English Teacher in Rural Schools
Coordinator | Sam
Coordinator | Sam
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Experience the rural Ghanaian way of life and it's laid back, friendly atmosphere.
Gain a new family, living in shared volunteer housing gives you the perfect chance to make life long friends across the globe.
Assist children in learning English to help them be able to study and pass their exams
Make unforgettabe memories travelling with your fellow volunteers at weekends to places such as Mole Safari Park, Cape Coast Castle & Boti Waterfall.
Help out in schools to assist with the teaching and understanding of the English language. Providing a strong foundation for the children to develop.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+
About The Placement
We offer placements among all classes
of the Ghanaian education system, these are:
- Primary School
- Junior High School
- Secondary School
Volunteers will be placed in Primary and Junior High Schools which are located together therefore adding an extra level of flexibility to meet
everyones needs. Secondary is usually reserved for qualified
individuals as once students have completed this level they are
university ready.
English is the official language of Ghana however in the rural areas many children still speak their local dialects in school. We hope by bringing English speaking volunteers to the area, it will enhance the children's understanding of vocabularly perhaps that they would not be introduced to usually and different accents to assist with their learning later in life. As the children get older and study further advanced subjects theses are all taught in English so a key understanding of English is critical for these children to continue on to further education.
Why This Placement?
Many of the rural schools we visit are struggling with their English learning. Often the children only start learning this later in life so miss out on the crucial early development stage when they can pick up on the language quickly. It is crucial for the children to learn English as by the time they get to Junior High School their advanced subjects such as Maths, Science etc are all taught in English. Without being able to pass these exams many children are often stuck to low income jobs such as farming or other manual labour careers.
We see it each term that when we send our volunteers to a school, even just by three months time the children are much more comfortable having full conversations in English and we hope to keep up with this momentum to give them the best shot at the life they want as they grow into young adults!
What Is Included In This Placement?
Support Staff - Accommodation - House Utility Bills - Pre Departure Support
We charge cost price for this project just so we can cover your stay and employ local support staff to increase loyal employment. This placement includes accommodation in a modern style house for the semi rural area of which we are based with great views and surroundings of the local towns and rainforest. All house utilities are included for your time, you will have use of the kitchen, electricity throughout the house and running water which is a luxury among the area of Kwahu. You will have a member of our local support team living in house or close by depending on the volunteer numbers so there is always someone on hand for any questions or support you may need.
How Do I Get To The Placement?
Budget an additional 10 - 40 Ghana cedis per day for transport costs.
We work with a number of schools within the local community and slightly further out. Volunteers will usually take taxis back and forth to their placement site. It is very easy to take shared taxis in town and they are very reasonably priced. Most of our schools will require volunteers to pay transport between 5 cedis and 40 cedis a day, with the average being about 10cedis. The more remote village schools are usually located down tracks and therefore cost a little bit more to reach. Our team will be able to assist volunteers group together for transport and where to find taxis etc. Volunteers are usually able to head off into the town after school easily to shop for food supplies, grab a cold drink or meet up with friends before heading home and the ease of taxis offer a really flexible experience for the volunteers.
What Will I Be Doing?
Depending on the school that you select after your introduction and what you will feel comfortable with, you may be paired up with a teacher to primarily start supporting as a teaching assistant or you may be given a class yourself depending on your experience and confidence. Although the thought of your own class may seem overwhelming at first, the sheer enthusiasm and eagerness to learn of children will be a strong push to spur you on the way.
For the younger children basic reading, writing and phonics are usually required whereas for the older children it's learning to expand their vocabulary and basic lessons of English Language. Even just day to day chatting with the children offers a fantastic cultural exchange experience where they are introduced to different accents and ideas which you then see their use and confidence of English come on leaps and bounds! We have a wide range of teaching books and lesson plans within the store room of the volunteer house and we advise volunteers to make use of their free evening and weekend time to plan the following days lessons.
Even combining some English teaching into subjects such as creative arts for posters or wall displays for the classroom will be loved by the children, they are often taught via dictation due to a lack of materials.
Who Will I Be Working With?
If the number permits we aim to group volunteers together at a particular school or project. You will work closely with a teacher and report to the Headteacher should you have any issues. A member of our team will also spend a portion of their day at the project to assist in anyway and offer any guidance should it be needed. Most volunteers strike up a strong bond with the teachers and are treat as another member of staff as if you were always there. It is not uncommon to be invited round their homes for dinner at an early stage as a way of saying thank you.
What Do We Expect From The Volunteers?
A teaching qualification or experience is not compulsory for this placement, your level of experience and confidence will gauge what level of students would best suit and will be discussed between the team and yourself on your first day introduction. The greatest traits of a volunteer are enthusiasm, empathetic and the ability to adjust to alternative cultures. You will get the most of our your trip by opening your mind to new experiences and beliefs whilst also bringing your own to the table.
We expect volunteers to visit their placements Monday - Friday, exceptions can be made for long weekends of travel etc but we hope for the children and yourselves to get the most of your placement this is kept to a minimum.
What Can You Expect From Us?
We will be on hand any time of any day to support you in your placement and trip as a whole. There will always be someone you can speak to or get a hold of should you want to discuss anything or require any guidance, from organising after school clubs to changing your placement. Our team living in the volunteer house will also be able to offer advice regarding travel plans and the local area so you will soon feel at home.
What Should I Bring?
Regarding your placement we advise bringing plenty of school materials, arts & crafts items and some ideas from teaching resource websites. These will prove invaluable throughout your placement as there is a lack of materials able to purchase in the local area. Basic pens, pencils and cheap paper are available as well as moderate priced photocopying should you wish to bring activity sheets.
What Happens During School Holidays?
During school holidays if a volunteers placement falls within these dates then we will organise a holiday school. Usually in a remote village where the children are more than willing to join in, these days usually are more focused to arts and sports from lunchtime onwards.
The school holidays usually fall three times a year; few weeks around easter, few weeks around August and a few weeks during December.
Typical day
- 07:30am - Volunteer transport leaves the volunteer house to project sites
- 08:00am - School starts
- 10:30am - 11:00am - Morning Break
- 12:30pm - 01:00pm - Lunch Break
- 03:00pm - School closes
- 03:30pm - Return to volunteer house
- 03:30pm onwards - Free time / Optional after school tutoring sessions
Please note this an example of a schedule. Times vary on different schools and term time.
After school volunteers are free to go shopping in the local markets, return to the volunteer house or visit the local swimming pools.
Free-time activities
Mid Week Free
Time
After school and evenings offer these
local opportunities around the local area:
- Hiking / Trekking
- Swimming
- Sightseeing (Waterfalls and breathtaking scenery)
- After school & Homework Clubs
- Sports facilities
- Live Music
- Plenty of Nightlife
- Restaurants & Hotels providing western cuisine
Most volunteers will travel at
weekends, across Ghana we have many amazing experiences which you can
discover. Here are just a few ideas:
Safari
- Museums
- Slave Castles
- Canopy Walk
- Waterfalls
- Malls and Cinemas (Showing latest films)
- Beautiful Beaches
- Surfing
We are on hand to offer any advice that you might need.
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Sports
Riding
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (fluently)
at High School / Secondary School level
CV/Résumé
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from
08:00
- 15:00
What's Included
Atlas Volunteers was setup to remove the business element out of volunteering so rest assured your fees are simply to cover the expense of your stay with us.
Expenditure varies
depending on the amount of volunteers and exchange rates, however please
see a brief breakdown below of how your fees are used by us:
- Accommodation & Maintenance - 34.5%
- Local Support Staff - 27.6%
- Electricity Utility Bill - 10.3%
- Water Utility Bill - 17.2%
- Gas Utility Bill - 6.9%
- Admin Fees - 3.4%
The support you receive from our UK and Ghana based management teams is provided free of charge and on a voluntary basis to ensure the cheapest fees possible for you.
We currently have 2 x three bedroom volunteer house located in the peaceful town of Pepease overlooking the rainforest. Later in the year we aim to move to a larger 13 bedroom house in a nearby town.
Bedrooms -
Bedrooms are shared usually between 2 - 4 people. Most bedrooms are a medium size and come with a mix of single, double or bunk beds. All doors and windows in the house are covered by mosquito netting or covered completely however you are more than welcome to bring a mosquito net for your bed although usually not necessary.
Bathrooms -
There are 3 shared bathrooms in the house so offer plenty of space and privacy during your stay. Most of the time we have the benfit of running water which is a local luxury so showers and toilets will work as usual. We ask to consider others when using the water as it's a valuable commodity in Ghana.
Kitchen -
We have one large kitchen with modern facilties such as gas stove, fridge freezer and a range of utensils. It is a self catered placement however plenty of food stuffs can be bought from the market such as bread, rice, pasta and many fresh ingredients. We also have connections with local people in the town who will be able to prepare your meals or teach you how to cook local dishes.
Living Room -
There is a large living room with sofas, TV and a dining set for use by the volunteers. Evenings are often spent in here and volunteers are welcome to bring DVDs or memory drives with movies to watch although local television channels are provided.
Garden -
Surrounding the house is a fenced garden, this offers privacy for relaxing in the sun or sitting out in the evenings. There is also a washing line space for volunteers to use.
Store Room -
We have a small store room where we keep left over teaching materials and resources for new volunteers to use. You are invited to leave any items you may not use here for the next person to continue the flow. Master copies of activity sheets or lesson plans are a key item we hope to see keep growing in the store.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.
Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.
The nearest airport is Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ghana.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Ghana provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Ghana you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Ghana.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
We have volunteers throughout the year so you are welcome to arrive anytime we will schedule the airport collection accordingly.
How Do I Get From The Airport to Volunteer House On Arrival?
We can arrange for one of our vehicles to collect you from the airport and bring you directly to the volunteer house although fuel, airport parking and toll fees must be covered by yourself - payable in US dollars or Ghana cedi on the day. (As of June 2022 this is around 500 cedi)
We will arrange this as standard procedure unless you choose to OPT OUT
as we would feel much more comfortable with you arriving into a new
country that the team are on hand to greet and reliable vehicles made
available for you and your luggage.
Upon
arrival our Volunteer Support and Driver (Frank & Eben)
will meet you outside the arrivals hall at Kotoka Intl. Airport. They
will be holding a sign with your name on so they should be easy to spot!
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 50 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$260
12 weeks
$780
24 weeks
$1,320
50 weeks
(max. stay)
$2,500
Average fees
$58
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Atlas Volunteers
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Atlas Volunteers during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
High ethical standards & transparent social impact
Flex Option
Change your reservation at no extra costs
Refund Guarantee
We refund your fees if Atlas Volunteers cancels your trip
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Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Atlas Volunteers.
What are people saying about Volunteer World?
English Teacher in Rural Schools
Help out in schools to assist with the teaching and understanding of the English language. Providing a strong foundation for the children to develop.
$58/week
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