Anmchara International School
Sega, Ghana
Volunteering at the Anmchara International School
The Anmchara International School maintains a volunteering program which is an integral part of the school curriculum and the community in Sega. Volunteers are set-up with teaching position based upon their expertise, personal interests and the school’s needs. Volunteers are also encouraged to spearhead new projects such as teaching new and unique subjects, carrying out private learning sessions with the students or attending to the children’s needs in new and creative ways.
Volunteers are not only welcomed into the school, but are also invited to live as members of the community in which they are working. This fosters and maintains the connection and responsibility that the community has towards the school and its students. Students are thus truly able to “Share the World” on a daily basis, not only by acquiring new knowledge and experiences from international friends, but also through sharing their own knowledge with newcomers.
The Anmchara International School is predominantly in need of volunteers to teach. We don't require formal teaching qualifications nor previous teaching experience. We provide syllabus books for every class as an aid for volunteers and encourage them to sit in and observe classes and other teachers until they feel comfortable enough to teach themselves.
"I have been in Ghana for three days so far and it has been a roller coaster experience ... I began one of the most amazing experiences of my life..."
Neil Nunn, volunteer
Along with teaching there are other duties that most volunteers become involved with including clerical duties, tutoring children after school or managing the library. In order to make the most of your stay, we encourage you to communicate with us about your ideas, talents and passions and how they might best be put to use.
The school year in Ghana is divided into 3 terms. The first term extends from September to December, the second term from January to April and the third term from May to August. It is recommended to apply for an entire term; however, shorter stays are also warmly welcomed.
* Accommodation and Living Conditions
Most volunteers live with Mr. Godwin Agudey (volunteer coordinator/school headmaster), in Sega.
As a volunteer you will have your own room (or may share one with a friend), with a comfortable bed and a private shower.
These rooms all have locks and keys. The house also has electricity, running water and a satellite TV in the living room.
When this house is fully occupied the volunteers will reside in another volunteer house in Sega.
They will have their private room (or share one with a friend), with a comfortable bed and a desk. This house has electricity although
volunteers will need to use a shared shower room and a bucket.
Upon request you may also choose to live with a host family in the community (please contact Mr. Agudey if this is your wish).
All volunteers are provided with 3 meals a day. The food served is a combination of local and western cuisines, and is prepared daily in a meticulously clean environment.
You will need to buy your own drinking water (this is very cheap).
* Costs
Please contact Mr. Agudey for information regarding costs. It should be pointed out that the volunteering program is strictly bureaucratic
free and the program fees are specifically intended to cover the expenses.
* Teaching
Volunteers are set-up with teaching position based upon their expertise, personal interests and the school’s needs.
Volunteers are also encouraged to spearhead new projects such as teaching new and unique subjects, carrying out private learning sessions with the
students or attending to the children’s needs in new and creative ways.
No formal teaching experience is required. However, such experience is an advantage.
Volunteers are encouraged to sit in and observe classes for as long as necessary until they are ready to teach.
There is also always somebody around who is willing to answer any questions, give advice, or help out in any way.
"The whole community was welcoming, friendly, hospitable and full of life and laughter ... I would recommend this experience to anyone!"
Tabitha Kroeker, volunteer
* Visa Information
The Ghana entry visa requirements vary from country to country. Please contact your local Ghana Consulate to determine your
local requirements and receive the form you will need to lodge with 2 passport photos and your visa fee. [This is often available on the internet].
* Airport Pickup
Airport pickup is regularly arranged and is warmly recommended since it might be difficult to find your way around as a newcomer to Ghana.
* Traveling in Ghana
The village of Sega is located in Ghana’s coastal strip and is a 15 minute taxi ride from a road that connects to Accra, Cape Coast, Takradi,
Aflao and other main travel destinations. A bus trip from a commercial zone nearby Sega to Accra should take about 2 hours and cost around 3$ US.
* How to apply
In order to apply please send an email to Mr. Godwin Agudey at godwin@segaschool.com with information about yourself, your plans during your stay and any other
information you may find pertinent.
No application forms are required and no application fee is charged. The application process is relatively simple, and volunteers may apply as
late as a few weeks before their intended arrival. However, it is advisable to apply in advance (as it is cheaper to book a flight in advance and
sufficient time should be given to pursue proper visa arrangements).
To apply or for further information please send an email to Mr. Godwin Agudey at godwin@segaschool.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Do I need previous teaching experience in order to teach at the Anmchara International School?
No, the Anmchara International School does not require teachers to have formal teacher training or previous teaching experience.
You must only have completed high school. Throughout Ghana, teachers are eligible to teach in primary schools with only a high school education.
* Will I be provided with some kind of volunteer teacher orientation?
There is no formal orientation, as new volunteers are coming in and out all the time, although volunteers are given
the opportunity to sit in and observe classes for as long as necessary until they are ready to teach.
There is also always somebody around who is willing to answer any questions, give advice, or help out in any way.
* Will I be provided with a syllabus?
Yes, there are curriculum books for every subject that you will be permitted to keep with you throughout your stay in order to
prepare for and conduct lessons. You are expected to bring your own supplies, such as pens and notebooks that you will need for preparing your lessons,
as the school cannot afford to provide teachers with these means. Chalk is provided in every classroom.
* What can I do when I’m not teaching (ie. afternoons and weekends)?
After school you are free to do whatever you please (please see next question). On the weekends you are welcome to stay in Sega for a deeper
experience of village life, but are also free to travel and experience different parts of Ghana.
* What is a typical day like for volunteers?
The school day begins at 8am (7am in the Junior Secondary School), so volunteers normally wake up between 5am and 7am, eat breakfast and bathe in
the house, and then head to school. Depending on your responsibilities, your work-day may last from 1 to 6 hours. School closes at 2pm
(3:00 in the JSS), at which time you are free to do as you please. Some volunteers prefer to go back to the house for a rest, while others spend their
afternoons playing games with the children in the community. You may wish to go for a walk to find some solitude, visit or get to know nearby
communities. You may also take the opportunity to visit your students outside of school, meet their families and see what their home life is like.
Many volunteers spend their time outside of school learning to carry water, weave mats, pluck peppers, prepare Ghanaian foods and become actively
involved in everyday village life.
* How will I be able to communicate with my friends and family back home?
There will be a phone in the house in which you are staying (or at least nearby), that your contacts back home may call you on at any time.
You may also buy phone minutes and use this line to call out. There is currently also internet connection in Sega.
Download the school's Volunteer Manual as a PDF file
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