Spend a month in a small fishing village in Ghana, West Africa. Work on meaningful projects at the Trinity Yard School with local friends, visit the breathtaking Wli Falls, and learn about Ghana’s history at the Cape Coast slave castle.
- Dates:
- June 28, 2012 - July 28, 2012
- Eligibility:
- Students completing grades 9-12
- Focus:
- Community Service
- Typical Group:
- 16-18 Students, 2 Leaders
- Duration:
- 4.5 week(s)
Overview
During our Community Service Ghana program, we work during the day, participate in afternoon and evening group activities, and travel on the weekends to diverse and beautiful locations throughout Ghana. We are lucky to have as our main contact a close friend of Putney Student Travel’s, Rory Jackson, who is the founder and director of the Trinity Yard School. Together with local community members, we help build classrooms and continue on-going construction work on a library at this recently inaugurated secondary school. Aspects of the project include light masonry, woodworking, and painting. We also teach English, math, and social studies in the village primary school and learn about the Ghanaian agriculture and fishing industries. In addition to our group projects, you also choose an independent project—interview local fishermen about their trade, paint the goal posts on the soccer pitch, or learn to drum on a handmade Kidi drum. Afternoons include pick-up games of soccer or beach volleyball, informal language exchange with teenagers from town, and West African drumming and dance lessons. Upon successful completion of the program, participants can expect between 80-100 hours of community service.
After a month working together on community projects, you’ll feel a strong connection to your Putney group and your amazing Ghanaian friends.
Our living conditions in Ghana are very basic. We stay in two separate buildings (one for boys and one for girls) on simple beds with mosquito nets. You are expected to bring your own sheets and pillow. There is no running water. Our group uses an outhouse and showers with buckets of clean water from the well. Our food is cooked by local women, and several times throughout the month you have the chance to help them prepare the group’s meals. Meals include rice, pasta, eggs, meat, fresh vegetables, and fruit.
On weekends, we travel to nearby points of interest including Kakum National Park to see wildlife on a canopy walk, Busua Beach for surfing lessons, or a canoe trip to the stilt village of Nzulezo. Other excursions might include a trip to the bustling market in the nearby city of Takoradi, a stop at Cape Coast Castle to learn about the history of the slave trade in Ghana, or a visit to the bead market in Koforidua to try out your bargaining skills. During weekend excursions, we stay in hotels with running water and electricity.
“Theo was full of excitement and satisfaction on his return. He said he particularly enjoyed the cistern building – from the point of view of having started right at the beginning, breaking ground, and then seeing so much of the work completed. He found teaching very demanding. A new respect for the tolerance and stamina required may now be developing!”
- Anthony and Samantha Naylor, New York, NY
Our month ends with a journey to the Volta Region, located just east of Ghana’s capital, Accra. Visit baboon and monkey reserves, watch professional kente cloth weavers at their trade, and hike to Wli Falls, the highest waterfall in Ghana. This time together before the program ends allows you and your group to reflect on what you have accomplished and how you hope to take what you’ve learned back home with you.
Highlights
- Help build a classroom at Trinity Yard School.
- Learn how to speak basic Nzima, one of Ghana’s many languages.
- Sing the Ghanaian national anthem at a friendly soccer match.
- Dance and drum with local friends at a village celebration.
- Cool off with an afternoon swim at the local beach.
What to Expect
For most of each weekday, we are actively involved in community service work. This work, as well as afternoon and weekend activities, can be strenuous, and you can expect to spend most of each day outside. Everyone participates in the group’s projects on a rotating basis, and everyone lends a hand in meal preparation and cleanup. Since we live in our village as the local people do, accommodations are very simple with separate space for boys and girls, and basic bathroom facilities. You should come to the program with an open-mind, eager to participate in new experiences, and interested in exploring another culture and way of life.
Spend an afternoon at Busua Beach learning how to surf with local guides.
At Putney we take pride in our reputation for careful, thorough planning and attention to detail. The descriptions of our programs are based on our experiences in previous summers and our plans for this summer. It is inevitable that some things described here will not happen exactly as presented. To get the most out of the Putney experience, participants need to be flexible in responding to unforeseen situations, and creative in taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. We expect Putney participants to share responsibility for the success of their experience.
Fees
Tuition: $5,690
Itinerary
Click here to read last year’s trip blog
This program begins and ends at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Departure • June 28. Join your group for a month of community service on the coast of Ghana. The group flight departs from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York where you meet one of your leaders who fly with the group to Accra, Ghana.
Accra • Spend two days in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, acclimating to life in Ghana. Get to know your leaders and the other students, watch a drum and dance performance at the Arts Centre, and taste Ghanaian food at some of Accra’s many restaurants. Participate in an in-depth orientation to discuss life in Ghana, your project, and group dynamics.
Teaching at the local grade school can be a rewarding way to contribute to this small Ghanaian village.
Community Service Village • Transfer by bus to a small coastal village in Ghana’s Western Region. This is our base for the next 3 ½ weeks. We work with the local community to complete construction, education, and agriculture projects.
Cape Coast • Spend a weekend in Cape Coast visiting the Cape Coast Castle to learn about the history of the slave trade in Ghana. Also visit Kakum National Park to observe wildlife from the breathtaking heights of a guided canopy walk. Stop at Busua Beach for a beachside picnic and surfing lessons with local guides.
“Anna learned about a new culture. She learned how Americans are perceived by another culture. She learned about different cultural values and traditions. She learned how to interact with very different types of people. She gained a sense of how varied and diverse the world is outside of the USA. She gained an appreciation for what has value and meaning in life, and was able to put her life and upbringing into perspective. She gained a lot of new friends, both Ghanaians and other students on her trip.”
– Tim and Shelley Northrop, Sandy Hook, CT
Weekends • On weekends, travel to nearby points of interest such as the stilt village of Nzulezo – where we float between houses in canoes. Other trips may include a visit to the bustling market in the nearby city of Takoradi or the bead market in Koforidua to try out your bargaining skills.
Volta Region • Spend the last three days of the program in the Volta Region visiting baboon and monkey reserves, a village famous for its kente cloth weavers, and hiking to Wli Falls, the highest waterfall in Ghana.
A short hike and you’ll arrive at the base of the breathtaking Wli Falls, the highest waterfall in West Africa.
Return to New York • July 28. Fly with the group, including one of the leaders, from Accra to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and continue on to your final destination.
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Destination
Background • The coast of the small West African nation of Ghana, with its tranquil beaches and picturesque fishing villages, is populated by some of the friendliest people on earth. Beginning in the 16th century and continuing for over 300 years, the West African slave trade carried hundreds of thousands of captives to the Americas. As commerce in gold and cocoa replaced the slave trade, British influence in the region increased, leading to the establishment of the Gold Coast colony. At the time of independence from Britain in 1957, Ghana was the most prosperous colony in Africa. In recent years, problems resulting from corruption and political conflict have interfered with economic growth. Today, the average Ghanaian family farms or fishes, lives in relatively primitive conditions, and confronts serious challenges in accessing education, health care, and adequate income. The recent, peaceful, democratic election of President John Atta Mills, and the joyous visit by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009, have renewed efforts for constructive change.
Ghana’s peaceful democracy was praised by US President Barack Obama during his 2009 visit.
Population • Ghana has a total population of almost 24 million inhabitants. The majority of Ghanaians practice Christianity, with small percentages practicing Islam and traditional African beliefs. While our host village has less than 1,000 people, it is close to the twin cities of Takoradi/Sekondi, Ghana’s 4th largest urban area with 300,000 inhabitants.
Language • Ghana is home to approximately 50 languages. English is the official language–the language used for business and classroom education. Nzima is the local language spoken in our host village. Many villagers also speak Twi, Fante, and basic English.
Climate • The climate on Ghana’s coast is tropical. Temperatures during July are in the 80s, with humidity between 50-80%. The rainy season typically goes through the end of June, which means July has sunny days, but the landscape is lush and green.
During weekends, accompanied by local guides, we’ll explore the lush landscape of Ghana’s rolling hills.
Cuisine • Many Ghanaian dishes start with a starch (rice, plantain, cassava, cocoyam, or corn) that is complemented with a sauce or stew made from a combination of locally grown fresh vegetables – tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and eggplant. Ghanaians eat a range of meats including chicken, beef, and goat. Fresh tropical fruits abound and mango, banana, oranges, papaya, and pineapple often accompany meals.
Voltage • Ghana uses Type D and Type G plugs. Voltage is 240V/50hz. While we do have occasional access to electricity, it is advisable that students bring a small solar charger to charge their personal electronic devices.
“All expectations were exceeded. Sara’s trip to Ghana was very real, a trip into another world. Poverty, poor health, limited education, short life expectancy, and girls born into a life of child-bearing and rearing were realities. But so were sport, laughter, beauty, nature, and community. The trip was wonderful.”
– Kathleen McCoy & David Skutch, Montclair, NJ
Currency • Ghana’s currency is the Ghanaian Cedi (GHS). There are opportunities to access banks and ATMs during our weekend trips and excursions.
Visa Requirements • A visa is required for travel to Ghana. Putney Student Travel provides complete information on how to apply for a visa.
The Community Service Ghana program is directed by Kelsey Burns. If you have questions, are interested in receiving more detailed information, or would like to talk further about the program, please get in touch!
Kelsey Burns
Kelsey Burns: St. Lawrence University, B.A., Spanish. Kelsey grew up in the small town of Middlebury, Vermont. She headed off on her first international adventure during high school to live with a family in Toledo, Spain. During college, Kelsey focused her studies on Spanish and Creative Writing, spending a year abroad studying in Madrid. She has led Putney’s Language Learning program in Spain, Community Service programs in Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana, and has co-directed Putney’s Global Action programs at Yale University. Kelsey has worked as an associate director at Putney Student Travel for the last 7 years hiring leaders. She currently coordinates outreach efforts and directs various programs in Spain, Latin America, and Africa. Kelsey loves to travel, ski, dance, and eat good food.
How To Apply
Step 1: Log On.
If you are new to Putney Student Travel, visit our Online Application.
If you are a Putney Student Travel alumni family, use your existing account information to Log In.
Step 2: Hold A Space In The Program.
You can hold a space in a program by completing the Online Application Form and providing the $700 Application Deposit by Mastercard, Visa, or Discover Card through our secure online system or by sending a check to our office. Our admissions staff is also available to take credit card information over the phone. We will hold a space in a program for a reasonable time, pending completion of the full application process. See Step 3.
After March 15, to hold a space in a program an application must be accompanied by full payment made by check or wire transfer and the signed Agreement Form.
Step 3: Complete the Application Process.
Before we can make a final admissions decision, an application must be complete. In addition to the Application Form and Application Deposit described above, a complete application includes:
- Applicant Statement
- Two Teacher References
- Signed Agreement Form
These documents are available as part of our Online Application. We review a completed application within a few days, and notify families of our admissions decision by e-mail.
For a full description of eligibility, admissions policies, and terms of payment, please visit our Terms & Conditions.
