About The Placement
Join the reforestation team and help us to grow seedlings and planting trees to create patches and strips of diverse native vegetation to boost and enhance the local wildlife and ecosystem by providing a wide range of species to produce oases for biodiversity.
Why This Placement?
Ghana like a lot of sub saharan Africa is experiencing the affects of climate change with irregular seasons and forest areas gradually turning into Savannah and desert grassland. Already this has had a huge impact on the variety and population of various species across a once thriving rainforest zone.
Working with our community partners in the local agriculture office we have introduced ideas such as the Miyakawi method which involves planting a variety of native species within a certain distance of each other to provide a greater diversity of food and shelter at the early stages to attract local pollinators, insects and birds. Miyawaki forests can grow into mature ecosystems in just 20 years. compared to the 200 years it can take a forest to regenerate on its own.
With a lot of the local population living under the poverty line, previous reforestation work has focused on non-indigenous trees grown for timber or produce to also provide additional income to those farmers/land owners involved. However using Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki's research to present to the local communities he found that protected areas around temples, shrines and cemeteries in
Japan contained a huge variety of native vegetation that co-existed to
produce resilient and diverse ecosystems.
Reforestation is a key part of UN and nation's strategies to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5℃ with various global projects setting ambitious targets. With research such as the Miyawaki method to hand it is surprising to see that not all forests are equally effective in sequestering carbon. Mature forests of native trees soak up more CO2 than the monocultures used in many reforestation projects.
What Is Included In This Placement?
Support Staff - Accommodation - House Utility Bills - Pre Departure Support
We charge cost price for this project just so we can cover your
stay and employ local support staff to increase loyal employment. This
placement includes accommodation
in a modern style house for the semi rural area of which we are based
with great views and surroundings of the local towns and rainforest. All
house utilities are included for your time, you will have use of the
kitchen,
electricity throughout the house and running water which is a luxury
among the area of Kwahu. You will have a member of our local support
team living in house or close by depending on the volunteer numbers so
there is always someone on hand for any questions or support you may
need.
How Do I Get To The Placement?
Budget an additional 20 - 70 Ghana cedis per day for transport costs.
From the volunteer house to the main nursery/seedling site in Abetifi is around 20 cedis. At certain parts of the year when we are on our planting days (during the rainy season) or creating fire belts around the trees - this will require a longer journey which will be at the higher end of the budget to our planting site around Kotoso.
We work with a number of project sites within the local community and slightly
further out in rural communities. Volunteers will usually take taxis back and forth to their placement site. It is very easy to take shared taxis in town and
they are very reasonably priced. Most of our project sites will require
volunteers to pay transport between 20 cedis and 70 cedis a day, with the average
being about 50 cedis. The more remote project sites are usually located
down tracks and therefore cost a little bit more to reach. Our team
will be able to assist volunteers group together for transport and where to find taxis etc.
Volunteers are usually able to head off into the town after school
easily to shop for food supplies, grab a cold drink or meet up with
friends before heading home and the ease of taxis offer a really
flexible experience for the volunteers.
What Will I Be Doing?
During your placement depending on the stage/time of year you will be packing and growing seedlings, joining in tree planting, setting up seedling patches and mini forest plans and designs at the local schools and town planning committes as well as being involved in the agriculture office's educational outreach programs to ensure communities and in particular schools are being briefed on the disadvantages and impact deforestation is having on Ghana and the region as a whole.
Who Will I Be Working With?
You will usually be working alongside your fellow volunteers, support team or members of the community however for parts of the day you may be required to work independently.
A member of our volunteer support team will also visit you at your placement site periodically after the initial introduction to ensure you are getting on well and making an impact on site.
What Do We Expect From The Volunteers?
All we request is the passion and drive to make a difference with us, one step at a time. Being able to get involved and stuck in will help you much more with this project especially with the manual labour days which can be tiring in the heat and humidity. The greatest traits
of a volunteer are enthusiasm, empathetic and the ability to adjust
to alternative cultures. You will get the most of our your trip by
opening your mind to new experiences and beliefs whilst also bringing
your own to the table.
We expect volunteers to visit their
placements Monday - Friday, exceptions can be made for long weekends
of travel etc but we hope for the children and yourselves to get the
most of your placement this is kept to a minimum.
What Can You Expect From Us?
We
will be on hand any time of any day to support you in your placement
and trip as a whole. There will always be someone you can speak to or
get a hold of should you want to discuss anything or require any
guidance, from organising and altering your timetable to changing your
placement. Our team living in the volunteer house will also be able
to offer advice regarding travel plans and the local area so you will
soon feel at home.
What Should I Bring?
In terms of your placement make sure you bring at least one strong pair of shoes and full length trousers/tracksuit to use on days when venturing out into the local forests for research and monitoring. Fundraising for seedlings is a great way you can ensure you can hit the ground running as soon as you arrive and make a lasting impact in our lovely communities which we know you will come to love upon arrival.
What Happens During School Holidays?
Other than for the community outreach and education part of this placement the school holidays will not affect this placement and you will still be able to continue as normal.
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