PROJECT/WORK: The work to be done by volunteers is construction of students’ dormitory for the Sekyedumase Senior High School which is the only secondary educational institution in the area. As a result of high demand for admission into the school by both parents and students, the school authorities have come under pressure to expand the facility to accommodate more students. The project, if completed, will remove the prevailing pressure on government and the school authorities as well as parents who have been hustling and bustling in the community to secure a private accommodation for their wards at very high cost.
 During the project implementation, the volunteers will be engaged in clearing the project site, carting of building materials to the construction site, mixing and pouring of concrete among many other assignments as it may be dole out by the project supervisors during the construction processes.  The main project objective is to sufficiently board all students, in avoidance of truancy and curb acts of indiscipline while promoting teaching and learning. The community folks, parents and local authorities will closely collaborate with the volunteers throughout the project life as they effectively participate in the execution of the project.

LOCATION: The project will be hosted by a community called SEKYEDUMASE; with an estimated population of about 25,000 inhabitants. The community is located in the Ashanti region of the Republic of Ghana and lies within the transitional zone of the semi-deciduous forest and Guinea Savannah zones. Thus, it experiences both the forest and savannah climatic conditions. The district is marked by two rainfall patterns; the bi-modal pattern in the south and the uni-modal in the north. The main rainy season is between April and November each year. The north-east trade winds blow dry and dusty winds across the entire district during this period. Annual rainfall varies between 1,200mm and 1,500mm.

The district within which the project community is situated is called Ejura-Sekyedumase. Ejura-Sekyedumase District is one of the newly created districts which has been carved out of the former Sekyere and Offinso Districts and was thus created as a result of the implementation of the decentralized programmes by the Government of Ghana on 29th November, 1988.The district is located within longitudes 1˚5’W and 1˚39’ W and latitudes 7˚9’ N and 7˚36’N. It has a large land size of about 1,782.2sq.km. (690.781sq.miles) and is the fifth largest district in Ashanti region’s 26 districts. It constitutes about 7.3% of the region’s total land area with about one third of its land area lying in the Afram Plains.

It is located in the Northern part of the Ashanti Region and is bounded in the north by Atebubu and Nkoranza districts (both in the Brong Ahafo region), on the west by Offinso district, on the East by Sekyere East district and the south by Sekyere West and Afigya Sekyere district. Ejura is the name of the chief town of the district.

Relative humidity is very high during the rainy season, recording 90% in its peak in June and 55% in February. Solar radiation is very high during the dry season. The vegetation characteristics in the district are to a large extent dictated by the topography, climatic condition and patterns. The northern part is covered with sparse derived deciduous forest vegetation. Growth of the savannah vegetation is largely attributable to the high increase in the rate of shifting cultivation and bush fallowing in the district. The climatic conditions of the district together with the topographical layout are a favourable condition for the cultivation of food crops. Also the derived form of savannah vegetation at the northern part of the district supports the cultivation of cereals.
 In Ghana, Sekyedumase is very famous for its particular tropical/natural climate as a result of high density and variety of trees found in the area. This makes the town one of most visited communities in the country; it will create opportunity for volunteers more particularly the foreign volunteers to have a feel of natural serenity of an African rainforest. Sawmilling activities are heavily done in and around the community by a large presence of Timber Merchants indulging in logging and sawmilling for the local and the international markets. Sekyedumase has its district capital at Ejura which is named after the district. The traditional authorities and government agencies are effectively working as a team to hasten development to the entire catchment of the of the project community. The volunteers will have free access to any part of the forest under the protective guide of community leader as and when the need arises. 
ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation will be provided for lodging and board of the volunteers by the school authorities. Volunteers will be required to occupy the dormitories of the school with mattresses on bunk beds and that had made less important for the volunteers to come along with their mattresses and folding mats. However, sleeping bags, mosquito repellents, and any related materials for protection against insect bites are highly recommended.

The distance between volunteers’ place of abode brought specific demand on the project host (Sekyedumase Senior High School) to provide a vehicle to shuttle volunteers daily to project site and back. The project location is a new site provided to the school by the Chiefs and Elders of the town for the relocation of the school from its present location.

Food ingredients which are abundantly available in the community will be purchased and provided for the volunteers to do their cooking in turns. It behoves on every individual camper to effectively participate in the preparation of meals for the camp and any related activities as may be called for by leadership. Sanitation and hygienic conditions in and around the camping environment will be highly observed by the campers. Water from Bore-holes and wells shall be the main source of drinking water and domestic use for the volunteers. However, water in sachets and bottle are commonly available in the community for volunteers who may prefer it to the later. Electricity from national grid and stand-by plant are available to provide energy needs of the campers.

LANGUAGE: English shall be the key medium of communication during the camping period but ability to speak the language fluently would not be a requirement to participate in the project.
 
FEES: The normal camp participation fee of 250 Euros per camp per participant will continue to prevail, whilst additional fee of 150 Euros for an additional project will also be charged.

EXPEDITION/ENTERTAINMENT: The camp leadership in consultation with other members of the camp shall carefully arrange tour to some important places of interest during the camping period. However, drumming and dancing or other forms of entertainment may be organized intermittently after the hard day’s work to kill the boredom. Volunteers will be encouraged to declare and celebrate either their birth days or countries day to show case the cultural values of their respective countries but at their own expense.

EXTRAS: The project community is quite far from the national capital, Accra where all volunteers are expected to converge upon arrival in the country. It is estimated to take between 4-5 hours of journey to Kumasi the commercial city of Ghana, the region within which the project is being located. Additional 1.5 hours drive after change of vehicle in Kumasi to get to the project community.