Social Work Internships for International Students

Interning with OGVO in Ghana is a great opportunity for social work students looking to gain professional experience in a different cultural setting. This is especially useful for students interested in using their experience to get university credit for their degree. This internship can help you accumulate working hours, provide you with hands-on work, and ensures you are supervised by a qualified professional.

As one of the most stable and economically advanced countries in Africa, Ghana is often regarded as a success story, particularly in West Africa. Regrettably, the country is facing rising levels of economic inequality, which has deeply affected orphans, child laborers, and children living in troubled homes. Your training in social work is needed to assist local staff and provide children with specialized care.

Social work is less common in Ghana than in other African countries. Your knowledge, dedication, and skills will allow you to work with people that desperately need help, while also raising awareness in local communities. Throughout your internship, all of your work will be supervised by a qualified local professional.

Your daily tasks will vary during your time in Ghana. Some days may see you in contact with children from abusive homes, or children sold as cheap labor. Other days may see you working on workshop material and presentations.

Our Social Work internship is designed to encourage you and the local staff to share your knowledge regarding the best practices and models needed to improve social work at various care facilities.

Interns can expect to get involved with the following activities:

• Raise awareness of social issues in local communities.
• Share counseling and therapy methods with local staff to improve current practices.
• Provide abused children with the care and attention they need.
• Assess the conditions and needs of the children and people you work with.
• Workshop and presentation preparation, assisting with general tasks such feeding and playing educational games, and assisting your supervisor.

Qualifications

 
To participate in this project, you must be a student studying social work or a related field.

Location of OGVO Volunteer/Intern Programs

We have volunteer and intern work placements in both urban and rural areas in Ghana including Accra, Koforidua, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Kwamoso, Salt Pond,Swedru,Tepa, Boaben-Fiema, Bibiani, Boako, Wassa Akropong, Wale Wale, Mampong, Asafo, Buduburam, and many more.

Start Dates and Durations
We pride ourselves for our flexibility. Volunteers or interns can arrive any day of the year with advanced notice. You can volunteer or intern for periods of 1 week to 6 months. Extension can be arranged with advanced notice as well.

OGVO Program Prices
Our fees are extremely affordable as compare to other organisations. Our program fee starts as small as US $250. Program fees mainly help us cover the variable costs, such as food, accommodation, airport pick-up, placement, program orientation, etc. Program fees vary according to the length of your program. To see program fees and what it covers, please click here

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS ARE INCLUDED

Volunteers on this program will be accommodated with a local host family, and will gain the opportunity to become immersed in the local culture and custom, improving their knowledge of the people, culture and language. Ghanaian families are renowned for their kindness and hospitality and they love to learn about different cultures. Living with a local family truly is the best way to throw oneself into the local culture and to meet people who will often become lifelong friends!

All families have been fully vetted by our team and have extensive experience hosting international volunteers. Bedrooms are private but generally shared with volunteers of the same gender. Volunteers will be provided access to a shared bathroom. Generally, your host brother, sister or mother assist you with your laundry but it is not an obligation, learn to wash your clothing’s with your hands in several buckets, enjoy the sun drying your clothes and odor the African fragrance in your clothes.

Host families will provide volunteers with breakfast, lunch and dinner during the working week.

Breakfast is usually ready by around 7am; however you can eat later if you prefer to get up late. Lunch is usually packed by your host family in a lunch box so that you can eat at your project if you wish. Dinner is usually served around 6pm.

If you have special eating needs, you can indicate that while applying. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.

It is important to remember that the living conditions in Ghana are different from home. Most families have running water, but hot water is still uncommon in some areas. Although the accommodation is basic, this is part of the challenge and experience of volunteering in a developing country. With a little patience, and a flexible attitude, you will quickly get used to your new surroundings.

Working days and hours

You will work 5 days a week, leaving you two free days (Saturday & Sunday) to explore the area. You’ll work around 4 – 9 hours per day.

FREE TIME

During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant Sanctuaries in Africa with the chance to spot Lions, Leopards & Antelopes in their natural habitat.
Volunteers can also take a trip to Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana to relax in the beautiful beaches and see the famous Cape Coast castle, the Kakum Canopy walkway and Elmina castle, where slave trade begun.

What Our Volunteers and Interns Are Saying