Looking for a volunteer opportunity as an excuse to get to Africa but low on funds? The Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana is a good organization to go through if you're looking to save on the placement fee and still get a taste of Ghanaian culture.
VOLU has workcamp placements all over Ghana, doing a variety of productive service activities. You might build a school or community center, you could end up planting trees to help offset the damage done by human encroachment, and there are public works projects such as clearing paths to tourist destinations in order to increase tourism and economy in a given area. VOLU works with the various communities within Ghana to determine what their needs are and provides volunteers to assist with project implementation.
A volunteer position with VOLU is a physical one and, in addition to a basic level of fitness, requires some mental flexibility as well. I signed up to build a school, but when I arrived in Accra found that funds for that particular project had run out. Still wanting to be of use, I signed on to plant trees for a week in the Ashanti region, and then traveled east to work on a waterfall project near the Togo border. This was an excellent way for me to see as much of the country as I could in the short time I had available, and I met some great people along the way.
One of VOLU's aims, aside from providing relief where needed, is to integrate foreign volunteers with locals. Where possible, volunteers stay in homestay environments. Otherwise, camps are erected or public buildings, such as a school, are provided to house volunteers. As VOLU tries to recruit an even number of local and international volunteers, the camps are made up of a variety of people from wide-ranging locales. Even the 'locals' often come from different cultures. Although English is the official language of Ghana, over sixty languages are spoken, and each sub-culture has its own norms and values.
Around the campfire at night, you get to know your fellow volunteers well, and everyone has a story worth listening to. Some of the conditions can be harsh and the services limited, which helps the group to bond even more closely.
If you have a healthy sense of adventure, aren't put off by physical work or discomfort, and want an excellent opportunity to get to know the people of Ghana (one of the safest and friendliest countries in Africa), VOLU would be a good choice for long or short term volunteer work. Typical projects run for three weeks, but they can always make accommodations for a volunteer to stay longer. Housing in Accra is provided in their hostel, and volunteers can arrive early or leave late at no extra charge. Check them out at http://www.voluntaryworkcamps.org/.

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