About The Placement

This placement gives you the chance to work hands-on with our local football academy, which uses sport to create opportunities for young people and nurture local talent. The academy focuses on developing the skills of children aged 8–16 from Abetifi and surrounding communities, providing high-quality training and support that many families could not otherwise afford.

Players are typically scouted from inter-school and community matches. Once identified, the academy team meets each child and their family to understand their circumstances and offer support where needed, ensuring that talented youngsters from low-income households have an equal chance to pursue their ambitions. Daily activities include extra-curricular training sessions, fitness coaching, tactical skills, and general health and wellbeing awareness.

Why This Placement Matters

The academy’s main goal is to provide a safe, reliable and welcoming space where local children can come after school free of charge. It acts as a structured, positive alternative to spending their free time on the streets, giving them access to regular training, mentoring and team activities regardless of their family’s financial situation. By offering a consistent environment where they can develop skills, build friendships and stay active, the academy helps children grow in confidence and resilience while pursuing their love of football.

Your contribution helps sustain and improve training sessions, introduce new drills and innovations, and share knowledge that benefits the entire team. By exposing players to accepted sports standards and professional coaching methods, you help position them for success in the global football market and, more importantly, give them a strong foundation for life.

Volunteers also play an important role off the pitch — assisting with partnerships, fundraising, programme ideas, and even trustee recruitment to strengthen the academy as a non-profit organisation.

What's Included

• Shared volunteer accommodation in a modern house in semi-rural Kwahu with views of surrounding forests. Utilities such as electricity, running water, and kitchen facilities are provided.

• Airport pickup on arrival.

• Pre-departure support and access to our volunteer portal.

• 24/7 in-country support, with a local team member living on-site or nearby depending on volunteer numbers.

Your contribution directly sustains this support structure, enabling us to employ local staff and ensure volunteers have safe, comfortable living conditions.

Getting to Your Placement

Your Role

You’ll work directly with the academy management team, the resident coach (Coach Desmond) and the children themselves. Training sessions usually begin at 3:30 pm after school finishes. In addition to regular weekday training, there are weekend matches, joint training with other teams, and seasonal tournaments where volunteers play a key role in planning and logistics.

Typical activities include:

• Assisting the coach with drills, fitness sessions and tactics.

• Helping split players into age or ability groups for focused training.

• Leading warm-ups, small-group exercises or skills workshops.

• Supporting the organisation of matches, tournaments or welfare checks for scholarship players.

• Introducing new ideas, activities or administrative systems to strengthen the programme.

Because academy activities are mainly in the late afternoons, we arrange for volunteers to help with our other Abetifi-based programmes during the day — such as PE classes in partner schools, reforestation, community farmer support, plastics recycling or renovation projects. We’ll create a personalised timetable with you before arrival.

Working Relationships

You’ll be assigned to the academy staff team, working daily with Coach Desmond and our coordinators who manages on-field training. A member of our volunteer support team will also visit you periodically after your initial introduction to ensure you’re settled and making an impact.

Depending on volunteer numbers and timing, you may also assist at one of our partner academies outside Abetifi (for example Obomeng or Obo) to ensure you’re kept busy and making a strong social impact.

Volunteer Expectations

Sports or coaching qualifications are not required. During your orientation we’ll discuss your confidence level to match you with the right activities.

The most important qualities are:

• Enthusiasm & Energy – Children respond well to positivity and encouragement.

• Flexibility & Adaptability – Training schedules and matches may change at short notice.

• Empathy & Cultural Sensitivity – Respecting local customs builds trust and makes your contribution more effective.

• Reliability & Commitment – Attending Monday to Friday ensures continuity for players and staff.

Bringing your own ideas for drills, games or fundraising initiatives can make a huge difference to the academy’s growth.

Our Commitment to You

We are on hand at any time to support you — whether you’d like help organising an event, adjusting your placement, or planning weekend travel. Our local team at the volunteer house will also share insights on the area and Ghanaian life so you soon feel at home.

From pre-departure guidance and in-country orientation to regular project visits and 24/7 support, we’re here to make your placement safe, impactful, and fulfilling.

What to Bring

Sports equipment is scarce locally. We recommend bringing any lightweight coaching gear you can: footballs, cones, bibs, whistles, or training aids. Once confirmed, you can ask us for an update from the academy on which items are most needed.

If you’re a football fan yourself, bring your jersey, boots and kit so you can join in!

During School Holidays

The academy’s core operations continue during school holidays although they usually break to relax over the Christmas to New year period. For extra daytime activities during the holidays, we can arrange holiday schools, sports clubs or competitions for local children depending on volunteer numbers. School holidays typically occur around Easter, August, and December. Our team will advise you of specific dates closer to the time.