FAQs

Your safety is a most important for us, and we will take all realistic steps to make certain that you are safe. We only go to areas with excellent track records for safety. However, no trip can be guaranteed to be hundred percent safe, and each guest must recognize that travel to developing countries is, in broad, less safe than travel to developed countries.

It is absolutely left to you to decide, but it is advised that your interest in participation is announced early enough (2-3 months before departure, sometimes 6 months – 1 year before, depending on your individual schedules). Meanwhile some projects are over-booked so the earlier we know about your intentions, the better it is for us to arrange your project and other important things. If necessary, we are also able to organize last-minute-travel.

OGVO shall send you a written confirmation, accepting or rejecting your request. If it is accepted, the letter shall also contain all important information about your destination, how to acquire your visa, what you will need for your travel etc.

It is certainly possible to use one of OGVO’s programs as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. OGVO regularly receives medical, dentistry, childcare, midwifery, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects across Ghana and we have ties with some of the leading universities. If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of OGVO’s programs could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly on info@ogvoghana.org to schedule a meeting!

YES – It is absolutely decided by you whether or not you want to travel during your free time. To our mind it is important and helpful that you discover the country and associate yourself with natives.

Basic knowledge of English shall be adequate for virtually all the projects. Meanwhile, we shall notify you if the need for excellent knowledge in English is required.

We offer a range of placements in areas such as education, childcare, microfinance, agriculture & farming, wildlife conservation, disabled care and healthcare etc. Each placement faces its own unique challenges so your role will vary depending on the project you’ll be working on. For a clear idea of your volunteer role, please visit the information webpage of the program you’re interested in.

All applications should be made through our website – www.ogvoghana.org. Applicants should navigate to their chosen program page and then click the ‘Book Now/Apply Now’ button in order to proceed to the Online Application pages. The whole process takes around 10 -15 minutes. The more we know about you the better placed we are to meet, and exceed, your expectations.

You are responsible for organizing your own visa for the travel. We shall make available to you all necessary information you need to acquire the visa without any problems.

It is highly recommended. You shall need a comprehensive travel insurance to cover you while in the practical world. In particular we recommend you to have a health and personal liability insurance. Please discuss with your insurance agent.

It is absolutely left to you to decide when you want to travel. Our projects run all year through, though some of them have specified times of recess.

YES – One of our coordinators will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your projects site. Before your departure from your country, inform OGVO by E-mail telling us your date of arrival, the airline, the flight number and time of arrival. This will enable us organize to meet you at the airport.

NO – the fee does not include your flight transportation. Apart from that you have to consider the costs for your insurances, medical prophylaxis and vaccinations, your visa application fee, traveling and transportation in the practical country as well as personal purchases.

Notwithstanding numerous political problems in other West African countries, Ghana is a very safe and sound country. Crime is much lower than in other African states, and without a doubt, much lower than in many western countries. Ghanaians are also friendly towards foreigners, and luxury them as welcome guests in their country. Many will greet you all over Ghana with the expression ’’AKWAABA’’ meaning welcome in TWI, the mainly common spoken local language.

There is one required immunization to come to Ghana. This is against yellow fever, and you will be checked at Kotoka Airport to make certain you have had this before entering Ghana. Other than this, it is recommended to get several other immunizations/vaccines, including Hepatitis A plus B, typhoid/typhus, meningitis, rabies and tetanus-diphtheria. There is no vaccine against malaria, which is quite common in Ghana. Therefore certain medicines are recommended against this disease. For further information on these and other health travel guidelines, link to the following website:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control [CDC].

For all our programs (apart from tour) OGVO provides home stay or independent accommodation. You will be welcome into the community and treated as a member of the family. Living with a local family will allow you to integrate and increase your understanding of the culture, culminating in an experience you will remember for the rest of your life –  During tours participants would be accommodated in hotels.

Volunteers should be at least 15 years of age, in good health, eager to work hard, skilled/unskilled jobs and eager to live with others in simple living conditions.