise awareness and build a sustainable livelihood for the farmers and this rural village in Ghana. We aim to achieve this through building a cocoa production building and staff headquarters in the village, promoting the importance of fair-trade organic farming and ensuring effective implementation, and assisting with the farming of the cocoa from plantation through to production. To achieve these goals we need help. The team of volunteers will learn about fair-trade cocoa production, work alongside farmers on the cocoa farm and assist with the implementation of increased income generation with the farmers and community. Volunteers will also be required to assist with some construction and renovation work on the cocoa project headquarters and production building, to ensure the sustainability of this production process. We will work on the cocoa project (involving transporting seedlings to local farmers, helping plant the seedlings, imparting any knowledge on fair trade). Madventurer volunteers will be implementing and driving a project which will not only develop this particular community but which also champions better working conditions and ethical food production globally. Volunteers will be gaining experience in environmental conservation, ethical fair-trade farming and production, education and hands-on construction and renovation. Building Project at Maranatha Community School, Ada There is a need for major building works at Maranatha Community School, as much of the school was destroyed in recent storms. Larger groups of volunteers can help with building. Currently the school operates in a number of bamboo classrooms with little protection from the elements and poor facilities. Construction of a concrete structure to house the school is now underway with a number of classrooms almost complete. There is however much more to do and Madventurer will assist in the completion of this work in from May 2013. Four classrooms have already been started and another six are needed for the older children. We also would like to start building 12 toilets as there are currently no facilities at the school. You could get involved with building along with teaching or sports coaching at Maranatha or a combination of them all! There are also no toilets in the community itself- forcing residents to relieve themselves on the beach, so Madventurer are hoping to assist in the completion of a community toilet block which is also standing incomplete due to a lack of funding. We recommend volunteers interested in getting involved in building work bring gloves to protect their hands. Please be aware that there are school holidays for 3 weeks over Easter (around April) and Summer (mid July, August and some of September) holidays which your trip may coincide with. School holidays in Ghana can change dates suddenly and at short notice. Your trip may coincide with a school holiday in which case there may be summer school on the beach – mostly involving sports and creative activities.
Crèche Building Project at Dangme Hospital, Ada Currently there are 3 medically trained doctors at Dangme East District Hospital. Three doctors work full time for six months of the year, for the other six months there are only 2 full time doctors at the hospital. With the volume of patients that come to the hospital there is an intense need for nurses and all staff to assist the doctors and be fully focused on their work, improving the standard and quality of care. This can be achieved by having their children close by but cared for at their workplace. Currently the hospital has over 50 nurses along with hospital staff, accounts staff and cleaners. In total over 75% of the hospital staff are female, many of whom are of child bearing age. The purpose of a crèche at the hospital would be primarily to serve all staff members, allowing them to leave their children in a safe environment while they were at work. Currently staff have their children with them, many are young and disturb their work as they need attention and care during the day. The staff often carry their children on their back or leave their young children around the hospital to roam the corridors which disrupts other colleagues and patients. In the surrounding area there are schools but no childcare facility. Staff don’t want to put their children in a facility far away from their workplace due to expense and the desire keep them close by, especially if they are younger children. A childcare facility would allow staff to check on and feed their children while on breaks from work. Currently nurses and other staff who are posted to the hospital are put off by the lack of childcare facilities. It is hoped that the crèche would help to attract and retain staff. The crèche would also be able to cater to the wider community as many of the people working in the area are farmers who also take their young children to work, this facility would also allow them to increase productivity as their children are cared for. A physiotherapist at the hospital who has a 2 year old son and his wife is expecting another baby also brings his children to work claimed that staff are deterred from bringing their family to the district because of this issue and leave them to live elsewhere. He added that a crèche would motivate us to bring our family and stay here. Volunteers can be part of this well deserving project by helping to make this dream a reality. The land has already been allocated just outside of the hospitals grounds, where the volunteers can help with the building work. The initial structure would compromise of two small rooms for the children and a washroom. The work will also be supported by the hospital; however they will not be able to fund the entire project without outside support. The work is scheduled for late June and throughout August 2013.
Medic Placements, Ada Those training towards medical qualifications, can work alongside local staff and learn from them. Volunteers without qualifications but with an interest in a medical field, or in training, can assist local staff in patient care and shadow hospital staff. Madventurer operates Placements in Dangme District Hospital. This hospital was set up 9 years ago and has a maternity ward, operating theatre and separate male and female wards. This is a very busy hospital and per year Dangme District Hospital sees 4,000 patients and 30,000 out patients. In particular, the maternity ward accounts for half of the hospital’s 250 operations a year. Depending on medical experience, volunteers can help with a range of medical procedures, assist the doctors and nurses, and undertake counseling sessions, predominantly with patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. Those with professional qualifications who submit their CV to Madventurer well in advance (the hospital needs three months to arrange permits for any qualified medics) will be allowed to undertake some of the activities they are qualified in, including nursing and seeing patients. Those with no experience may be able to go to the hospital one day a week for work experience and so their volunteering time must be combined with another project, however they are not required to obtain the work permit. In Ghana the pace of life is very relaxed and sometimes will be slow compared to what you may be used to, so if you find yourself waiting around to be attended to then you have to make sure your voice is heard, particularly when you are trying to learn something. These cultural differences are to be celebrated and it is best to spend your first few days trying to settle into the pace and finding your feet. Always ask questions and don’t be scared to ask too many of them as if you are quiet the medical staff will assume that you are content. Forming a good working relationship with the doctors that are available is advisable and means you can ask more direct questions and get a better insight into Ghanaian health provision. The project supervisor has asked that you bring a supply of surgical gloves with you and any up to date medical textbooks that you might have that you don't mind leaving behind. You may also find it useful to carry hand sanitising gel and a stethoscope to assist with your activities. Qualified medical professionals may also wish to bring some medical clothing to wear for work, e.g. scrubs or a nurse’s smock. Likewise, any of the items below if left behind would be very much appreciated. What to take: Medic Placement specific Scrubs Stethoscope (if you have one it might be useful for your placement) White Coat / nurses smock Alcohol gel / handwash (limited or no supplies in Ghanaian hospitals) Medical dictionary (Optional)
2. Accommodation and Location
Ada is in the Dangme East District in Ghana which has approximately 300,000 people and one of the highest ratios of orphans to non-orphans in Ghana. In addition, there are many abandoned “street” children whose parents have fled the District. The salt industry in the area created a temporary workforce, rather than creating a sustainable working community. Instead of bringing wealth to the people, the Songor lagoon, the largest salt producing water body in the country, has left high poverty rates and hundreds of one-parent families trying to cope with life’s daily challenges. Ada Foah has one of the lowest level incomes in Ghana and we hope to help alleviate this by supporting not only school pupils but the wider community. Our other project location is the village of Shia located 30-40 minutes from the larger town of Ho in the Volta region of Ghana. Surrounded by a lush green landscape on the border of Ghana's Volta Region and Togo, volunteers will also enjoy the nature, wildlife and village way of life during this project. Shia has a population of 3,000 and the area of NORDU has a population of 30,000. The main occupation for women over 18 is farming and the main occupation for men is cocoa plantation work. Accommodation is in a shared house with the other volunteers in your group. Your house will be close to a water source but may not have running water. You will have a shower cubicle either indoor or outdoor and you will take the traditional 'bucket shower'. Electricity may not be available but alternatives will be provided. Electricity is not always available as Ghana is prone to power cuts. The standard of the accommodation is basic and will not be what you are used to at home so please don’t expect all mod cons, but it should be clean and tidy. Our crew in the Mad House should be around for any help, advice and support. Beds will be mattresses on the floor and bedrooms are shared with your fellow adventurers. You may have a social area such as a living room and there may be a garden to enjoy relaxing in after school. Storage will be limited and you are strongly advised not to take any valuable items with you including mp3 players, jewellery, expensive cameras etc. Your accommodation is selected in a secure, proximate location to the school. A local cook is provided which often will be a member of the host family within whose house you are staying.
3. Visa For entry to Ghana, you will require a Tourist Visa, which must be obtained before you leave your home country. You can apply for a Ghana Tourist Visa in the UK either by online application now directly from the Ghana High Commissions website or in person only. They are no longer accepting postal applications. This visa info is correct at the time of writing however, visa requirements can change and you should check with the relevant visa office before departure. You will need to arrange a Ghana Visa well in advance of your departure date for most nationalities. Please check requirements for your nationality. You are responsible for organising your own travel visa for Ghana which needs to be done well in advance of your departure date. Please be aware that visa requirements may change, so you should check with the Ghana High Commission that’s appropriate to your nationality or country of residence. You can find this by doing a quick “Google” search online. Please check with current recommendations as travel advice can be updated throughout the year. Visas are normally only valid for entry to Ghana within 3 months of issue (for most nationalities). If you apply for your visa more than 3 months in advance of your arrival in Ghana, the Ghana High Commission will hold onto your application and passport, and process it later to ensure that you are within the 3 months validity. You must be in possession of a full passport (not temporary), valid for at least six months after the project or adventure. If this is not the case, or if there is too much of a difference between your appearance now and your appearance on your passport photo, then you should apply for a new passport and allow plenty of time for the processing of your application. If you plan to travel to Togo for the weekend, or to any of Ghana’s neighbours after your Project be sure to get a multiple entry visa so that you can return to Ghana for the rest of your placement / flight home!
UK Nationals applying for a Ghana Travel Visa We have a guide available for visa applications for UK Nationals. The link below will take you to the Ghana High Commission for UK Nationalities in London. This will give you more details on how to obtain your visa, costs, how long the process will take, what you need to include, payment, postage methods etc. Please make sure you read the information carefully and that you give yourself enough time to get your Ghana visa sorted (Opening hours, bank holidays, weekends etc). The type of visa we have been instructed to use is the “(B2) Temporary Tourist Visitor Visa”. Again it’s the single or multiple entry depending on whether you plan to leave Ghana, during your trip. Visa Section https://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/Passports/VisaApplication.aspx
This link below is the Ghana High Commission website if you require any other details. Their opening hours are now morning/afternoon time only. The High Commission is located at Highgate Hill in London. Ghana High Commission London https://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/index.php Tourist: £50 (single-entry three months); £70 (multiple-entry; six months). You can select the B2 “Temporary Tourist Visitor” Visa from the Ghana High Commission website (UK only). The visas are valid for entry three months from the date of issue. However, length of stay is at the discretion of airport officials and only 1 month is ever guaranteed although it is common to stamp you in for up 60 days. Visas may be extended when in Ghana. All nationalities should check with the Ghanaian Embassy for more information. Please Note: Madventurer will supply you with a Support Letter and 2 visa references in your confirmation email which you will need to fill out with your name, departure date etc and include with your application. This will be emailed over when you apply.
4. Arrival and Departure Arrival Important - Landing in Ghana Before you land in Ghana you will be given an “Arrival Form” on the plane which you will need to fill in so please make sure you take down the following details below and have them (and a pen) handy or you could be delayed at the airport or through immigration. The form will most likely ask you for your duration of stay (just put in how many weeks you are doing), purpose of stay (Holiday/Tourism), address in Ghana (Pink Hostel, opposite American Chamber of Commerce, Asylum Down, Accra (Postal address - PO Box 9732 K.I.A, Accra Tel +233 302 256 710), contact number in Ghana (+233 547 086 134). You will also need to fill out your passport details in the form so again just have this handy on the plane. If the form asks you for anything different from this information we would really appreciate it if you could let your overseas know (or us) so we can keep this info as up to date as possible. Sometimes the airports can change their information throughout the year at the last minute. Alternatively you can use an outside agent to process your visa. Check out CIBT (Global Visa and Passport Professionals). Please note that this service has a considerable handling fee, however it’s a good source of information. You can find more details on the Madventurer.com website under ‘Plan Your Trip’.
Visas are usually given a 60 day stamp on entry, even though it may say that your visa is valid for 6 months. This means you must go to the Ghana Immigration Service in Accra to extend your visa if you intend to spend more than 60 days in the country. It must be extended before your 60 day stamp expires. If you go over the 60 days you will be fined. Please ask our overseas crew if you need assistance. After Immigration, you collect your bags and pass through Customs. Be aware that Customs Officers have the right to search your bags and question you if they choose to. If you smile and address them politely, the process is usually quicker. Try to exchange some of your cash in the airport- there is a bureau in the baggage reclaim hall - there is no foreign exchange or ATMs in Ada or Shia so it is best to get some local currency to get you through your first few days! If you arrive a day or two before your Project starts then we recommend staying at the joining point hostel mentioned below. The Pink Hostel has good facilities and is reasonably priced. Airport Taxis to Pink Hostel will cost around US$ 30 / £20. You can find more details on the Madventurer.com website under ‘Plan Your Trip’. If you arrive a day or two early then please give our overseas crew a call once you land to let them know you are arrived. On Day 1 of your project you must make your own way to the Joining point hostel. Please let us know if you will be arriving early so that we can arrange with our crew when to meet you on the Saturday (1st day of your project). Remember to take the crews contact number along with the contact details for the hotel. If you have any problems give the hostel a ring directly. If you have an emergency please give our crew a call on their mobile number. Joining Point Hotel (if you are arriving early):
http://pinkhostel.com.gh
If you book Pre-trip accommodation with the Pink Hostel please make sure you call / email them a few days before you head off to re-confirm your booking. If you have booked an airport pick-up you will also need to re-confirm your flight arrival details as well. Their contact details are under ‘About Us’ on their website.
Day 1 (Saturday) Starting in Accra, Ghana If arriving on day 1 of the itinerary a complimentary airport pickup is provided. You must provide Madventurer with flight arrival details including flight number and arrival time. Please look out for our crew who will either have a Madventurer t-shirt or be holding a Madventurer sign. If you can’t seem them don’t panic, they will find you. If you can’t see them give them a call but it’s important that you do not leave the airport without speaking to our crew first. Our crew do carry their emergency mobile with them at all times. You must remember to take this number off the website before you head off and keep this number with you at all times.
You must provide Madventurer with flight arrival details including flight number and arrival time no later than 4 weeks before departure via your Pre-departure Form which is emailed over when you apply. Flight Delays - If your flight is delayed it’s important that you try and call, or text if they do not pick up straight way, our overseas crew to warn them in advance. You can do this before boarding. Please do not arrive after the start date as you could miss the transfer to your project location. This will incur extra transfer costs. Your project joining point is in Accra, Ghana. Meet your overseas crew and your group in Accra airport. Or if arriving on a different day, please be at the meeting point hostel for no later than 7pm. We will have a welcome meeting with rest of group. If your flight is delayed or you are not scheduled to arrive until later that evening please do not worry as your trip leader may do the orientation meeting in the village instead. You will spend the first night in Accra and we normally set off to our village the following morning (Sunday), depending on any flight delays etc. You will be taken in the local style bus (approx. 2 hrs) and enjoy your first views of the African countryside.
Departure Finishing Point Instructions - Accra We will return you to Accra and the finishing point (Pink Hostel), on the last day of your project no later than 7:00pm. From here you will need to make your own way back to the airport. We recommend you book your flight departing Accra after 10.00pm on the Friday, no earlier to allow for any traffic delays. You may wish to leave for onward travel from this point, share a meal with your group or stay in Accra. We recommend booking one night’s extra accommodation at the end of your trip if you wish to see the sights of Accra before you leave. If you need accommodation for the last night in Accra (Friday) it’s very important that you let our crew know as soon as possible and well in advance of your departure date so they can help to advice on hostels / backpackers / hotels. Our overseas crew can help you to book the final night’s accommodation during your project. Please put in your request well in advance of your end date just to give our crew enough time to get this booked. All projects finish on a Friday and accommodation for this night is not included. Post-trip accommodation – if you want to say longer If you would like to spend the weekend / week in or around Accra before you fly home then please ensure you have booked post trip accommodation. This can be arranged upon your arrival in Ghana.
5. Weekly Itinerary for Volunteering Projects This itinerary is given as a guide only and is subject to change. Many factors need to be taken into consideration when organising the final itinerary including political considerations, road and weather conditions, social or economical unrest and local or national government intervention or changes. This may mean a change of village and project or placement location at the last minute. Arrival at our project location will be soon marked by a welcome from a community representative. You will have the opportunity to unpack and get settled into your accommodation. As a guest, you can overcome the barrier that is common between tourist and villager and instead become friends and experience the true way of tribe life and learn to live as they do. You may have the option of taking a tour of the local village. Take time to soak up the scenery and meet some of the people you will be working with both in the school and the village. You will be given a chance to see the building site and see where you will be working on a new project or continuing an existing one. Meet the local community. Get to know your surroundings, find out where the local 'store' is and what delights they sell, be introduced to the nearest water source. Your usual working hours are approximately 8am - 3pm with breaks during the day, depending on ‘Ghana Time’. Each day we may have the opportunity to explore the community and take part or organise activities with the community. The key is to get to know your village and how they need your support. You may be able to join local adults in their cooperative groups and learn their local traditions. Football, netball or volleyball are always winners. We have put together a rough itinerary of a typical day in Ghana: 7.30 Breakfast 8.00-11.30 Volunteering Activity 11.30 Lunch 12.30-2.30 – Volunteering or cultural activity 3.00 Games in the village (volleyball and/or football) or helping the cook with dinner. 5.30/6 Dinner 8.00 Chill time! In Ghana the village runs of ‘Ghana time’, which means these times are estimated! Everything is very laid back and the activities vary depending on what volunteers want to do and what we are able to do and weather dependant.
Weekly Itinerary for Building volunteers Weeks 1 and 2 Take time to soak up the scenery and meet some of the people you will be working with both in the school and the village. You will be given a chance to see the building site and see where you will be working on a new project or continuing an existing one. Meet the school community from the teachers to the parents and many small faces peering curiously at you. Ghanaian communities speak good English but also appreciate a greeting in their local language, give it a try and enjoy the reaction. Get to know your surroundings, find out where the local 'store' is and what delights they sell, be introduced to the nearest water source is and how your community makes the journey home with it. Mark the first sight of your new building or plot with a photo, as the scene will soon change. Your usual working hours are 8am - 4pm with breaks during the day. You will have an opportunity to take a morning break as well as lunch. Throughout the day we will rotate classroom assistance as and when lessons are timetabled should you wish to take part in some teaching. When not teaching you can return to work on the building site or plan our next lessons. Each day we have the opportunity to explore the community after school and take part and organise activities with the community. Each project reaches a 2 week milestone so your contributions will be recognised at the end of every milestone. Day 14 Accra – end of a two week project You will be returned to Accra for no later than 7pm on the Friday evening. Weeks 3 and 4 Relationships in your community will be developing so that you can take on more responsibility in your work. Researching your village's particular challenges may lead to exciting side projects. Tackling side projects such as educational murals or organising sports coaching sessions or competitions will inspire your community to work with you and achieve their goals that also become yours. Take time try out cooking fufu, a favourite staple of the Ghana diet or sample the local palm wine from a hand-crafted traditional bowl. Your building will be changing radically from when you first began - make sure you photograph every stage so you can look back and appreciate the hard work that you've all put in. Appreciate every day with your new friends in the community - the time will fly but the memories will last forever. Day 28 Accra – end of a four week project You will be returned to Accra for no later than 7pm.
Weeks 5 and 6 If you are staying with us for 6 weeks then your ideas will have been implemented in the building project and classroom and a good knowledge of the local culture gained. Give this time your all and see the results of your hard work on the building site and in the school. You will be leaving behind a sustainable project for the community and local children who will have benefited from your classroom work. If there is time, you might get to go on a hike around the area with the villagers who know it best. Visit the families of those you have worked alongside and share a meal. There will be plenty of opportunities for exchange of songs and stories and don't forget contact numbers with your fellow travellers and friends from the village. Watch the last sunrise in your village to mark a unique experience that will never fade from memory and is only the beginning of your bonds with your home away from home. Day 42 You will be returned to Accra for no later than 7pm. Accommodation for this night is not included in this itinerary. We recommend you consider booking at least 1 extra night's accommodation after this trip to see all the sights of Accra.
Building Tasks Undertaking labouring work usually broken into 3 phases you will assist and learn from skilled local tradesman. The building project will be run by a local foreman. You will take part in the following activities depending on what 2 week phase of the project you are working on. Phase 1 - Digging, brick laying, concrete mixing, carry water, sifting sand Phase 2 - Brick laying and basic carpentry, passing/carrying materials Phase 3 – Plastering, sanding, cleaning/brushing, painting
6. Food We usually employ a local cook to provide meals, which will be mainly traditional dishes. The Ghanaian diet is full of starchy foods with rice, beans, maize meal and root vegetables as standard sometimes with simply prepared meat and mostly with some locally available vegetables. You will try lots of local dishes such as Fufu, made using cassava (a root a bit like potato) and plantain (green banana). You will also try jollof rice - a rice dish with peppers and onions flavoured with tomato and some kind of meat or vegetables. You will be encouraged to help with cooking so that everyone is involved in getting stuck in to the running of the project.
If you do independent travel at the weekends you will need to budget separately for food. If you stay around the project site on a weekend then we will make sure the pantry is full. Volunteers are responsible for cooking their own food at weekends using the kitchen items at the house. Please help our crew by ensuring the if there are any foods items that we are running low on that they are notified in time for the weekly shop at the market, which you may enjoy visiting with the cook. We can cater for most dietary requirements and it’s important that you let us know before you go. However we do not cater for picky eaters so please be respectful of the local food, cultures, traditions and give everything a go, you may even enjoy them. If you do some independent travel at the weekends you can try a number of other foods including more ‘westernised’ dishes if you wish particularly when you are heading to tourist spots.
7. Weekends The project site in Ada is situated only 2 hours from Accra, making weekends in the capital an easy option. From Accra it is also easy to travel further west to popular beach resorts such as Kokrobite and Bojo, and the slave castles at Cape Coast and Elmina. Near Cape Coast there is also the popular attraction of Kakum National Park where you can ascend the tree-tops on a series of rope brides called the Canopy Walkway! East of Ada is the Togolese border, a short tro-tro ride away, and just across the border lies the capital of Lome, if you fancy a weekend over the border be sure to get your multiple entry visa for Ghana before you arrive! Shia is in the Volta region, around 30 minutes from the larger town of Ho. Madventurer has been operating in the Volta Region for 10 years and so is fortunate to know the best places to explore at weekends. Near to Ho is the Tafi Monkey Village where hundreds of species of monkeys, including the nearly extinct Mona, make the dense tropical forest around Tafi Atome their home. Afadjato Mountain which is the highest mountain in Ghana, which rises 2,905 feet above sea level, and has a simple guest house where you can stay. In Ho there is a huge market where you can go and shop for so many unusual and different things. On market day you can watch how Ghanaian market women buy and sell their produce, much of which will have been brought in from outlining villages. The Volta Region is blessed with some amazing waterfalls such as Tagbo Falls at Liati Wote, in a dense tropical forest, is a perennial waterfall called ‘Tagbo’. Wli Falls is situated in the heart of a tropical forest and is the highest waterfall in Ghana. Travelling around Ghana is cheap and easy and many volunteers tend to plan their weekends together in small groups during each week. Our Crew Leaders have all backpacked around Ghana and can suggest amazing and unique places to explore!
8. Communications Broadband Internet access is available in the capital and costs about £1 an hour. In smaller towns internet is occasionally available but can be slow and unreliable, and often relies on dial-up connections. In villages there is no internet access but a short ride the nearest town will allow you access to internet cafes. Mobile Phones If you want to bring your mobile it can be useful for keeping in contact with other Volunteers and Crew when you are away at weekends. It’s possible to buy a local sim card cheaply and top up cards for a few pounds. If your phone is locked to a specific provider at home, you will need to get your phone unlocked either at home or when you arrive in-country. Mobile Phones are not uncommon throughout Africa, particularly in the larger towns, but please be careful when using it in public as it may make you a target for an opportunist thief if it looks expensive. As do not recommend taking any valuables with you, we strongly recommend you take an old handset (or get travel insurance cover for more expensive items) which is unlocked then get a local sim card to keep costs down. Network coverage in villages is generally ok (if you stand next to the right tree!) and you can buy top ups in the village shop.
Emergency Contact In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Madventurer can be reached during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) on Tel: + 44 191 232 0625. Out of office hours, emergency contact details for our crew can be found by going to the ‘Contact’ page on the Madventurer.com website. This also shows our overseas crew emergency mobile contact details. Before you head off it’s very important that before you head off to your chosen destination that you remember to take down the appropriate emergency contact number from the website. Please keep this number safe and on your person for the duration of your project. Our village locations can be quite remote so if you can’t get through please text a message on our crew’s mobile and they will get back to you as soon as they can. If you have a problem before you set off then please also leave a clear message with your name, telephone number and reason for calling on our UK Mad HQ answering machine.
9. Language Although English is the official language of Ghana, over 75 African languages and dialects are spoken throughout the country. Ga is the most widely used African language in the capital. In Ada, the main language is Dangbe, but in the Maranatha community, Ewe (ay-way) is also widely spoken as most of the residents belong to the Ewe tribe which migrated to the area in the 1960s for fishing. In the Volta region, including Shia the language widely spoken is Ewe:
English
Dangbe
Ewe
Welcome
Mo Ye
Wezo
Welcome response
Ye
Yo
Good morning
Ndi
Good afternoon
Ndo
Good evening
Fie
Good morning response
Ndi pometo
How are you?
Ko Nye Ke
E foe
Fine, thanks
E Nye Sa Minya
Eē
Thank you
O pe no
Akpe
10. What to bring When you arrive in Ghana you need to make sure that you have the following:Valid visa and yellow fever vaccination certificate Passport (plus a photocopy to be kept separately) Travel Insurance details (leave a copy at home) Money to change into Ghanaian cash, and bank card (we don’t recommend travellers cheques as it’s difficult to change them). Immigration details for arrival form (given above) Overseas crew Emergency Contact number (from the ‘Contact’ page on our website) Start point or finish point hostel details
Suggested packing list We advise you to bring a backpack (60-80 litre capacity should be enough to carry everything you need) for clothing etc. and a small rucksack as hand luggage for your documents and weekend excursions. - Camera - Light weight clothing (not too revealing) for building in & covering up to protect from mosquitoes and underwear: In general, clothing should be lightweight, tough and casual. The days in Ghana are hot and humid year-round, with the highest temperatures from December to March and rain most likely from April to September. The climate through the day is very warm and sometimes humid so light coloured, loose clothing is preferable. For girls especially it is important to not be too exposed in the village – short shorts and skimpy tops are ok for the tourist resorts or Accra but not appropriate and mean you receive unwanted attention. This can be avoided by wearing longer shorts / skirts and t-shirts / vest tops which are not revealing. - Gloves for building (if applicable) - Swimming kit - Comfortable shoes for trekking - Flip flops or light weight sandals - Hat & Sunglasses - Sunscreen - Travel towel - Mosquito nets & repellent - Sleeping bag liner or duvet cover/sheet (as a thick sleeping bag will be too hot!) - Torch, preferably a head-torch (there will be occasional blackouts) - Water bottle: you can buy bottles of water in the towns to refill and there is clean running water in the hut - Toiletries: you can always buy essentials in the town when you arrive - Medical: Anti-malaria tablets, plasters, painkillers, antiseptic gel, wipes etc. (there is a medical kit in the MAD House for more serious problems). - Playing cards or other games
- Community donations: If you are bringing a large quantity of community donations the chances are that you won’t have to pay duty on arrival (especially if packaging is removed and it looks like personal effects). It's all about how you conduct yourself in front of the Customs official at the airport to clearly show that they are for a personal donation to a school and not for sale locally. In terms of what to bring the following is very much needed: Sports kit, footballs with pumps, educational school supplies / games and teaching materials including stationery, story books, wall charts etc are all greatly appreciated by the local schools in the communities where we work. Most volunteers wish they brought more to give to their community. Any drawing or writing equipment are great for the arts and crafts sessions and are also greatly appreciated. Bringing clothing, toys and sweets is a good idea but we would look to donate these items outside of school time on a one to one basis visiting families in the village. We try not to give-away these types of items during school time as one child is bound to miss out and there can be some fierce competition for such items. In particular giving out sweets at school should be only done as a reward for good work or effort. You can also bring cash and buy some supplies during your project. Some supplies may be a lot cheaper and you will be helping to boost local businesses as well. Your Crew Leader can take you round local stores with suggestions of what to buy.
11. Money Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities and tipping. Any tip that you wish to give local guides or restaurant workers in recognition of excellent service is always appreciated. However please be wary of giving anyone large amounts of cash claiming that it’s for school, medical, or family emergencies. If you decide to do independent travel at the weekends then this is where you will spend the most. You may wish to stay in a nice hotel, eat in a more western style restaurant or buy alcohol or souvenirs etc. If you are bringing cash only, remember there is no safe in the village, so a padlock on a bag is useful. There will be opportunities at weekends and when you arrive to take money out of cash points in town – Visa and Visa Debit cards are fine to use in these (though you will be charged a small fee for using these ATMs, so you don’t want to be withdrawing money frequently).
What we cover; Transfer from the Airport (if you arrive on Day 1, the Saturday) to the hostel accommodation if our Crew Leader decides to spend the first night in the Capital to avoid driving in the dark. Transfer to village location (2 to 3 hours) from the Capital Transfer at the end of Project to the designated hostel in the Capital All accommodation, food and transport whilst at the project site All Food whilst on Project site (3 meals a day) Constant supply of treated drinking water 24/7 hour support from Crew and Regional Managers All Project preparation including feasibility study, community consultation, risk assessment and logistical set-up Pre-departure support and advice from travel experts in our UK HQ including detailed online pre-departure information, guidelines and support for visa applications, and advice for booking your flight connections, insurance, kit, cultural awareness, language etc. Access to Interhealth’s online resources, including free telephone advice from travel health professionals Access to Madventurer's Teaching Pack and Fundraising Guide to kit you out with ideas. Specially designed first-aid kits and first-aid trained staff on each Project location Contribution to Project Materials and local skilled labour costs associated with your Project Contribution towards other MAD (Make A Difference) Foundation's sustainable development initiatives Any very importantly MAD Tribe Membership with future Tribal discounts!
What we don’t cover; Flights – please try using our Flight Partners which you can view at the ‘Plan your Trip’ section of our website. Personal Travel Insurance Travel Visas (where required) Personal Vaccinations/Medication Accommodation, food, transport prior to the Project start date, and if you choose to leave the project site at weekends Accommodation and food between a Project and an Adventure in our ‘Combos’ (if not listed in the scheduled itinerary and if applicable) Transfers between Projects and / or Adventure ‘Combos’ (if applicable) Personal spending money (for souvenirs, weekend travel etc) Transfer back to the airport from the drop-off point (designated hostel) in the Capital on the last day of the Project so budget for a local taxi to drop you off at the airport
Budgeting We recommend between £50 to £100 spending money per week, more if you plan on doing big trips at the weekend i.e. you may need to consider Castle / Game Park entry fees etc. Pound Sterling is widely accepted in cash. US$ cash (notes printed after 2003) are also a readily changeable currency. It is unlikely that you will be able to get hold of African currencies in your home country. GBP 1.00 = 3.00 Ghanaian Cedi (February 2013) USD 1.00 = 1.90 Ghanaian Cedi (February 2013) For the most recent rates please refer to the following website: www.oanda.com
Further Info For further tips on Security, Flights, Travel Insurance, Money, Valuables and Health please refer to your Volunteer Information Pack which also includes timings to help you get prepared.
