Plan My Gap Year - Volunteer in Ghana from $375

Thank you so much to everyone at PMGY for the best month of my life! I went to Ghana and it was the best, most enriching and memorable month of my life. Everyone was so welcoming and had an answer to every question, especially in the booking process. It is a very straight forward process to join the program and you are provided with all the necessary information to be fully prepared. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone involved with PMGY Ghana, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

I just want to first say a massive thank you to everyone at PMGY for making my experience in Ghana so amazing! The team went above and beyond to ensure we were supported through every step of the process. The multiple to opportunities PMGY gave me during my 4 weeks allowed me to fully submerge myself in the culture and have learnt so much because of that. I was given the chance to try all the projects and maximise my time and I will treasure my experience for the rest of my life. Thank you PMGY for making it possible!

Hello, my name is Madison and I’m from Florida, United States.
I only stayed in [Kumasi], Ghana for two weeks, but it was an amazing time.
Even though I’m in the United States and Planmygapyear is a UK-based program, it was feasible for me to sign up and complete the requirements in a timely manner (ex: Visa, Yellow Fever Vaccine). They are a very organized organization and I appreciate it.
The volunteer house, headed by Seth, was a warm and welcoming environment. The people there are open, honest, and caring. Everyone is able to thrive under Seth’s impeccable leadership. If there is something you need, you can always ask. It’s a loving community, no matter how long you are there.
The relationships Seth has built within the community from the drivers to the volunteer locations have been positive and has allowed the volunteers to have a great and smooth experience in Kumasi. The volunteering I did was at the orphanage and teaching at the school. The children love the people that visit and are very respectful.
Additionally, trips outside of the volunteering portion are amazing as well. I was able to climbs mountains, go on a Safari, and visit the capital city, Accra. There is a lot to see and do.
Of course, there’s no place like home, but if you are looking for a great time to volunteer and explore a new culture, this is certainly an opportunity not to miss! Ghana has a deep-rooted culture that cannot be missed!

PMGY Ghana has been my favorite adventure so far. I Traveled to Ghana in May of 2019 alone at 21, It was scary but rewarding to all ends. I participated in the Medical program hoping to gain experience from the hospitals and from day one i was allowed to get hands on. An outreach program was set up and we tested a local school group for malaria. I spent 30 days in the country with the most amazing staff and a great group of volunteers that I can now call lifelong friends. Thorough every challenge I faced in the country the support of the staff was there, the nightly activities are so much fun from dance parties with the local kiddos, learning to balance objects on your head, game night , etc. The food adjustments was the hardest thing I faced, The food is all good but proportions are smaller than usual and if you are staying for a long time the meal change on a daily basis but not weekly so be prepared for that. Everything else was transparent in the handbook so read that clearly! Take the leap to ghana!

Living in Ghana has been the most incredible experience of my life. One I will never forget.

I planned on going to Ghana for two months but after two weeks I knew I wanted to stay. With assistance from the UK team they made everything so easy and I ended up staying for five months (If I had the money I would have stayed another 5!)

As soon as I got there I felt so welcome. The staff make you feel like part of the family and they go above and beyond to do everything they can for you. Especially Flo, Dennis, Ruby, Rosemary and Mercy.

I felt confident enough to travel to and from placement on my own. Working at Kumasi Children’s home was amazing. I loved being able to make a small difference in the children’s lives everyday.

I would recommend this trip to everyone. Go into it with an open mind, embrace the culture and the differences, talk to people, try the food and learn the language.

I feel so lucky to have had this experience. Ghana made my heart so full and I miss it every day. I had so many opportunities and made friends for life.
I can’t wait to go back.

I volunteered in Ghana for three weeks. And I wish I could've stayed much longer! The locals in the community and especially at the volunteer house were beyond welcoming. The volunteer house was comfortable and clean. It began to feel like home very quickly. The PMGY workers provided a family-like environment. They encouraged discussions about anything and everything. If something confused you or made you feel uncomfortable someone was always there to talk to you about it.
Placement was usually early in the morning and usually you could leave whenever you were ready to. The kids at the orphanage were adorable and full of smiles. At times it was exhausting and difficult to know the kids didn't have a family, but being able to give them basic attention was satisfying. I quickly fell in love with them and sincerely wanted to adopt all of them. I also went to the school and helped in a classroom for a few days. The students were eager to learn and loved playing with the volunteers.
The weekends were for relaxing, free time, or going on the PMGY weekend trips. I did both Mole and Cape Coast and I recommend both of them. It was a neat way to see different parts of Ghana.
Ghanaian culture is completely different than American culture and it was very refreshing. Going into the trip with an open mindset is the best thing to do. The way they view time, humor, basic conversations and life overall can be surprising, but as you adjust it's easy to fall in love with their way of life.
Overall, it was a mind opening experience that I will never forget!

3 weeks just wasn’t enough, if I had it my way I would have stayed for 3 months!! I always find it hard to explain how the trip was because as amazing as it was, it breaks my heart seeing how most families live. It really does put into perspective how lucky we really are.

The PMGY team in Ghana are absolutely wonderful... even Dennis who only says a few words😂

My advice for future volunteers, If you want to go out and help people and make a difference this programme and organisation is for you! If you want a party trip to get drunk every night, Benidorm or Ibiza is for you. Grab every experience you can whilst being out there, at the end of the day, you paid money to HELP and that is what is expected of you when you go out there.

Whilst in Ghana, I spent two weeks volunteering at the local hospital, Manhyia Government Hospital in Kumasi. This trip was the first time I had ever done something like this and travelled alone, however PMGY made me feel completely safe and gave me support from the start, even from booking to after I had arrived home. Any worries, problems or queries I had regarding my trip were quickly answered by the amazing pre-departure team. PMGY allowed me to experience so many amazing new things and gave me the opportunity to work and learn about Ghanian healthcare.

I was able to shadow in the Operating Theatre and watch numerous cesarians and complex surgeries as well as viewing Ultrasounds in the scan room, and learn about neonatal care. Whilst the role was mainly observational, all of the staff at the hospital were incredibly kind and extremely willing to teach us and get us involved in the project.

Whilst living in the country, you will stay at the volunteer house with the other volunteers and you are looked after by the staff. The people I met were some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and we are already talking about all returning together in the near future. Furthermore, the staff at the house really go out of their way to make you feel so at home and comfortable. The project exceeded my expectations in every way possible.

Each of the projects are well worth doing and incredibly rewarding! To anyone considering participating in one of Plan My Gap Year’s programmes, I would highly recommend and jump at the opportunity. Thank you PMGY!