Volunteer Teaching in Ghana, Africa
Support students in under-resourced schools, immerse yourself in Ghanaian culture, and make a lasting difference on a gap year teaching placement in Ghana, Africa unlike anything else.
Programme Fee
$650 USD + $150/month accommodation
Start Date
January, May or September
Duration
3-6 months
Age Range
18–30 years
Location
Near Cape Coast, Ghana
Fee
$650+
USD
Start Date
January, May or September
Duration
3-6 months
A Gap Year Teaching Placement in Ghana Like No Other
Are you looking for a placement that goes beyond conventional tourism and makes a genuine, lasting difference? As a teaching volunteer in Ghana, Africa, you’ll play a meaningful role in the lives of students who are eager to learn, in schools that need what you have to offer. Set in small towns near Cape Coast, one of Ghana’s most historic cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a placement for people who want to be genuinely useful.
In these under-resourced schools, traditional chalkboards take the place of modern IT equipment, and your creativity, enthusiasm and willingness to adapt are your most valuable tools. You’ll plan and deliver your own lessons across a range of subjects, from mathematics and English to science, creative arts and sport, drawing on your own expertise and passions to make a meaningful impact every day.
Beyond the classroom, you’ll be immersed in Ghanaian culture, living with a host family and experiencing daily life in a way that no tourist itinerary could offer. Weekends and school holidays are yours to explore the country at your own pace. If you’re looking for a gap year teaching placement in Ghana, Africa that is challenging, rewarding and genuinely transformative, this is it.
$650
USD
+ $150/month accommodation
Programme fee
Start Date
January, May or September
Duration
3-6 months
Have a question? Get in touch
What You'll Do Day to Day
A genuine mix of lesson planning, classroom teaching, and contributing to school and community life.
In under-resourced schools with limited materials, your initiative and creativity are essential. You’ll plan and teach bespoke lessons across subjects including mathematics, English, science, creative arts and sport, drawing on your own knowledge and passions to bring learning to life for students who are hungry to absorb it.
Encourage & Inspire Young People
You’ll build genuine relationships with students, becoming a consistent and trusted presence in their education. Your energy, enthusiasm and commitment to being there make a real difference to young people who benefit enormously from dedicated volunteer teachers who care.
Contribute to School and Community Life
This placement is about more than the classroom. You’ll work closely with local staff and fellow volunteers, becoming part of the wider school and community. Volunteers are also encouraged to fundraise through their own networks to help cover costs and raise money directly for the school, making your impact extend well beyond your time in the classroom.
Is This the Right Placement for You?
We share our requirements upfront so you can be confident you’re eligible before you apply. This placement could be perfect for you if you:
- Are at least 17 when applying, and 18 by the time you apply for your visa (and no older than 30)
- Are a native or near-native English speaker
- Are more excited by supporting disadvantaged communities than conventional tourism
- Are adaptable, resourceful and happy to work with limited resources
- Have a subject, skill or passion you'd like to bring into the classroom
- Are enthusiastic about cultural immersion and stepping outside your comfort zone
- Are willing to fundraise to help cover your costs and support the school
- Can cover the programme fee and other associated costs (flights, insurance etc.)
What Life at a Ghanaian School Actually Looks Like
Everything you need to know about the day-to-day practicalities of your placement.
Work Schedule
You’ll work Monday to Friday, usually with a morning and afternoon shift. Weekends and school holidays are yours to explore Ghana and experience everything the country has to offer at your own pace.
Food & Accommodation
You’ll live with a Ghanaian host family, experiencing authentic home life and traditional Ghanaian meals. You’ll stay in a private room or a twin room shared with another volunteer, giving you an immersive experience of Ghanaian culture and customs from day one. Accommodation is charged at $150 USD per month in addition to the programme fee.
Community & Teamwork
You’ll always have at least one fellow volunteer by your side, as well as the wider local staff team around you. Volunteering in Ghana means working closely with a diverse team of all ages and becoming a genuine part of the school and local community.
Fundraising
Volunteers are encouraged to fundraise through friends, family and wider networks, both to help cover their own costs and to raise money directly for the school. It’s a meaningful way to extend your impact before you’ve even arrived.
Support & Safety Throughout Your Placement
Every NVW placement is carefully vetted, and you are never on your own. Before you leave, your Programme Manager will prepare you thoroughly for everything ahead, from visa guidance to what to expect on your first day at school. Once you're there, you'll have clear roles, ongoing check-ins, and a direct line back to the NVW team if anything comes up. For you and your family, that peace of mind is built into every placement we offer.
Meet Your Ghana Programme Manager
Your safety and wellbeing during your gap year is our priority.
Kweku Buadee
Programme Manager Ghana
Kweku is based in Cape Coast and has travelled to every major region of Ghana, so he knows the communities and placements inside out. His own experience as a volunteer in 2013 sparked a passion for young people’s development that he now channels into supporting every volunteer who comes to Ghana.
“Volunteering in a Ghanaian classroom is one of the most genuinely humbling experiences a young person can have. The students arrive eager, engaged and hungry to learn, often with far less than we take for granted, and your presence as a teacher makes a difference that ripples well beyond the classroom walls. It is impossible to leave unchanged.”
Fee and Other Expenses
A clear breakdown of what's included in your programme fee, and what you'll need to budget for separately.
What's Included
$650
USD
- Support acquiring a sponsored visa
- A thoroughly vetted, matched placement
- A volunteer role matched to your age, experience and interests
- A dedicated placement mentor
- Any necessary training and preparation guidance
- Host family accommodation throughout your placement ($150 USD/month)
- All meals provided by your host family
- Ongoing support throughout your time in Ghana
Other Expenses
In addition to the programme fee, you’ll need to budget for the following. Exact costs vary depending on your nationality, location and personal circumstances, we’ll go through what’s likely to apply to you during your interview.
- Return flights to Ghana
- Visa and any related processing or medical fees
- Travel insurance (must meet the requirements of the host country)
- Police check from your home country
- Medical clearance, if required for your visa
- Legalisation or notarisation of documents where applicable
- Personal spending money for travel and free time
Why does NVW charge a fee?
New Ventures Worldwide is a UK-registered nonprofit charity. The fee contributes to our operating costs and allows us to continue our mission of arranging carefully vetted volunteering placements for our global network of nonprofit organisations. A financial report is published annually to the UK Charity Commission.
A Real Story From a Ghana Volunteer
A first-hand account from a past volunteer whose done exactly this placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about applying for and completing this placement.
Start by completing our application form, which helps us understand your background, interests and what you’re hoping to get from the experience. Your Programme Manager will review it and assess your suitability for a teaching placement in Ghana. If it looks like a strong fit, you’ll be invited to a friendly video interview, usually around 40 minutes, where you can get to know the NVW team, ask your questions, and make sure the placement is right for you. If successful, we’ll match you with a suitable school and send you an offer letter. You’ll then secure your place with a deposit, and we’ll guide you through every step from there.
As early as possible. Placements start in January, June or September and spaces are limited. We recommend applying at least six months in advance to allow enough time for the interview process, background checks, visa application and travel arrangements. That said, if your preferred start date is approaching, it’s still worth getting in touch and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
Yes, most volunteers will need a visa to volunteer in Ghana, and you must be at least 17 at the point of application. Support with the visa process is included in your programme fee. We’ll explain exactly what’s required for your nationality and guide you through each step. You’ll complete the application yourself and cover the visa cost, but you won’t be navigating it alone.
No formal teaching qualification is required. What matters most is a genuine enthusiasm for education, a subject or skill you can bring into the classroom, and the adaptability to work in an under-resourced environment. You’ll be supported throughout, and the placement itself is a brilliant way to develop real teaching and leadership skills.
This depends on your own background, interests and the needs of the school. Volunteers have taught mathematics, English, science, creative arts and sport, among other subjects. You’ll plan your own lessons and draw on your own expertise and passions, so what you bring genuinely shapes what you deliver.
The schools are in small towns near Cape Coast, one of Ghana’s most historic cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are under-resourced by Western standards, with traditional chalkboards rather than modern IT equipment, which means your creativity and initiative are your most important tools. The students are eager, engaged and genuinely benefit from the presence of dedicated volunteer teachers.
Fundraising is strongly encouraged but not compulsory. Volunteers are asked to raise money through friends, family and wider networks, both to help cover their own costs and to contribute directly to the school. Many volunteers find the fundraising process itself a rewarding part of the experience, and we can provide guidance on how to approach it.
Volunteers consistently describe this as one of the most genuinely transformative experiences of their lives. You’ll develop real teaching, leadership and cross-cultural communication skills in an environment that challenges and rewards you in equal measure. The relationships you build with students, host families and fellow volunteers, and the perspective you gain on the world, tend to stay with you long after you return home.