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Ghana’s role in regional and international leadership is an important one. It was the first country in colonial Africa to achieve its independence in 1957, and is home to important world leaders such as Kofi Annan - winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 and former UN Secretary General. However, this leadership has emerged in spite of stifling adversities. Today, rapid population growth amongst the youth demographic in Ghana has made access to education and training opportunities increasingly difficult. Young women face many additional challenges, with less than 60% finishing primary school and the rate of HIV infection being twice amongst young women as that of their male peers aged 14 to 24 years.
YCI is proud to offer our small team program option in Ghana. These six, eight and 10-week programs provide a unique opportunity to acquire new skills and apply your existing experience to innovative youth and community development programming. Work alongside YCI’s dynamic local partners and see why Ghana is continually regarded as one of the friendliest destinations in the world.
YCI has worked closely with our local partners, such as the YMCA and YES Ghana (Youth Empowerment Synergy), in developing programs that directly address the current challenges young people are facing throughout the country. YCI volunteers work and live in small teams of four to eight participants and receive direction from YCI’s Ghana Program Officer. Projects are centered around youth employment and skills training, gender equity and support for local women’s groups. Leadership and active citizenship amongst youth is promoted, using peer-to-peer models for disseminating accurate information about HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health.
As a volunteer in Ghana you may:
- Coordinate and work alongside local youth to implement HIV/AIDS, Active Citizenship and Life Skills workshops and conferences.
- Assist with entrepreneurship and technical skills training programs, helping young people to gain needed vocational skills and earn sustainable livelihoods.
- Mobilize youth to become active and engaged citizens in their communities by promoting participation and identifying existing support systems, resources and opportunities to do so.
- Work with young women to promote leadership, capacity building, income generation, and involvement in community decision-making processes.
- Plan and implement large YCI community outreach events around key dates such as International Women’s Day and World AIDS Day.
‘It’s a way to make the youth proud of who they are and where they live. The fact that the Canadian volunteers have come [to Ghana] and are interested in their community gives the youth we encounter a real sense of pride.’
- Peer Educator, Ghana
Past Project Activities:
HIV/AIDS: In Spring 2007, 11 Canadian volunteers assisted in recruiting and training over 50 local peer educators who were committed to disseminating information on HIV/AIDS throughout their communities and existing social networks. Following formal training activities, volunteers worked with the peer educators in implementing community outreach activities, which engaged over 6,100 youth throughout the country.
Active Citizenship: In Summer 2008, four Canadian volunteers designed and implemented an “Active Citizenship” and leadership workshop for over 40 youth regarding the Winter 2008 Ghanaian elections with the Youth Empowerment Synergy (YES). Following training, the volunteers worked with participants in community outreach activities and with other stakeholders to ensure that the “Listen Up! Speak Out! Get Involved!” message was heard by hundreds of eligible voting youth throughout the Volta region.
For information on project dates, please refer to the Program Calendar.
| HDI: |
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138/177 |
| Population: |
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20.4 million |
| Life Expectancy: |
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55 years |
| Infant mortality: |
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97/1,000 births |
| Adult Literacy Rate: |
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54.1% |
| Youth Literacy Rate: |
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70.7% |
| HIV prevalence:
(ages 15-49) |
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3.1% |
Population living below
the national
poverty line: |
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39.5% |
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Program Overview
