Social Work Internship in Ghana

Gain practical social work experience in Ghana and work alongside professionals to support children in need

Destination

Ghana

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You should be studying social work or a related subject.

What’s included

Socials & Fun

Regularly organized social events with other participants.

Meals

All breakfast, lunch, and dinners, and always fresh drinking water.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Request info

Starting at €2,095 EUR for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments
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Trip Overview

Assist local social workers

Gain hands-on experience by observing and aiding professionals at rehabilitation centres and schools, applying theory to real-world situations.

Provide support to children

Interact with children, assess needs, and offer one-on-one counseling and group sessions (for longer stays), contributing to their wellbeing.

Share your knowledge and learn

Experienced volunteers can conduct seminars for local staff, research social issues, and propose solutions to enhance counseling and therapy methods.

Develop effective care plans

Evaluate the needs of local centres, contribute to childcare plans, and suggest improvements, strengthening support systems for vulnerable children.

Fall in love with Ghana

Live with a host family in Accra, explore local attractions, and engage with fellow interns, immersing yourself in Ghanaian culture.

What you need to know

Overview

Are you a student looking to gain practical experience and learn from qualified professionals? Are you eager to help those in need and travel to Africa? If so, this internship is ideal for you! It will help you fulfil practical degree components, adding value to your CV.

You will gain hands-on work experience by working alongside local staff at different placements. In addition, the experience will give you a deeper understanding of the social challenges people struggle with in West Africa.

To join this internship, you should be studying social work or a related subject.

This project is available all year round, so you can join whenever works best for you. We recommend that you stay as long as you can in order to maximise your learning and impact.

A Day in the Life

Most days will begin with breakfast with your host family. Once you are ready for the day, you will head to your placement using public transport. On your first day, a Projects Abroad staff member will be there to show you the way and introduce you to everyone.

Typically, you will work from 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Thursday and from 8 am to 12 pm on Fridays. You will also have a lunch break each day where you can enjoy a packed lunch or return home to your host family.

Each day will differ depending on where you are based and what the needs of the children are. In general, you will work with your supervisor and local staff to counsel children and give them the support they need. You will also spend time researching social issues in Ghana, coming up with solutions. You’ll also work on assessing the centres where you are placed, identifying their needs and suggesting improvements.

You will have evenings and weekends free to explore Accra, get to know your host family, and spend time with your fellow interns and other volunteers. Enjoy Ghanaian food at local restaurants, visit local sights and attractions, shop for souvenirs, or simply relax at your host’s home.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to help local children who are victims of social circumstances. It is also aimed at providing you with practical work experience.

Social issues such as domestic violence and child abuse are widespread in Ghana. A lack of resources and education means that there isn’t much social support or rehabilitative programmes available for children affected by it. The centres we work with are also under-resourced, so it is very difficult for local staff to give all of the children enough support.

We aim to provide these centres with extra support. In addition, we also work to raise awareness of the social issues in communities. We also aim to provide our interns with practical experience that will help fulfil your university requirements and add relevant work experience to your CV.

Join us in Ghana and gain practical social work experience while helping children who need extra care and support.

Activities

You will work alongside trained social workers at a rehabilitation centre and in local schools. During your internship you will:

Projects Abroad volunteer doing a social work project in Ghana helps his supervisor doing field work.

Observe and help your supervisor and local staff

A social work volunteer plays with children and offers them support while doing her internship with Projects Abroad in Ghana.

Provide children with the support and care that they need

Projects Abroad volunteer doing a social work project shares ideas with local staff in Ghana.

Share your skills and knowledge with the local staff

Projects Abroad volunteers doing a social work project help developing long term goals for the placement in Ghana.

Assist with the development of long term care plans for support centres

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Gain social work experience working alongside professionals

You will spend most of your time shadowing and assisting your supervisor and qualified local staff. This will provide you with the opportunity to apply what you’ve learnt through your studies to real-world situations and cases. The experience will give you a deeper insight into the particular social issues that affect people in a developing country in West Africa.

Provide children with the support that they need

As an intern, you’ll support the work that local social workers do with children. This may include interacting with young children to assess their conditions and needs. If you choose to stay longer than two weeks, you’ll have access to more opportunities, such as providing one-on-one counselling and facilitating group sessions under supervision.

Share your knowledge and skills

Knowledge and skill sharing form a big part of this internship. While you’ll be learning from supervisors, you will also be able to share your own knowledge. You’ll work on improving counselling and therapy methods by providing seminars and workshops for local staff. This means that you will need to spend time planning and preparing these presentations. You will also need to review the routines present in your placements and suggest any alternative improvements.

Research social issues alongside a local social worker

Under the guidance of your supervisor, you’ll need to use your knowledge of social work to research social issues and common abuses in Ghana. Then you’ll work together to try and come up with culturally relevant solutions that could help solve these problems. Throughout your time in Ghana, you’ll also need to focus on raising awareness of the prevalent social issues in local communities.

Assess the needs of local centres

As many of the placements in Ghana are under-resourced, you’ll also assess the needs of the rehabilitation centres where you’ll be working. This will help with the development of long-term childcare plans and healthy practices for these institutions.

Map & Location

Formerly called The Gold Coast, Ghana became an independent nation in 1957, and the first African country colonised by Europeans to achieve independence under majority rule. Still famed for gold and cocoa production, it’s a treasure trove of cultural and natural experiences.

Explore lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and golden beaches or get stuck in to the lively music and dance scene. With a rich mix of languages and traditions, its people are known for their warmth and hospitality.

Accra

Accra, the capital of Ghana, is a lively city on the Atlantic coast with a population of over two million. This sprawling metropolis blends modern skyscrapers with historic landmarks, artisan markets, and beautiful beaches. It has a tropical savannah climate with hot temperatures all year.

Accra is culturally rich, with traditional drumming and dance performances alongside an energetic nightlife and thriving arts scene. More than half of the population is under 24, so it’s never short of excitement!

Akuapem Hills

About 90 minutes north of the capital, Accra, lie the quiet and tropical Akuapem Hills. Known for their lush greenery, cocoa farms, and charming villages with traditional architecture, the hills are a perfect escape from city living.

You’ll never feel more welcomed than in the heart of the Ghanaian countryside and you’ll have access to all the essential amenities. Plus, Accra is well within reach for a day trip if needed!

Food & Accommodation

Immediately feel at home with a supportive and welcoming local host family. We’ve vetted each family to guarantee you get everything you need for a wonderful stay. This includes a comfortable bed, three daily meals, fresh drinking water, and daily transport to and from your placement, arranged by our team.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and they will welcome you as one of their own from the moment you arrive. Absorb the local culture, enjoy their incredible home-cooked food, and build a lifelong connection during the course of your stay.

You’ll stay with other Projects Abroad participants on your travels. If you share a room, we will match you with someone of the same gender and age. Whether you go it alone or with friends, you’ll have the time of your life.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Ghana Arrival Procedures page.