Building & Painting Team

MATERIALS FUNDING - PLEASE NOTE:
As our placements are cost price, for the renovation team we will need you to fundraise/donate to cover the materials and local labourers you will be using and working with. You can bring this money with you and we will show you to the local stores so you can take receipts to see full transparency of the items you are buying to use.
We advise the minimum budget of around 600 Ghana cedis per week which would cover painting and decorating projects - if you wish to join in on our renovation or classroom construction projects then this would need a higher fundraising budget.
For example in classroom renovations when plastering the walls and floor before painting and decorating, you may use items such as:
- Tub of paint = $16
- Bag of cement = $7

About The Placement

Working to improve the local infrastructure and educational facilities.

Usually based at our linked project sites you will be joining us as a member of the Facilities Renovation Team. Focusing on improving the safety, security and overall feel of the local project sites. From painting classrooms and creating board displays to roofing a toilet block and plastering a nursery wall. This work will be more manual labour focused still with a lot of involvement at the local schools and organisations with the children.

Why This Placement?

Schools, educational facilties and clinics once constructed are mostly left to deteriorate over the years. A lot of these buildings have damaged roofing sheets, walls and flooring which are often dangerous and pose a safety hazard for the often young children which are based inside them. We aim to work with local tradesmen to develop these facilties and improve the safety and appearance for all those affected.
Due to the sheer enthusiasm of the school children in Ghana, once we get the basics of the walls repaired at a project site we are then hoping to improve the feel and aesthetics especially at our local schools by painting the classrooms and creating captivating educational wall displays and boards.

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?

A hands on role you will be directly involved with building, construction and painting work. No matter your current skill level! Either on a more construction side focusing on plastering, skimming, shifting, lifting etc or the renovation side including painting buildings, creating board displays and improving the basic appearance of the facilities through it's design and decoration.

Who Will I Be Working With?

You will be based at one of our local project sites such as a school, library or clinic. You may work alongside a local skilled tradesman to learn a few basic skills and there will be the project staff on site such as the Headteacher at the school for example. 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 or nursing staff. 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?

Manual labour experience is not compulsory and we will find a placement to suit your interests, skills and abilities. 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 some donations which you can fundraise beforehand with our help. These donations can go towards building materials such as bags of cement, tubs of paint and paying local skilled tradesmen for assistance.
You may also find that it's useful to bring plenty of school materials, arts & crafts items and some ideas from teaching resource websites for your free time and to share with the local school children and teachers. 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?

The holidays will not directly affect this placement and the work can continue throughout the year.
The school holidays usually fall three times a year; few weeks around easter, few weeks around August and a few weeks during December.

• 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

Please note this an example of a schedule. Times vary on different schools and term time.


After projects volunteers are free to go shopping in the local markets, return to the volunteer house or visit the local swimming pools.

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
  

Weekend Free Time
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.