About Ghana: With its deserted beaches and picturesque fishing villages, the small West African nation of Ghana is populated by some of the friendliest people on earth. The country faces severe challenges associated with poverty and related issues. Part of the answer may lie in tourism, which is only now beginning to thrive, yet few tourists take the time to lend a hand. Beginning in the 16th century and continuing for 300 years, the West African slave trade carried hundreds of thousands of captives to the Americas. With the end of the slave trade and its replacement with gold and cocoa, British influence in the region increased, leading to the establishment of the Gold Coast colony. At the time of independence from Britain in 1957, Ghana was the most prosperous colony in Africa. In recent years, problems resulting from corruption and political conflict have interfered with economic growth. Today, the average Ghanaian family farms or fishes, lives in relatively primitive conditions, and confronts serious challenges in accessing education, health care, and adequate income.

The Project: The group arrives in the capital city of Accra, where they are introduced to Ghanaian culture by visiting the National Museum and Arts Center, and joining the bustling crowds at the Makola Market with its mountains of fragrant vegetables, drumming street performers, and brilliantly colored kente cloth stalls. The group then heads west along the coast to their host village of Cape Three Points, located close to the beach at the most southern point of the country. Living conditions are basic. The group’s meals, featuring rice, beans, fresh vegetables, fruit, chicken, and fish, are prepared by local women. Weekdays are spent working on projects alongside people from the village. Exact projects will be determined in the spring, but will include teaching in the local school, a building project benefiting the local community, and agricultural work in nearby fields. After the work day is done, students have a chance to join in a pick-up game of soccer on the beach, learn to surf, or practice West African drumming and dance.

Weekends: On weekends the group travels to nearby points of interest including the seaside city of Cape Coast to visit the massive European castle which houses a fascinating museum of the slave trade. Also nearby is Kakum National Park where students traverse the jungle canopy by rope walkway. After saying goodbye to Cape Three Points, the group travels east to the Volta region to Ho where they enjoy a traditional Borborbor drum performance, and hike through the mountains of Logba Tota and Fume with incredible vistas of Lake Volta. The program ends with a visit to the Boabeng-Fierna Monkey Sanctuary, and Wli Falls to see the cascading beauty of the country’s largest waterfall.