Construction & Renovation

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+

rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Travel to Ghana and help construct a school, community center or a library for rural and semi-rural communities.
  • Experience working independently or as part of a team in a multicultural environment.
  • Enjoy optimum flexibility in your program duration, which could be one week to one year!

Highlights

  • Travel to Ghana and help construct a school, community center or a library for rural and semi-rural communities.
  • Experience working independently or as part of a team in a multicultural environment.
  • Enjoy optimum flexibility in your program duration, which could be one week to one year!
  • Spend 1 or more weeks in rural Ghana and immerse in the local culture.
  • Go on weekend excursions or join social events together with other OGVO volunteers and interns.


  • Especially good for

    Age 16+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups

    About the program

    This project focuses on the construction and renovation of orphanages, clinics, community centers, toilet facilities, libraries and many more!

    About the Program

    An ideal project for short term volunteers, no skills are required and you are able to make a significant contribution even you are only staying one week.

    Volunteers should bring gloves, flashlight, and light weight scarf for sun protection or hat, insect repellent, working boots ...

    About the program

    About the Program

    An ideal project for short term volunteers, no skills are required and you are able to make a significant contribution even you are only staying one week.

    Volunteers should bring gloves, flashlight, and light weight scarf for sun protection or hat, insect repellent, working boots and water bottle. Please note, this project has an additional fee of US$40 per week for construction and renovation materials that are used during the project. Please also note, projects and volunteer roles will vary from community to community.

    This project focuses on the construction and renovation of orphanages, clinics, community centers, toilet facilities, libraries and building of classrooms (schools), roads and drainage system and digging of wells. Volunteers also have the opportunity to meet chiefs and community elders, and learn about the various cultures of the different communities through drumming, music and dance. Volunteers work closely with the local people and OGVO Ghana staff on tasks which include painting, brick laying, plastering, digging, block shaping, carpentry, steel bending, mortar mixing, etc. If you're a keen outdoors person with a good level of fitness, this will be a perfect project for you. The Construction and Renovation project offers volunteers the special opportunity to work alongside local people to help improve the infrastructure in small, rural communities.

    Location
    Ghana is a peaceful and welcoming country; Ghana satisfies one's appetite for both modern and traditional life. Its wide valleys, low-lying coastal plains, and thick rainforests resound with the beat of traditional rituals, while her cities glow and vibrate with all the bustle of the modern world. The Ghanaians are the friendliest people in West Africa: warm, proud yet humble with a contagious and calming sense of funniness.

    Ghana is hot. It is always hot. What’s more, it's always humid. Humidity usually lingers between 95 and 100 percent. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-November - sometimes. The rain provides a little respite from the intense heat, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The south of the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during September.



    Typical day

    The tropical Ghanaian climate is hot and humid with the temperatures reaching over 30 degrees at midday. Because of this, you’ll start your work day at 8.30am and end around 12.30pm, with a 15 minute break around mid-morning.

    Each morning, you’ll wake up in your host family’s home and put on ...

    Typical day

    The tropical Ghanaian climate is hot and humid with the temperatures reaching over 30 degrees at midday. Because of this, you’ll start your work day at 8.30am and end around 12.30pm, with a 15 minute break around mid-morning.

    Each morning, you’ll wake up in your host family’s home and put on old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. To get to the construction site, you’ll either walk or catch a tro-tro or a shared taxi.

    Depending on the building progress, you might dig and set foundations, use a press to build bricks out of mud and water, mix cement using shovels, build walls brick-by-brick or assist with the construction of the roof. After the construction is done, you can plaster and sand the walls, paint the walls and design murals, or help with landscaping in the garden. In the afternoon, you can choose to relax or help out with community initiatives such as the reading club for children or sports activities.

    In your free time, you can visit Cape Coast and learn more about the country’s history of slave trade by visiting the castles and museums in the area. With warm weather year round, Ghana is also perfect if you’d like to spend the day relaxing on the beach or exploring one of the many national parks.


    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 level

    Required Documents

    No

    Nationality Restrictions

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

    Other Skills

    No previous experience or skills is required.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 16:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Our Generation Voluntary Organization

    Airport pick-up and transportation from Accra to your project sites - Three times daily local dishes - Introduction to host family and program - Accommodation - Placement and supervision in program - Medical Assistance - 24/7 Hotline for support - Recommendation Letter / Certificate - In country introduction/orientation - Regular Culture/Recreational Activities (Personal spending not included)

    Airport Pickup at Kotoka International Airport

    You will be met upon arrival and you will be transfer to your project site, it's about 4 -5 hours drive from the airport, Accra.

    Accommodation

    All accommodation with a Ghana home-stay family is included. Rooms are private (you can share with other volunteers but the price will remain the same) and have all the basic furnishings you could expect, including running water, electricity & clean bathrooms. The home-stay families have been specially chosen by OGVO and have hosted many volunteers over the course of several years. Our home-stay families form some of the most memorable parts of Volunteer Programs and provide amazing insight…..

    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. 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 advance notice!

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

    Program fees

    2 weeks (min. stay) 569€
    3 weeks 668€
    4 weeks 768€
    5 weeks 868€
    7 weeks 1,067€
    9 weeks 1,267€
    24 weeks (max. stay) 2,763€
    Average fees 200€/week

    Program fees

    200€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 16 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 24 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 (44 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!

    44 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 ...
    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 ...
    Keith Bury rating5

    2022 at Construction & Renovation

    When I arrived in Ghana, I was initially nervous. However, my host family quickly put me at ease and made me feel at home. I arrived a stranger and left with a feeling I had gained new members of my family. I want to give a big thanks to OGVO and the Miracle Works Education Complex for one of the ...
    Laura Meier rating4.2

    2022 at Construction & Renovation

    I highly recommed volunteering with OVGO/Miracle Works Education Complex. I took part in the construction project and stayed with Seth and Naomi. During my stay of 4 weeks we built a classroom for the school. As I am used to construction processes in Germany it was really interesting for me to find ...
    Stephane Tritten rating5

    2021 at Construction & Renovation

    I went alone 1 week as a constructing volunteer to Ghana. It was my first time as a volunteer and my first time in West Africa. Obviously, I was a bit anxious, but I must say that it was a great experience. That kind of experience that you have to do once in your lifetime. First, because of the ...
    nicky szewczykowski rating5

    2018 at Construction & Renovation

    I went as a constructing volunteer to Ghana with my boyfriend. When we arrived at the airport, I was very nervous. It was my first time in Africa. I was really glad when we saw Seth, our host father, with the OGVO plate. We drove an hour in a taxi before we got to our room. Our room was very ...

    Location

    Africa > Western Africa > Ghana > Kumasi

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    English

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