We pride ourselves on offering an ethical, affordable, flexible and innovative programme. We want our volunteers to have the best experience possible in this beautiful country, while maximising the benefit they are able to offer. Volunteers will have the chance to get involved in a wide range of projects, some of which are set out briefly below
Help in the fight against plastic waste by getting involved with our plastic collect and recycle programme! Take part in organised litter collections, rebuild the environment and learn how to create upcycled products from raw materials – all while educating the community on the harmful effects of plastic pollution and how to dispose of waste effectively.
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Clean up Ghana’s streets, cities and beaches on our coordinated plastic collections.
Learn exciting new skills and valuable recycling knowledge.
Work with a passionate and diverse team, on a project that employs and empowers local youth.
Promote a happier and safer environment that Ghanaians can all take pride in.
As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Ghana is also experiencing record levels of plastic waste. As you’ll have read in our mission statement, ‘Pure Water’ bags are a major offender. Since a large number of Ghana’s population live under the poverty line, these provide a cheaper and more affordable water source. However, once used, they are discarded onto piles of rubbish that line the roads and streets.
But it’s not just the visual impact we’re worried about. Especially in densely populated areas such as Accra, Ghana's capital city, plastic waste clogs drains and gutters. This leads to flooding and an increased likelihood of the transmission of malaria and other diseases.
With a crippling lack of adequate waste disposal systems, plastics are cast out onto the roadside or burned in waste heaps. This further contributes towards the third grave social consequence; air pollution. Ghana is now among the top 10 countries with the highest levels of air pollution in the world.
Threats to marine life and fishing livelihoods are also severe: take a look at environmental activist Muntaka’s findings for an example of the serious consequences.
If left unchecked, this reliance on single-use plastics, coupled with current waste disposal practices, could prove catastrophic. We are taking urgent action to address these issues in Accra, where plastic pollution is at its worst.
By working with the Ministry of Sanitation and research initiatives across the country, we’ve established an efficient and effective programme designed to reduce plastic waste and manufacture reusable products out of existing waste. Our volunteers have the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of this process, which not only aims to address environmental issues but also to tackle youth unemployment.
As part of a team made up of volunteers and local youth employees, you’ll be able to get involved in community clean-ups organised mainly along the coast and in other public spaces, although other project locations may be used. This will also involve creating waste disposal points at these sites and encouraging local use of them.
Within our continued support and conservation work in these locations, we are also aiming to create a brighter and greener environment that Ghanaians can take pride in. For volunteers, this will involve planting trees and other types of shrubbery and flowers, together with ecobrick plant pots produced at our plastic centre (see below).
Lasting progress starts with education, and so this is another important part of our project which volunteers will be able to contribute towards. Help to educate local schools and communities about the harmful consequences of plastic pollution, whilst also providing them with effective means of waste disposal and other viable alternatives to cut down on plastic consumption. We will support you with resources and in-depth information on this.
One of the main ways towards reducing plastic consumption is through our borehole projects. This will help to reduce the reliance on ‘Pure Water’ bags and other low-cost single-use plastic products.
If you want to get involved with the recycling process itself, you’ll first go through training for this with Pam, our plastic specialist, at the custom-build recycling centre 5 minutes from the volunteer accommodation. Here, the collected plastics are washed before being turned into various reusable items, such as bags, pencil cases and ecobricks. We aim to encourage a circular process within our organisation, whereby the products created can go back into the community, building and teaching projects. This makes our projects more sustainable and ethical, as well as helping to cut down on costs!
If you want to get involved with the recycling process itself, you’ll go through training for this with Pam, our plastic specialist, at the custom-build recycling centre 5 minutes from the volunteer accommodation. Here, the collected plastics are washed before being turned into various reusable items, such as bags, pencil cases and ecobricks. We aim to encourage a circular process within our organisation, whereby the products created can go back into the community, building and teaching projects. This makes our projects more sustainable and ethical, as well as helping to cut down on costs!
These are then transported back to our plastic centre or another recycling plant.
Replant the trees and flowers that have been destroyed by pollution.
Educate the local community and provide them with ecobrick dustbins and other viable alternatives to plastic products.
You’ll generally be working in a team with your fellow volunteers, support staff and members of the local community, however there may be some times where you are required to work independently.
Most of the plastic project locations you’ll be working in are local and easily accessible by taxi, which our staff will help you to organise. Allow a budget of between 20 - 40 cedi (around £4 - 6) weekly for transport to and from the project.
We recommend that you bring some protective (but ideally still breathable!) gloves and sturdy footwear for this placement. Tools such as litter pickers or trowels are also very useful; these can sometimes be sourced out here.
Days can be long and hot, so plenty of water and a wide-brimmed hat are important considerations as well!
Language: You must be able to write and speak English fluently
Criminal Background Check: This document may be required depending on the placement site.
Education: Must have a minimum of High/Secondary school education
Documents: A Curriculum Vitae/ Résumé must be attached to your application form.
Skills / experience: Desirable but not essential. Passion and enthusiasm for the work are the essential qualities we ask for!
Got a question? Get in touch using the form below, or call and email us 24/7 for support and assistance
Get involved with sports and youth development in Ghana, helping to promote a healthier, happier and more active lifestyle. Whether you’re a qualified instructor looking to develop and stretch your skills or a sports enthusiast wanting to gain more experience, this programme has something for you.
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Experience sport in a unique setting, where you can inspire, empower and make a difference within the local youth community.
Grow your own personal confidence and leadership qualities as well as developing valuable coaching skills.
Bond with the young adults that you’ll be guiding and discover how sport can be a unifying force across cultures.
Sports are an important part of many children’s day to day lives. Social and essential life skills can be learned all whilst having a bit of fun with friends. Here at Astute Volunteers we have worked hard to allow volunteers to get involved in the local sporting community.
Our projects are flexible and easily accessible, meaning as a volunteer you can get creative, designing sessions and activities that suit both you and the children. We aim to get more children actively participating in the sporting community and living a healthier lifestyle.
Your role and the extent to which you can get involved in the coaching at our two partner institutions will vary depending on any coaching qualifications or previous experience. However, these qualifications are not essential; the main thing is to show enthusiasm, passion and a strong desire to help in sport and youth development!
Volunteers will be working primarily at one of two locations in Accra - Silicon Valley School and Storm Academy FC.
Silicon Valley School:
Silicon Valley School is located 15-20 minutes away from the volunteer house and houses extensive facilities that can be used for a range of sports such as basketball, football and swimming. At these facilities, volunteers can offer coaching sessions, fun activities, or even introduce new sports and games to the local children.
Working at Silicon Valley School means that daily costs are kept to a minimum. There will be a cost for transportation to and from the school, and for any equipment you wish to use in the school.
Working within a school is an extremely rewarding experience as you will see the children learn and grow as people. Sports coaching will help to develop your own personal skills, particularly your leadership, confidence and presentation ability. You may even learn a little Twi!
All in all, this is a wonderful opportunity to get stuck into the local community, and use your own skills to help develop other’s abilities.
Storm Academy FC:
In this placement at Storm Academy FC, you get to work with a mixed age range of teens and young adults at a successful football club. Storm Academy are well known throughout Ghana for their footballing ability. With Astute Volunteers, you have the opportunity to assist with coaching, playing, and even setting up sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
Again, due to the club’s facilities, there are no further costs for volunteers. We do however encourage our volunteers to explore sponsorship or partnership opportunities, particularly to help underprivileged youths that would otherwise struggle to attend.
This project will allow you to see how the football pyramid works in Ghana, and you will get first-hand experience in assisting with training for young stars. It enables you to work on your coaching skills, confidence, and will help to develop understanding of the business side of football.
You’ll generally be working in a team with your fellow volunteers, support staff and members of the school / club, however there may be some times where you are also required to work independently.
Both the school and the club are local and easily accessible by taxi, which our staff will help you to organise. Allow a budget of between 20 - 40 cedi (around £4 - 6) weekly for transport to and from the project.
Fortunately both the school and the academy have reasonable supplies of resources for most of the sporting activities they run. However, if there is any sporting or training equipment that you would like to bring (balls, pumps, ladders, hurdles, poles, cones etc.) then we actively encourage you to do so! You’ll also have the opportunity to take your sports activities to many of the schools and communities further afield that we work with, who often lack any form of sports equipment and would really appreciate whatever donated equipment you can source from home.
Language: You must be able to write and speak English fluently
Criminal Background Check: This document may be required depending on the placement site.
Education: Must have a minimum of High/Secondary school education
Documents: A Curriculum Vitae/ Résumé must be attached to your application form.
Skills/experience: Coaching qualifications or other experience is highly desirable but not essential. Passion and enthusiasm for the work are the essential qualities we ask for!
Got a question? Get in touch using the form below, or call and email us 24/7 for support and assistance
Use and develop your medical training with practical, hands-on volunteering at a hard-pressed Ghanaian hospital or clinic. Available to those looking for an unforgettable experience while satisfying study requirements in the medical field.
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Perfect choice for a final-year elective. Combine your study requirements with an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.
Gain valuable experience and an enhanced understanding of how a different healthcare system functions.
Work alongside local doctors and nurses to help alleviate strain on public resources.
Carry out vital work at the clinic and in local communities for those who would otherwise not have access to medical treatments.
Access to healthcare in Ghana has improved since the National Health Insurance Act was introduced in 2003. However, the healthcare system still faces significant challenges, particularly in overpopulated or rural areas.
As a medical volunteer here, you will gain first-hand experience and insight into the Ghanaian health care system and the challenges it faces. We can arrange a variety of health-related placements for both medically-trained students on electives and qualified professionals, including those in nursing, midwifery and paediatrics.
Bear in mind that it is also possible to combine multiple projects with us - so although you might be volunteering on a medical placement, you can still try your hand at mixing cement on one of the construction projects! Or get involved with anything else that interests you during your time here.
Please note, there is also a one-off fee of £90 for hospital placements. This has been requested by the Ga West hospital to cover logistical arrangements and essential equipment.
Clinical volunteers will spend their time at the Ga West Municipal Hospital in multiple departments. You can elect to work in outpatients, on the wards, midwifery or in surgery depending on your experience, interest and qualifications.
Volunteers with medical experience will be likely to observe and get the opportunity to undertake some basic hands-on tasks. You will be working alongside doctors/ nurses and or physiotherapists. As well as working in the district hospital, you’ll have the opportunity to help out at the hard-pressed community clinic at Amanfrom.
Located within a slum, this clinic is a vital outlet to support the struggling communities that would otherwise not have access to medical help. It is desperately in need of basic medical equipment, so we ask our volunteers to bring whatever resources they are able to.
We will also be running a community outreach programme (see 'other projects' below) that provides health assessments, basic first aid and essential resources to some of the poorest communities in rural villages and remote areas of Accra. One of the aims is to promote and educate the local residents on health and lifestyle, including menstrual care.
These will often be run in conjunction with weekend trips, since multiple tourist sites in Ghana are right next to impoverished communities that receive less volunteer support. This will allow us to broaden our reach to the areas where help is urgently needed most. Outreach also offers those with less medical training the chance to get involved with some of the basic tasks.
Upon arrival at the hospital, you will receive an orientation and then be assigned to a certain health professional. Volunteers will be working Monday to Friday, for 3-4 hours. However, volunteers can also decide to work up to 12 hours, depending on the health professional you shadow and their rota. If you wish to experience a night shift at the hospital, this is something we can also sort out, once you have arrived.
You will be working alongside the local doctors, nurses and medical professionals, as well as your fellow medically trained volunteers. On the Amanfrom or outreach programmes, you may also be required to work independently.
From the volunteer house to the main hospital is approx. 30 minutes away including the traffic. This will cost you around 7 Ghanaian cedis (2.50 GBP) both ways. You will also need to provide transport cost, to and from medical projects. Usually volunteers choose to split the cost of a taxi.
Due to the shortage and lack of resources in the hospital, we ask our volunteers to think about bringing materials - gloves, aprons, surgical masks, wound packs, sanitary towels or menstrual cups, hand sanitisers, surgical bands, gauze and the list goes on. Any medical donations you are able to source before coming will be highly appreciated!
Skills / experience: You must be a qualified professional or have an appropriate level of medical training to be eligible for this placement
Language: You must be able to write and speak English fluently
Criminal Background Check: This document may be required depending on the placement site.
Education: Must have a minimum of High/Secondary school education
Documents: A Curriculum Vitae/ Résumé must be attached to your application form.
Got a question? Get in touch using the form below, or call and email us 24/7 for support and assistance
Provide teaching support and work with children of all ages and backgrounds on this programme. Adapted to suit the confidence and ability of each volunteer, this is perfect for those wanting to experience teaching abroad and make a difference at the most essential grassroots level.
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Experience what it’s like to teach abroad and make a difference, from the all the long-term benefits to the unique individual instance of putting a smile on a child’s face
Contribute towards the early formative years of underprivileged children and help them to gain a valuable education that can open up a range of possibilities and opportunities for them.
Gain confidence, knowledge and experience that can be useful for the future.
Have fun coming up with creative and engaging activities for the kids to do!
Volunteers can choose to work either at Primary or Secondary level, depending on their level of experience. Non-qualified volunteers will generally be placed in Primary schools, where they’ll assist with the core subjects that include english, maths, science, religious and moral studies, and computing. These placements are flexible, so you will be able to choose which age group to go in with and whether you work on your own or with another volunteer.
This teaching programme is a great opportunity for discovering your own confidence, creativity and teaching skills, which can contribute either towards a CV or your own personal development in equal measure!
You’ll also be able to experience both ends of the educational spectrum by getting involved at Silicon Valley, a private school, and Ga West public school, which has significantly less resources and support. We’re launching a collaboration between the two which will help talented students with lower economic means to benefit through access to computer labs and sports facilities.
The great thing about helping out in the schools is that you don’t need to have any qualifications or prior experience to be able to contribute something. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to go about it or what to teach – that’s why we’re committed to supporting our volunteers with useful guidance and resources that they receive prior to travelling out.
There are a range of ways you can help out in the schools we work in, depending on your confidence and experience level. Volunteers can act as teaching assistants and observe traditional methods of teaching, as well as choosing to lead their own classes, individually or between several of them, when they feel more confident.
In particular, we encourage volunteers to think about different, useful and engaging topics that they can teach in schools or on outreach trips. Key ones include menstrual health and plastic recycling, but there are many many more to choose from. One of our partners, Right for Education (R:Ed), has a fantastically varied wealth of resources which can give you inspiration and information on some of these. You may equally have an idea that is particularly relevant or personal to you that you want to teach. All that is required is for you to be informed and passionate about it!
You’ll be working alongside the teachers in the schools we serve, either carrying out part of the main teaching or as a support assistant (particularly valuable for schools with very large class numbers). Depending on your confidence level and ability, you may choose to work together with other volunteers or independently.
Nearly all of our project locations are local and easily accessible by taxi, which our staff will help you to organise. Allow a budget of between 20 - 40 cedi (around £4 - 6) weekly for transport to and from the project.
We advise on bringing plenty of school materials, arts & crafts items and any other interactive learning resources you think might be useful. Much of this is difficult to source in the local area and will be particularly invaluable for poorer schools, as well as the rural communities you’ll visit on outreach (link to outreach section of ‘other projects), which are often struggling for basic resources and learning tools.
Language: You must be able to write and speak English fluently
Criminal Background Check: This document may be required depending on the placement site.
Education: Must have a minimum of High/Secondary school education
Documents: A Curriculum Vitae/ Résumé must be attached to your application form.
Skills/experience: Desirable but not essential. Passion and enthusiasm for the work are the essential qualities we ask for!
Got a question? Get in touch using the form below, or call and email us 24/7 for support and assistance
Get stuck into an active and hands-on role with school renovation and innovative construction projects in areas most in need of development
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Learn exciting and practical new skills such as mixing cement or plastering.
Be a part of an exciting team working on pioneering methods of sustainable development in the use of ecobricks.
Get stuck into fun and physical work that is providing essential infrastructure for local communities and leave behind a tangible difference.
Ghana is not only one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, it’s also leading the way in growth and development. This is not always reflected in poorer communities, however, and many overpopulated urban areas and rural locations are still in dire need of basic facilities, such as school blocks to house large class numbers, communal toilet facilities or waste disposal points.
Our projects focus on addressing this need for facilities in some of the poorest and most overcrowded parts of Accra. As well as the construction of new developments, you’ll also be helping to carry out renovation work to old and dilapidated school buildings, shoring up unsafe structures to ensure that the children have a secure and enjoyable place to learn.
This placement offers you a chance to get stuck into physical but rewarding work, and we’ve found that nearly everybody wants to have a go at building work while they are out here! You don’t need experience, as our supervisors and local masons teach you everything you need to know. This is the perfect placement for anyone who wants to help using their own hands and make a tangible difference within the local community.
Through this placement, you will be playing an active and hands-on role in our construction and renovation work. This will involve learning how to mix cement, plaster walls and create bricks, either from the environmentally friendly method with sand, water and cement or through the innovative ecobrick method. Since our organisation is plastic-focused, we are especially passionate about our ecobrick initiative, which creates sustainable infrastructure for local communities. You’ll also be using them to construct communal waste disposal points at various public locations.
Upon completion of a school building, volunteers often enjoy the chance to brighten it up with a lick of paint and decorate the walls with imaginative educational murals and fun images. This gives the children a happy and productive learning environment that they can also take pride in.
Volunteers are recommended to stay for longer if they want to see the completion of a project and play a central role in numerous stages of the process.
You’ll generally be working in a team with your fellow volunteers, support staff and members of the local community, however there may be some times where you are required to work independently. We often employ professional help and extra local hands where possible, since this helps to boost the youth employment sector and gets our projects done faster and more efficiently.
Nearly all of our construction project locations are local and easily accessible by taxi, which our staff will help you to organise. Allow a budget of between 20 - 40 cedi (around £4 - 6) weekly for transport to and from the project.
You should bring sturdy footwear and suitable clothing for this placement (including clothes that you don’t mind getting paint/cement spattered!). Days can be long and hot, so plenty of water and a wide-brimmed hat are important considerations as well!
Please also note that there is an additional weekly cost of £40 for this placement, to cover the cost of materials and professional help where needed. This may not be required every week (as we want you to be able to channel your funds into the areas where they are needed most), and you can regularly check with your project coordinator on whether this is the case.
Language: You must be able to write and speak English fluently
Criminal Background Check: This document may be required depending on the placement site.
Education: Must have a minimum of High/Secondary school education
Documents: A Curriculum Vitae/ Résumé must be attached to your application form.
Skills / experience: Desirable but not essential. Passion and enthusiasm for the work are the essential qualities we ask for!
Got a question? Get in touch using the form below, or call and email us 24/7 for support and assistance
As well as our central projects, we are always pushing to find further innovative and crucial ways in which we can help. We pride ourselves on offering a flexible and diverse programme, that enables volunteers to search and discover valuable ventures for which they can fundraise or set up sponsorship.
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Discover a range of other worthwhile ventures you can get involved with during your time out here.
Help in the collective effort to achieve clean water access for all.
Volunteer outside our usual project locations to carry aid to remote rural communities.
A particularly crucial venture that we want to highlight is improving access to clean water and basic sanitation (UN Sustainable Development Goal 6). Many rural communities in Ghana source their water from unfiltered and potentially hazardous natural sources or through the purchase of ‘Pure Water’ bags, which are a major contributor to Ghana’s plastic pollution problem (link to plastic section, or to mission statement).
Boreholes offer an exciting alternative to ‘Pure Water’ bags. By drawing upon large reserves of groundwater below the earth, one community borehole can provide a rural village with a practically inexhaustible source of clean water.
A lot of communities in Ghana now have boreholes, but many of these often fall into disrepair due to improper installation or a lack of continued maintenance. We identify areas where boreholes are particularly in need of attention, and then work with our volunteers to see if we can raise funds to return clean water to the community. We then ensure that there are provisions for continued and routine maintenance of the borehole, either by training the locals on the basics or by enlisting the help of a local professional.
Working in conjunction with our plastic initiative, this is a vital and invaluable target for volunteer funding. You can read about ways to donate towards or get involved with this initiative here.
We will also be running a community outreach programme that provides health assessments, basic first aid and essential resources to some of the poorest communities in rural villages and remote areas of Accra.
One of the aims is to promote and educate the local residents on health and lifestyle, including menstrual care and the impact of plastic pollution. Donated resources from our partners Sileu Cup and from volunteers are distributed among those who need them.
Outreaches will often be run in conjunction with weekend trips, since multiple tourist sites in Ghana are right next to impoverished communities that receive less volunteer support – this will allow us to broaden our reach to the areas where help is urgently needed most.
This programme also offers those with less medical training the chance to get involved with some of the basic tasks.
More than anything else, we want to hear from you! If you have a particular skill, interest or idea that you think can make a difference to the lives of the people we work with, let us know and we’ll do our best to help you fulfill this! Fill out the form to let us know how you can help.
Got a question? Get in touch using the form below, or call and email us 24/7 for support and assistance
Fill out our short application form to start your journey with Astute.
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