Information for term Service & Leadership
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenHelp children while exploring the rich culture of Ghana’s capital.
Experience daily life in a land of more than 80 languages and 70 tribal groups as you provide education and mentorship for deserving underprivileged children.
You’ll thrive in an atmosphere of personal growth and development by volunteering at the Future Leaders School to teach children (ages 5 to 16) who have never been to school. You will also have the opportunity to volunteer at Street Academy, a school that provides free education for homeless boys and girls. While teaching them basic math, English, and reading skills, you’ll also mentor them to help develop their sense of self-worth. Many of the children you’ll teach come from families who struggle to afford basic care and may also be homeless. You’ll make a huge difference in the children’s lives as you give them the support they need to thrive in school!
When not volunteering you will take the Twi language class to help you in your daily conversations and interactions with Ghanaian people. You could also sit in the Intercultural Communication and Leadership class.
In Ghana you can converse with nearly everyone around you, as English is the official language. Hang out with your CIEE peers, go out to watch Ghanaian movies, and meet other international students. Whatever activities you choose, you’re sure to grow as a person and a professional while studying and serving the local communities.
Follow our Travels:
The Take-Aways
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Service
At least 18 hours a week of meaningful service, designed to make a lasting impact on your local host community
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Leadership
Grow your service portfolio and develop your leadership skills while doing something you enjoy!
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Certificate
A certificate of completion of CIEE’s Global Competence course providing you with a strong foundation in the core components of intercultural learning.
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said their language skills improved
97% -
said they learned to interact with different cultural backgrounds
94% -
said it made them more mature young adults
97%
Location & Culture
Click to Open
The Destination
You’ll find friendly people and a laid-back atmosphere in this university town.
Spend a semester or year in Ghana, one of the most vibrant countries in West Africa. You’ll live in Legon, a suburb outside the capital city of Accra. It is home to the University of Ghana, which students and residents refer to simply as "Legon.” The oldest and largest university in Ghana, it was originally associated with the University of London but is now independent with over 40,000 students and a multitude of study areas.
Accra, Ghana’s capital, is a bustling coastal city with beaches, botanical gardens, and colorful bazaars. You can shop at the vast Makola Market, explore the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and hit the surf at Labadi Beach and Kokrobite Beach.
Daily Life
Click to OpenDaily Life
"After my trip with CIEE I have definitely grown in ways I never could if I had stayed in the US."
Learn more about daily life on a high school study abroad program by reading our blog.
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Private bedroom in home of carefully screened host family.
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CIEE resident staff available 24/7.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Activities
Click to OpenSample Activities & Excursions
Your program fee covers fun cultural activities:
- Learn to make traditional bead jewelry.
- Weave baskets with experienced local artisans.
- Take day trips to Shai Hills Resource Reserve, where you’ll enjoy guided tours to see baboons and other wildlife; and to the magnificent Akosombo Dam on the Volta River, where you’ll view dramatic scenery and learn about Ghana’s source of electricity.
Your program fee also includes two overnight trips and one multiday excursion hosted by CIEE staff per semester, so you’ll get the chance to take in the diverse sights and sounds of several Ghanaian landmarks:
Central Region overnight trip
Take off on a private bus for this overnight trip to visit the Cape Coast Castle and its slave dungeons, built by Europeans and nicknamed the “Door of no return.” Slaves were held here to be loaded onto ships headed to America. The castle has a long history of being captured by different European nations, as the slave trade was very competitive in Ghana. Along with a tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll attend a “courageous conversations” debriefing, discussing the impact slavery had on Ghana.
Hit the rainforest on part two of your trip. You’ll visit Kakum National Park, a lush rainforest and one of two locations in Africa that has a canopy walkway (rope bridges seen in pictures) connecting treetops over the forest.
Volta Region overnight trip
This overnight trip will take you to the Volta, an exceptionally beautiful ecotourism region that spans rolling hills and dramatic lagoons around the Volta River and Lake Volta. See the amazing Adomi Bridge, the largest of its kind in West Africa. You’ll visit the Wli Waterfalls, the highest waterfall in West Africa, and the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. Proceeds protect animals and are reinvested in the community to build medical clinics and fund social services.
Kumasi and Ashanti Region multi-day excursion
On this two-night trip, you’ll head off to Kumasi, one of the largest cities in Ghana, to learn about the culture of Ghana up close. You’ll see remnants of the homes of the Ashanti, a great civilization that fell in the 18th century. At the Manhyia Palace Museum, you’ll learn about Ghana’s history before it was colonized by the British. Other destinations give a glimpse of local life: In Bonwire Kente Village, locals weave cloth in the traditional, multicolor way. In Ntonso, they produce dye, cloth, and traditional carvings. Kejetia features a massive open-air African market.
Eligibility & Fees
Click to OpenEligibility & Fees
Deadline
Fall: Rolling Admissions
Spring: November 15
Contact CIEE for more information
Eligibility
- High school graduates in good academic standing
- Students must demonstrate, through the application and interview process, flexibility and maturity
- Students must be 17 years or older at the time of their departure
APPLICATION FEE
$50
You can create a duo program by combining any two CIEE Gap Year Abroad semesters and get 10% off the second semester.
Apply four weeks before the application deadline and receive $400 off the cost of your program.
Program fee includes iNext travel insurance. Full inclusions are found online.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year 2020 36 weeks | Jun 1, 2020 | Aug 8, 2020* | Apr 19, 2021* | |
| Spring 2020 12 weeks | Nov 1, 2019 | Jan 23, 2020 | Apr 19, 2020 |
$9,975 |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Kwasi Gyasi-Gyamerah PhD
Director
Born and raised in Ghana, Kwasi has a PhD from the College of Education of the University of Ghana.
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Ruth Asante
Program Assistant
As Program Assistant, Ruth assists with day-to-day student welfare services and housing coordination.
Ready to change your life?
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