Ghana

I learn a lot and had an exposure and a better understanding between theory and field work. Also, it was a total volunteer and it take determination to sustain. But it is not all places the same and what ever may be the case, dont go into a volunteer work with an expectaion of seeking for worth, but focus on labour and what ever you would have should be appreciated.

Global Crossroad... absolutely the most deceptive and morally corrupt program i have ever worked with. I travelled as a junior in college, my first visit to a developing country... what a mistake to go with GC! We were consistently lied to and misled by the american coordinators. our in-country personnel tried their best with what little resources they were provided by the american coordinators. our host family was the only redeeming factor of the trip, no thanks to GC. we had received information weeks before our departure on a family that we were told would be hosting us. to our surprise, we discovered upon arrival that this family did not exist and was merely a template they sent out to any of their volunteers. dispicable! our real host family had not been recruited until 2 days before our arrival. Another girl volunteering while there had asked to be put in an environmental program. later she discovered they had placed her in a logging company! The ghanaians we were worked with were very receptive and helpful, but there is absolutely no excuse for the behavior of the american coordinators! Please, please, please avoid this company at all costs!!!

I am a senior at Colorado College, and I was in Ghana (in the Volta region) this past summer. I had the most amazing experience in Ghana. The ABV project director Edem in Kpando is an amazing person! He is 29 I think, and incredibly active with the UN youth, and is actually a member of the royal family in Kpando. He is really really smart, and also very used to westerners. He will be very respectful towards you and your cultural background. Additionally, he made me feel extremely safe when I was there (first time is Ghana...especially Accra, can be a bit terrifying). Edem is one of the main reasons I had such a great experience, and hope that I can get back to Kpando very soon!
ABV is wonderful. For a new organization they are well organized. When I was there, I heard somewhat of horror stories about some other programs not really keeping in contact to make sure that the volunteers were safe. With ABV, Edem had to call Sarah in the US office the minute we got to our hotel when I arrived in Ghana. He would check in with her periodically to let her know I was doing fine, and when I got back, Sarah was great about checking in with me to see how my trip was. ABV is not perfect, but they are pretty damn close for sure!
Overall, I found my time in Kpando to be one of the most arth-shatteringly-perspective-changing experiences of my life. I learned so much from the kids at orphanage, from Edem, and from the kids at the school I worked at. There is no way to summarize what my trip was like or how much it meant to me in one short email, but all I can tell you is that, the most important thing to be prepared for is to be prepared for the fact that you cannot really be prepared for what will happen to you while you are there. Everyone has a very different experience....some face home sickness, others stomach sickness, some face enlightenment, others simply find joy and humility. Overall, this ABV program was an amazing opportunity for me!

I had an amazing time. CCS really looked after us.

Don't be deceived by the above post. The volunteers take more from the community than they can ever return. If mad was not desperate to expand as a travel agent, it may focus more on not-for-profit projects, where a £600-£2000 project fee went more to a community than paying overhead costs in country. If only all people going to Ghana knew how much rent is paid to keep the Accra house running!
If you are not concened about the wider issues of international development and ethical travel, this company is 100% for you!

I had a great time with these guys in Ghana this summer. I was in a group of twelve brits living in a house in the village we were working in, the project was a mix of building a new school block and teaching in the existing school. The mix of great support from the madventurer crew member who shared our house and feeling like we were making a real difference to the village was great. Well organised and I would totally recommend them.