WHAT IS A VOLUNTARY WORKCAMP?
Voluntary workcamps are community-building projects in which a group of both Ghanaian and international volunteers come together to build a school, organize an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, help replenish the local rainforest, or work on similar such projects. Volunteers live and learn together in simple conditions. They work voluntarily, mainly by manual labor, for the benefit of the community.

ARE WORKCAMPS ORGANIZED THE WHOLE YEAR ROUND?
Well, nearly. There are 2 seasons or cycles of workcamps - summer and winter. The summer period starts in June and ends at the end of October, while the winter/Christmas period goes from the second week of December to the end of January. 3-4 week workcamps are organized during both of these periods, but not during the spring and fall.

WHAT KIND OF WORK DO THE CAMPERS DO?
VOLU organizes a variety of projects, including the construction of primary or secondary schools, roads, and hospitals, as well as reforestation, cocoa plantation, literacy projects, community development, oil palm production, and AIDS awareness campaigns. The function of the camps, however, is not to do the work for the various communities, but rather to assist them in "helping themselves" by working with them on the projects. The common denominator is that the community development work of VOLU, in addition to being self-help, is sustainable and grassroots -- local communities decide which projects are needed and feasible.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WORK?
Volunteers work about 7 hours per day from Monday to Friday, with occasional work being done on Saturdays. The work is usually done before 1 o'clock, so that afternoons are free for various trips, dancing, sports, or other leisure activities. In the evenings, each camp arranges its own program of leisure activities, including discussions, Ghanaian dances, games, and African singing. Some evenings each week are also left free. On some weekends, excursions are also planned to various local attractions, including Kakum National Park (a rainforest with Africa's only canopy walkway), Kumasi (the capital of the Ashanti kingdom), and various beaches.

HOW LONG DO THE WORKCAMPS LAST?
The camps vary in length from around 3 to 4 weeks. Volunteers are encouraged to stay for duration of the workcamp, and most usually do. However, the minimum requirement for volunteers is 16 days. There are also a few weekend camps, in which only 1 or 2 days are spent working.
WHO COMES TO THE CAMPS?
Of course the background of the volunteers varies from camp to camp, but the percentages are usually about 50% Ghanaian and 50% international. This includes European, American, Nigerian, Canadian, Japanese, and other volunteers. In terms of professional background, many are students and teachers, but the camps are certainly not limited to volunteers of these professions.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE NECESSARY TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER?
Volunteers should be at least 16 years of age, in good health, willing to work hard at manual, unskilled jobs, and willing to live with others in simple living conditions. Other than these modest requirements, there are no other qualifications necessary to become a VOLU workcamper.

HOW IS PERSONAL SAFETY IN GHANA?
Despite numerous political problems in other West African countries, Ghana is a very safe country. Crime is much lower than in other African states, and indeed much lower than in many western countries. Ghanaians are also very friendly toward foreigners, and treat them as welcome guests in their country. Many people will greet you throughout Ghana with the phrase "Akwaaba" - meaning welcome in Twi, the most commonly spoken local language. Thus, safety is very rarely an issue for VOLU workcampers.

WHAT IMMUNIZATIONS DO I NEED BEFORE GOING TO GHANA?
There is one required immunization to come to Ghana. This is against yellow fever, and you will be checked at Kotoko airport to make sure you have had this before entering Ghana. Other than this, it is recommended to get several other immunizations/vaccines, including Hepatitis A + B, typhoid/typhus, meningitis, rabies, and tetanus-diphtheria. There is no vaccine against malaria, which is quite common in Ghana. Therefore certain medicines are recommended against this disease. For further information on these and other health travel guidelines, link to the following website:

U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GHANA?
There are several books about Ghana in different languages. Some good guides in English include: Guide to Ghana by Philip Briggs (BRADT Publications), Lonely Planet West Africa, Ghana by Patricia Levy, and African Spirituality: On Becoming Ancestors by Anthony Ephirim-Donkor. You might also want to think about reading a Ghanaian novel. A highly popular and recommended one is Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo. Twi is the most commonly spoken language, so it might also be a good idea to buy a Twi dictionary or a Learning Twi book before you come. You can find these books at your local library or bookstore or from amazon.com.

Websites are also good to consult. Some in-depth guides are: Africa Point, Lonely Planet, Studyabroad.com, Africa Online, and The Ghana Information Site,

You should also look at the map of Ghana on our website: Map of Ghana

HOW DOES VOLU WORK WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS?
VOLU is connected with several international bodies. It cooperates with the UNESCO Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) and is an executive and advisory member of the committee. VOLU also works with Volunteers for Peace, International Year of Volunteers, and many other internationally renowned voluntary organizations. Volunteers are exchanged between VOLU and other organizations in Europe, North America, and Africa.

WHAT WILL I GET OUT OF MY VOLU EXPERIENCE?
The answer to this question, of course, depends on how much you put in. If you enter fully into the work and make an effort to understand and make friends with the volunteers from many other cultures, you will have an interesting and enjoyable experience. You will make friends from countries all over the world, you will learn to do work you have never done before, you will learn important organizational and management skills, you will be introduced to a completely different part of the world, and you will learn about different cultures. More than all of this, you will have the satisfaction of having worked with others on a project to help a community in need.