CHILDREN OF AFRICA

Fly into Accra, the capital of Ghana, where a GLA staff member will greet you at the airport. We’ll drive to the GLA Home Base, where you’ll meet fellow students and settle into your new home. Spend the rest of the day resting, learning some local Krobo language, exploring the area, and visiting the schools where we’ll be volunteering.

We’ll spend an afternoon with a “host family,” immersing ourselves in Ghanaian culture and getting to know members of the local community. We’ll also learn about the history of Ghana and this particular community from a local leader.

Service begins! We’ll start with an orientation to our community service projects, followed by a tour of the local village and a visit to the market. Later, you’ll meet a local seamstress to design your own clothing using traditional fabric purchased at the market—seeing the final result will be part of the fun!

In the afternoon, we’ll head to the park to play with local children and finish the day by preparing lesson plans for our service.

We will continue to get to know the town visiting a local church, hearing beautiful music, and ending the day with a spectacular bonfire as our group grows closer together in all of our experiences in Ghana.

Today will be our first host family visit, getting to know real local families in the community and sharing cultural exchanges. We’ll also get the gift of a Ghanian naming ceremony so that you can continue to immerse in the Krobo culture!

Each day, we’ll rise early, like the village, and spend our mornings at local primary schools—either teaching in classrooms or working on school refurbishment projects. After a hearty lunch at the Home Base, we’ll set out for afternoon adventures, like visiting colorful markets, helping prepare a local dish, and more! We’ll also spend time at a local park, where you can play with the children in a relaxed setting.

Today in the afternoon we’ll have the chance to learn about traditional drumming and dancing from a professional troop! Feel the rhythm yourself as you immerse in games and dance with the children you are creating lasting bonds with.

Today, we’ll participate in Batik cloth dyeing, a traditional technique in Ghana where wax-resistant dye is applied to fabric to create patterns. This culturally significant art form is used for clothing and decoration. With help from a local artisan, you’ll create your own Batik cloth to keep as a souvenir.

After several days of service at the schools, we’ll take a break and head out for some adventure! We’ll spend the day hiking to a nearby waterfall, then visit the Cedi Bead Factory, an internationally recognized bead production company. You’ll meet local artisans and learn about the cultural and artistic significance of beadmaking in Ghana. There will also be an opportunity to purchase souvenirs like necklaces, bracelets, and more.

A student favorite! Take a full day to go to a local beach resort where you’ll have a chance to unwind by playing volleyball, ping pong, swim, and an optional boat ride.

Our final mornings will be spent with the children at the primary schools, working hard to complete as much as possible on our physical projects. In the evening, we’ll spend time with local host families, sharing stories and learning more about their culture.

After a committed morning at the local schools, we will relax and enjoy learning more about the local flavors in a cooking class and dinner!

As we say our goodbyes after 14 fast-paced days, take a moment to reflect on how these experiences have changed you. How will you carry them forward? What actions will you take when you return home? We’ll end our journey with a farewell dinner to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished.

Alas, it’s time to exchange goodbyes with your Ghana family! After breakfast, our group will travel back to the airport in Accra, where GLA staff will help you check in for your flight and see you off for your journey home.