Ghana

Experience the passion and vibrancy of West African culture during a month of music, service, and travel in soulful Ghana.

Orientation in Accra

During your four-day orientation at the University of Ghana-Legon, study dance and music, participate in Twi language classes, and attend lectures on Ghanaian history, culture, and economics. Feast your eyes on colorful kente cloth in vibrant street markets, take a tro-tro minibus to the beach and experience the richness of Ghanaian wood carving, drum making, and weaving during a whirlwind introduction to Ghana and her people.

Homestay

Living with a host family for two weeks, you see firsthand why Ghanaian hospitality and generosity are renowned. Help prepare meals of fufu and peanut stew with your host mother, assist in traditional ceremonies, and accompany family members to work or school.

Sample activities:
Hike up Umbrella Rock with your host siblings; visit the beautiful Boti Waterfalls; go to a local soccer match;
meet with Ghanaian craftsmen.

Sample host communities:
Akosombo, Takoradi, Koforidua

Community Service

Travel to a rural village in central Ghana for a 10-day service project. Work with local people on a community development project designed to build infrastructure or support local social service efforts. At the farewell ceremony, celebrate your achievements, the friendships you have developed, and lessons learned about life in rural West Africa.

Sample projects:
Dig clean water wells; paint community buildings; repair and refurbish village schools; work at an orphanage.

Travel and Discovery Journey into Ghana’s rich past, explore its exciting future, and get lost in its natural beauty. Visit the dramatic coastal slave castles of Cape Coast and El Mina to see how slavery operated and profoundly impacted both West Africa and the Americas. Visit Kumasi, the vibrant traditional capital of the Ashanti Empire. Walk through the canopy high above the Kakum National Park rainforest. Take in a traditional dance performance at the Dagbe Center in the Volta region.