Take a look at last year’s program, and make sure to check back in early November to see our programs for 2012!
Program Dates: May 11th – June 29th, 2011
Trip Highlights
- Immerse yourself in rural village life in northern Ghana
- Volunteer with an agricultural microlending project founded by OG-participants
- Learn first-hand by visiting leading microfinance institutions
Independent Travel Time Options
- Explore the tropical jungles and enormous waterfalls of the Volta region
- Visit French-speaking Togo or Benin for a relaxing beach experience
- Learn about Ghana’s tragic past at the Cape Coast slave castles
Trip Itinerary
This year will mark Operation Groundswell’s fifth visit to Ghana, and through the half-decade of working with our trusted partners, we are proud to announce the theme for this year’s West Africa Discovery trip: Community Development. The bulk of our time will be spent in the rural town of Sandema in northern Ghana, where projects include working with:
- Horizons Children’s Centre (www.horizonscentre.org) – Our first partner in Sandema, HCC is home to roughly 25 orphaned or unsupported boys. Peer mentoring, homework help, construction of the new orphanage are all options here. However, daily soccer games are a must.
- G-Roots (www.g-roots.ca) – Founded by several OG alumni and one of our current trip leaders, Taha Tabish, G-Roots seeks to take the microlending concept to the Builsa District (where Sandema is located) by substituting the standard loan of money for seeds in this heavily agriculture-based society.
- Girls’ Leadership Workshop – Initiated on our 2008 program, the girls now meet twice a month throughout the year to discuss important issues such as bullying, peer pressure, sexuality, gender equality, etc. Throughout our time in Sandema, the girls program will ramped up as the girls are always excited to listen and learn.
- Sandema Resource Centre – Operated by the Horizons Children’s Centre, the SRC is a great way for anyone with a keen interest in computers to help out in the community. From basic computer classes to typing or word processing skills or even accounting, many community members have little experience with computers but are very eager to learn.
Beginning in the capital, Accra, the trip leaders will receive participants at the airport. The group will then start its northward journey, stopping first in Kumasi to get used to life in Ghana and West Africa. Home to Ghana’s Ashanti people, Kumasi will allow the group to acclimatize to the heat, food and people through adventures like the Great Kumasi Scavenger Hunt. We will also be meeting with representatives from Sinapi Aba Trust, the largest microfinance institution in Ghana, and learn about their highly successful operations throughout the country.
After the first few days in Kumasi, the group will make the very long trek to the village of Sandema located in northern Ghana. A major highlight from all past trips, participants will become fully integrated into small town life here. This is also the site for our group and personal projects, which have ranged from science education workshops at the Horizons Children’s Centre, to organizing a football tournament for all the junior high schools in Sandema.
During our time in Sandema, the group will be taking numerous side trips to places like the Pikworo Slave Camp to learn about Ghana’s tragic history, the sacred Zenga Crocodile Ponds and strolling into Burkina Faso for a nice lunch. Participants can also expect some serious hikes around the beautiful hills located in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
After the group portion of the program, participants will have Independent Travel Time (ITT). A staple of all Operation Groundswell trips, ITT allows for participants to break free from the group for a 10-day period and explore the region on their own terms. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if desired but most participants choose to travel in pairs or in small groups. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants will be given emergency contact numbers of the trip leaders during ITT for advice and any safety concerns.
At the end of ITT, the group will reconvene on the pristine beaches along the Ghanaian coast for a relaxing trip debriefing known as the “Disorientation” before flying home.
To apply for this life-changing program, please click on the Apply Now button on the right tab.
