Ghana Health and Education Initiative, a nonprofit organization working in the Western Region of Ghana, provides innovative, self-paid internship and volunteer programs in international development. These programs offer participants the opportunity to develop and strengthen their skills in cross-cultural communication, project design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and community outreach. Participants will be immersed in a rural Ghanaian community and work alongside local staff members in support of GHEI’s health and education programming.

Summer 2013 Sessions:

Literacy Promotion Project [Internship] (June 1 – June 30, 2013)

The Literacy Promotion Project will pilot the expansion of GHEI’s Community Library programming to the rural community of Soroano. This literacy campaign aims to increase primary and junior high school students’ ability to employ literacy strategies and effectively engage with books through a school-based outreach. The outreach will culminate with the provision of books to the Soroano primary and junior high schools and literacy skill development in the school community.

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates seeking to gain international experience in community outreach, literacy skill development, project design and management, and monitoring and evaluation.

Rural Girls’ Health Project [Internship] (June 18 – July 4 2013)

The Rural Girls’ Health Project (RGHP) is a health campaign for female upper primary and early junior high school students from the rural community of Humjibre. Through school-based education on age-related health concerns, such as adolescent development, menstruation, and menstrual hygiene, the campaign aims to empower girls to participate fully in social and academic activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates seeking to gain international experience in adolescent and reproductive health, survey writing and administration, project design and management, and data analysis and report writing.

Malaria Prevention: Community Health Evaluation (July 8 – July 24 2013)

In Ghana, malaria causes more deaths in children under 5 years than any other disease Sleeping under an insecticide treated bednet can reduce mortality from any cause by 15-30% in children under age 5. However, bednet usage rates are generally poor throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

In this session, volunteers will partner with a team of local community health workers to evaluate bednet usage and collect basic health indicators for the Humjibre community of over 4000 people. Volunteers will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of data collected, as well as entering and managing the data. The process will provide volunteers with an incredible chance to be fully involved in the sights and sounds of the local community.

Girls’ Empowerment (July 26 – August 11 2013)

Empowering and educating girls are essential elements in the fight against poverty. Educating and empowering one girl has an effect on her family and community; if she is given the opportunity to pursue her education, she is more likely to earn a better income and have fewer, healthier children when she decides the time is right.

In this session, volunteers will work with local staff to develop girls’ leadership and life skills and teach them about health issues relevant to young women. This intensive 2-week session with local middle-school aged girls will give them the opportunity to think about their futures and themselves in a new and broader context.

Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

To apply, please visit our website: http:ghei.org/volunteers/apply-summer-serve-and-learn

Please review the FAQ, the session descriptions on this website, complete the application and submit it to apply@ghei.org as soon as possible. A letter of recommendation should be sent to the same email address directly from the recommender.