from 556€

Fantastic 4.5rating (43)

Biomedical Science Internship

location
2 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+

rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Put your knowledge and skills to test in an unfamiliar, international setting.
  • Travel to Kumasi and visit the palace, which illustrates the history of the Ashantis
  • Visit Ghana's largest market in Kumasi, and buy some local goods
  • Enjoy countless cultural and natural attractions offered in Ghana
  • Go on weekend excursions or join social events together with other OGVO volunteers and interns

Especially good for

Age 16+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Get the chance to volunteer in a laboratory in Ghana, an area that needs your support. Volunteers will be based in a hospital that provides services in general medicine.

There is one country that comes to mind when one wants to volunteer in the area of laboratory and diagnostic research in Africa, the best destination for such undertaking is Ghana. Ghana is located in West Africa with a relatively peaceful environment and evenly distributed health facilities ...

About the program

There is one country that comes to mind when one wants to volunteer in the area of laboratory and diagnostic research in Africa, the best destination for such undertaking is Ghana. Ghana is located in West Africa with a relatively peaceful environment and evenly distributed health facilities (hospitals, clinics, maternity clinics, laboratories and diagnostics centres amongst others) across the country. Most of these health facilities have laboratories or diagnostic centres within them to aid in reliable health delivery. In choosing to become a volunteer or intern in a laboratory in a community in Ghana one intend to use accurate measurement and empirical observations to learn about some of common tropical diseases such as malaria, anaemia, typhoid amongst others and means to help curb them. One will equally get to know how illness such as HIV/AIDs can be tackled using stigma-free interventions to reduce its spread. The lab is small to medium size and community-based dedicated to meet the needs of the clinicians and patients to provide diagnosis and treatment. The lab runs tests for a local hospital that offers services in General Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, X-ray, Dermatology, Venereology, Ophthalmology, ECG, mother and child healthcare and ultrasound. For all these departments there is only one laboratory where all patients get sent to for tests, which means that there is an incredibly high workload.

The prevalence rate of some of these diseases especially malaria and anaemia is very high among the populace particularly pregnant women and children, hence the need for support. Malaria is a problem and there is a new case every day – testing in the laboratory focuses mainly on blood but also urine and faeces. When malaria is left undetected or untreated for a long time it can cause still birth in pregnant women and even death among the general populace. HIV testing is also common. The laboratory itself is a small space but it is always busy as it is much in demand, and the waiting area outside is often full of patients, young and old. Come and work in a laboratory or diagnostic centre in Ghana and gain an insight not only into local diseases and diagnosis but also to work alongside a dedicated as well as friendly local team.

Volunteering in a laboratory is not the most common project choice for those considering embarking upon a volunteering trip, however the experience is worthwhile since it gives one first-hand knowledge on the health related issues facing a particular sub region and how to help curb them. Considering the fact that volunteer work abroad in laboratories is relatively low, many laboratories go without volunteer support when it is, actually, an area that would benefit them greatly. For anyone with an interest in a laboratory placement, this project is a great place to start. The hospital values the addition of international volunteers to its team, as it strongly believes in cross-culture awareness and the building of global citizenship.

Your role on the Biomedical Science Internship in Ghana

Volunteers will assist wherever is needed in the laboratory under guided protocols. Your role will vary depending on your experience, but you will work under the supervision of a local clinician. Activities may involve talking to patients, recording information, data entry into the computer system, running rapid diagnostic tests and also analysing laboratory results. You may also be put to work by collecting blood samples from patients, general diagnosis, learning new manual diagnostic techniques and data handling. Whether you have experience or not, is not important, as there are many tasks that you can get involved in and the work you do will be greatly appreciated by local staff.

Little to no particular skills is required to volunteer in a laboratory in Ghana, although any experience will certainly be beneficial to you. You must have a high interest or passion to volunteering in a laboratory, be enthusiastic and willing to take on any task that is given to you. The laboratory is a small place, and therefore it is essential that you work well with others and as part of a team. If you demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and a good aptitude, you may be given the opportunity to help in other ways, but these decisions are always made by the local team.

Volunteers interested in tropical diseases, medical laboratory, microbiology, haematology and medical research will find this placement interestingly educative and anyone who is an expert or has proven skills in an area may be able to do extra tasks under supervision. You will be asked to send your CV/resume before being accepted onto this project.

Can I use this program as part of a college or university placement? 

It is certainly possible to use one of OGVO’s programs as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. OGVO regularly receives medical, biomedical sciences, psychology, midwifery, dentistry, veterinary and nursing placement students at our projects across Ghana.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of OGVO’s programs could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly so we can help organize a specific placement for you.


Typical day

Wake up each morning at your host family before eating breakfast, donning your white coat, and grabbing a tro-tro or shared taxi that will take you to the hospital. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way. 

A typical day starts at 8am, and ends at 2pm, Monday to Friday. ..

Typical day

Wake up each morning at your host family before eating breakfast, donning your white coat, and grabbing a tro-tro or shared taxi that will take you to the hospital. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way. 

A typical day starts at 8am, and ends at 2pm, Monday to Friday. At 12.30pm, you’ll have a chance to eat during your lunch break. You can either bring a lunch from your host family, or you can buy food at the hospital cafeteria.

At the end of the day, you can head home and enjoy a home cooked Ghanaian meal with your host family. This is the perfect time to get to know more about their culture. Over the weekends, you can spend time with other volunteers or interns, explore the many historical sites around Cape Coast, or just relax on the beach.


Free-time activities

During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant Sanctuaries in ...

Free-time activities

During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant Sanctuaries in Africa with the chance to spot Lions, Leopards & Antelopes in their natural habitat.
Volunteers can also take a trip to Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana to relax in the beautiful beaches and see the famous Cape Coast castle, the Kakum Canopy walkway and Elmina castle, where slave trade begun.

NOTE: We do provide tours, therefore you can add a tour before or after your volunteer program for an additional cost. We can perform quality tours and can offer discounts to volunteers.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 16 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

at High School / University /College etc. level

Required Documents

CV/Resume

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

No particular skills are required to volunteer in a Laboratory in Ghana, although any experience will certainly be helpful to you.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 14:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Our Generation Voluntary Organization

  • airport meeting and transfer to project site
  • comprehensive pre-departure information
  • introduction to host family and program orientation
  • accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
  • supervision and visa support letter
  • Application review and processing
  • support and guidance as well as 24 / 7 hour emergency back-up from staff
  • all information before and during your time with us in Ghana
  • regular culture activities (personal spending not included)

The price does not include visa, flight, vaccinations/immunizations, personal insurance (required), personal spending and in-country travel.

Airport Pickup at Kotoka International Airport

OGVO has representatives who will be at the airport (point of arrival) to welcome you at anytime of your arrival. Please do not be disturbed, if there should be a delay or if anything happen with your flight arrangement, our representative will still be there and would be ready to welcome you peacefully into the country.

Accommodation

Volunteers on this program will be accommodated with a local host family, and will gain the opportunity to become immersed in the local culture and custom, improving their knowledge of the people, culture and language. Ghanaian families are renowned for their kindness and hospitality and they love to learn about different cultures. Living with a local family truly is the best way to throw oneself into the local culture and to meet people who will often become lifelong friends!

All families have been fully vetted by our team and have extensive experience hosting international volunteers. Bedrooms are private but generally shared with volunteers of the same gender. Volunteers will be provided access to a shared bathroom. Generally, your host brother, sister or mother assist you with your laundry but it is not an obligation, learn to wash your clothing’s with your hands in several buckets, enjoy the sun drying your clothes and odor the African fragrance in your clothes.

It is important to remember that the living conditions in Ghana are different from home. Most families have running water, but hot water is still uncommon in some areas. Although the accommodation is basic, this is part of the challenge and experience of volunteering in a developing country. With a little patience, and a flexible attitude, you will quickly get used to your new surroundings.

Food & Beverages

Three meals a day are provided by the home-stay families and consist mainly of traditional Ghanaian meals with some flexibility for home comforts when available.

Breakfast is usually ready by around 7am; however you can eat later if you prefer to get up late. Lunch is usually packed by your host family in a lunch box so that you can eat at your project if you wish. Dinner is usually served around 6pm.

If you have special eating needs, you can indicate that while applying. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ghana. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Ghana provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Ghana you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Ghana. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This program is available all year round, so volunteers or interns can arrive any day of the week or any month of the year with enough advanced notice!

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 556€
50 weeks (max. stay) 5,361€
Average fees 192€/week

Program fees

192€ per week 2 - 50 weeks Age 16 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Our Generation Voluntary Organization during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Our Generation Voluntary Organization

Fantastic 4.5 rating (43 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2004

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Frank

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Our Generation Voluntary Organization (OGVO) works to foster cross-cultural understanding through travel and volunteer work experiences in Ghana, Africa.

Meet your organization

The Our Generation Voluntary Organization (OGVO) was founded in 2004 in order to enable young people to use their leisure time for international volunteering, interns, cultural exchange programs etc. in Ghana. Our Generation Voluntary Organization is a non-profit and non-governmental African Organisation. Our volunteer programs/projects are suitable for anyone on a Gap Year, Career Break or for anyone looking to do a short term volunteer program.

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation provides safe, unique, flexible, meaningful and extremely affordable volunteer programs and non-paid internships work-experience in Ghana. We have a variety of programs on offer at affordable prices. Our projects are designed to cater to the needs of people from all backgrounds. 

Since its inception in 2004, OGVO has delivered great experiences to thousands of volunteers across the ten regions of Ghana. Our Medical and Healthcare internships are much admired amongst the medical students, and this is where medics get hands-on knowledge into complex medical procedures. Be it for college credits or an internship or volunteer certificate or even a service learning trip - schoolies, gapers and numerous high school students enroll for our programs throughout the year.

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation's volunteer and intern programs are available in both urban and rural areas. OGVO has flexible start dates and durations that runs from 1 week to 6 months depending on the program of your choice. Extensions can be arranged with advanced notice. You can arrive any day of the year with advanced notice as well. During this time, you will be staying in the home of a local Ghanaian family. Our host families are carefully screened, socially respected and experienced with hosting international volunteers.  Accommodation is simple but clean and includes 3 meals a day of local cuisine. Typically, volunteers eat breakfast and dinner at the host family and have lunch at their project.  

OGVO believes that home stays offer you the best experience during your time in Ghana by allowing you to save money, while providing you with an easy way to integrate into Ghanaian culture. In most cases, you will share a room with volunteers (of same gender). Your weekends are free to explore some of the amazing sights that Ghana has to offer. Volunteers regularly travel together and our team will help you plan weekend trips. Our staff visits volunteers regularly and always happy to help our volunteers in any way needed.

At Our Generation Voluntary Organisation  our programs are designed to help the local communities at the same time of providing a valuable learning and cultural experience to our volunteers and interns. We invite you to volunteer or intern in Ghana with us, and have the experience of your lifetime!

As a volunteer or intern in Ghana you will have the opportunity to work in number of different capacities including Teaching English & other subjects to kids, Medical & healthcare internships, Dental electives,Veterinary, and many more!

43 reviews · rating4.5

Owen Lanfrey rating5

2024 at Construction & Renovation

I spent 2 weeks in July with OGVO/ST miracle works educational foundation as a construction and renovation volunteer. During my stay, I got to rmix mortar, plaster walls and help with renovations that were needed but I also got to spend some time with the children of the school, building paper ...
Bárbara Aybar rating4

2024 at Assist with Medical Campaigns

My experience in Ghana has been great. The family I stayed with made me feel so comfortable and welcome. The hospital was good, but some nurses didnt want me there at first. However, they found the perfect place for me, where I couldnt be happier: the vaccination area for kids. All the team working ...
Elisavet Goulia rating5

2023 at Mental Health and Psychology Internship

It was a greatful experience as the host family as my experience at Pantang hospital. Ghana is a polite and peaceful country with people with good vibes and the appetite for dance and ...
Leila Leloup rating5

2023 at Construction & Renovation

2 friends and I, aged 16 and 17, from the Uk, spent 2 weeks helping with construction in Senya Beraku, a small fishing village. We stayed with Seth and Naomi, our host family. Seth and Frank greeted us at the airport and we took a taxi to where we were staying. We arrived late so we set up our room ...
Fenna van den Berg rating4.4

2023 at Animal Care Supporter

Me and my son worked at the Kumasi zoo for 2 weeks. From the moment we arrived everything had been arranged, we where picked up, and someone showed us what bus we had to take to go from the guesthouse to the zoo. Although we where somewhat overwhelmed by the bussride and the fact that the kumasi ...
charles girard rating3.6

2023 at Environmental Protection & Conservation

First, if you are going with this organization to Ghana, do not rely on the photos. There are at least 15 destinations in Ghana if you are leaving with this organization so pay attention to the comment, inform yourself about the destination before. On the other hand, I imagine that all destinations ...

Location

Africa > Western Africa > Ghana > Kumasi

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Contact Frank
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English

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