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In Ghana you will see white sand beaches and ecotourist parks. Ghana is a small country with a rich cultural heritage. Street festivals celebrate the history and traditions of the various ethnic groups with drumming and dancing.

The first African nation to win independence from colonial rule, it is economically stable and multi-ethnic. Its culture is reflected in exquisite handicrafts. Ghana also has one of the best-developed educational systems in tropical Africa. Festivals and rites centered on chieftaincy and the family are occasioned by such events as harvest, marriage, birth, puberty, and death. Arts include dance and music, pottery, wood carving, gold and silver work, and textiles-most notably the richly colored, handwoven kente cloth of the Aken and Ewe peoples. Most Ghanaians speak English as well as a Ghanaian language.

Program Description

Get ready for an exciting semester learning about life in a developing nation and Ghanaian history and culture, while you perform valuable community service at a children's home or other community organization. This program will give you a strong understanding of Ghanaian and African culture and history.

AFS-organized orientations will teach you about Ghanaian language, traditional culture, drumming, and dancing. You'll also get to see first hand family life, economics, politics, and social life in contemporary Ghana. Because the program is designed for young adults, your project will require you to work independently. Accommodations will either be in housing provided by the community-based organization hosting you or with a host family.