Ghana: Building Healthy Villages™

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT OPERATING FOR THE 2022 SEASON. IT IS CURRENTLY PLANNED TO RETURN IN 2023. SEE SESSION DATES FOR 2023 BELOW.

Highlights

Be a part of an invigorating 2-week building project and see your work through from the ground up to completion.

Live in a beachside Ghanaian ecolodge
Explore issues related to composting latrines within the community in which you are working
Construct a composting latrine from start to finish for families in need
Experience Ghana’s unique drum and dance culture
Cruise down the River Volta to the sea
Learn about WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and women’s health issues
Be surrounded by Ghana’s high-energy drum and dance culture

On This Program you will...

Learn why the role of public health is critical in breaking persistent poverty cycles through your start-to-finish compost toilet building project and discussions with health-focused organizations. Participate in community outreach programs that educate about WASH (Water And Sanitation, Hygiene). Both physically challenging and an opportunity to dive into health issues, this unique program provides both a building experience as well as a glimpse into Ghana’s colorful and celebratory culture.

Program Type:

Building from Start to Finish

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Community Service

Assist local masons in the construction of a composting latrine from start to finish for families in need. Before you wrinkle your nose, consider the critical importance of your work: These latrines help prevent the spread of disease and help local girls stay in school. This eco-friendly project also produces high-quality fertilizer that can increase crop yields and sustain nutritious diets. Be part of a ribbon cutting ceremony with the families upon completion!

Immersive Learning

See first-hand why sanitation is important in rural communities; learn from nurses as they provide regular maternal and neonatal health checkups for mothers and newborn babies. Compare and contrast traditional ways of life with western practices with guest speakers. Be immersed in local culture, including high-energy drumming workshops and Ewe (pronounced “eh-way”) language lessons.

Adventure

Live steps away from Ghana’s southern coast, where you’ll experience the sights and sounds of fishermen on the beach. Join them in pulling in the nets! Explore outdoor markets, colorful fabrics and handmade crafts unique to this region of the world. Visit a coastal slave fort, a poignant reminder of a page of history that defined our modern world. Cruise down the Volta River to the sea, and celebrate finishing your service project with a bonfire on the beach.

Lodging

Home Base is a cluster of beachfront guest rooms in a well-appointed, enclosed lodge on the southern coast of Ghana. Students will stay with roommates in comfortable, gender-segregated rooms equipped with a fan. Bathrooms will be shared and have cold-water showers. Cool down after a hard day’s work in the beautiful lagoon right in front of Home Base!

Program Type

Are you passionate about completing projects that truly make a difference in the community?

Build from the ground up on projects that directly affect the daily lives of locals
Work alongside local organizations who promote sustainable building initiatives in the community
Improve public health by completing much needed infrastructure projects
Be innovative by utilizing sustainable materials to meet community needs