PROJECT/WORK: The main activity that the volunteers in the municipality would engage in is planting of avenue tress along some identified Principal Streets of the Metropolis. The purpose of the project is to address the environmental needs (in this era of climate change) as well as beautification of the city. The administrators or the city authorities have already, in collaboration with Ghana Forestry Services, mapped out and located specific areas where volunteers will plant the tress during the period. Volunteers’ task in this project will primarily be focused on digging of holes, conveying of seedlings from one point to another, fixing of wooden frames as  guards around the planted trees and  protecting them from both human and animal damages.

Volunteers will also be given the opportunity, whilst working on the project, to live, learn, and experience the rich and famous cultural values of the Ashanti Kingdom. Series of cultural activities is being outlined by our hosts to extensively expose the volunteers to the Ghanaian culture, more importantly, the cultures of the Ashantis such as Akwasidae festival. 

LOCATION: The location of the project is Kumasi, the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana. Kumasi is one of the largest commercial towns in Ghana with a population of about 2.5 million inhabitants. Commercial and industrial activities are the core business of the people. Indeed, the metropolis is heavily industrialized in a manner that almost every consumer products is manufactured in this city. Some of the Industries are shoe manufacturing, processing of timber and wood products, engineering works, etc.  As the result of its greenery nature, it was popularly referred to as the ‘’Garden City of West Africa’’. Unfortunately, as a result of over urbanization, it is very fast losing its agility and potentiality as the most beautiful and disciplined city of the country.

The population of the region is concentrated in a few districts. The Kumasi metropolis alone accounts for nearly one-third of the region’s population. Slightly over half, 51.5 per cent, of the population of the region is in four districts. While more than half of the population in the region resides in urban areas, in 15 of the 18 districts, over half the population live in rural areas. The high level of urbanization in the region is due mainly to the high concentration of the population in the Kumasi metropolis (which has almost about a third of the region’s population). Environmentally, the very well known greenery nature of Kumasi metropolis is steadily dwindling due to population explosion and needs action, which seeks to remedy the situation in the long/medium term.

The entire Ashanti Region is renowned for cocoa and timber production. The bulk of Ghana’s cocoa is being cultivated and processed in Ashanti. The region can boast of lots of tourist attraction sites and many forests reserves. Volunteers will be privileged to experience the cool natural serenity of some of these thick tropical African forests. It will be a unique and remarkable opportunity for the volunteers during the project life to visit many of the tourist places located in the region.
 
ACCOMMODATION: Plans are far advanced by the Member of Parliament responsible for Asokwa constituency, the suburb of the Kumasi metropolis, which hosts the project, to provide descent accommodation for the volunteers at walking distance to the project site. Mattresses and other beddings necessary for the comfort of the volunteers will definitely be provided. Adequate preparations have been made by the project host to ensure a successful workcamp. Food ingredients intended for volunteers’ meals will be made available; but the preparation of the meals shall always be the primary responsibility of the volunteers themselves. The camp leader will from time to time require from every volunteer to actively be involved in the cooking in a revolving manner.

Remember to come along with your own mosquito nets and insect repellents as well as sleeping bags. Some few working gears are also recommended.

LANGUAGE: The fundamental medium of communication amongst all volunteers will be English; however high proficiency in the language will not be the determining factor for qualification for participation in the work camp.

PARTICIPATION FEE:  All prospective volunteers on this and other projects will be required to pay a participation fee of 250 Euros per project and 150 Euros for any additional project.