from 582€

Fantastic 4.5rating (41)

Microfinance for Economic Empowerment

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Participate in a micro-finance volunteering or internship opportunity in Ghana.
  • Receive hands-on experience.
  • Work with local institutions, as well as the government and non-government organizations.
  • Spend several months to a couple of years living and volunteering in Ghana.
  • Go on weekend excursions or join social events together with other OGVO volunteers and interns.

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups

About the program

These initiatives are geared towards reducing urban and rural poverty and are typically put forth by the government and other institutions.

About the Program

Bring your accounting or economics skills and join this project for Microfinance for Economic Empowerment in Ghana. The local team has already supported over 200 Ghanaian women improve their lives. Providing disadvantaged communities a means of ...

About the program

About the Program

Bring your accounting or economics skills and join this project for Microfinance for Economic Empowerment in Ghana. The local team has already supported over 200 Ghanaian women improve their lives. Providing disadvantaged communities a means of gaining financial independence and stability, this project works mainly with groups of women. With small businesses focused on a range of activities from food selling to sewing the project is helping to offer the women security for their futures.

The micro-finance initiative offers two approaches to lending; micro-finance cash loans and micro leasing, where a rental fee is paid for an item such as a sewing machine. Loans are rarely given to the poorer people in society as they have no collateral meaning that they struggle to find ways to escape the poverty trap. Micro-finance is a proven way of not creating millionaires, but increasing the standard of living for those who need the most help. Join this micro-finance project to see how it works in the real world.  Learn about the challenges facing the borrowers and micro-finance institutions that are making this a viable lending option for many.

Why choose this project?

You will want to join this Microfinance for Economic Empowerment project as an accounting, economics or international development student to gain a much better understanding of how micro- finance actually works.  The team needs you to help with the book keeping and accounting aspects of the role, which are ever increasing as the project grows in size.  Come and support the local team with these essential activities.

Role of the volunteer

The role of volunteers is discussed with you each Monday morning when a team meeting is held to review the needs of the project for the coming week. Much of the work will require computer time, spent mainly on spreadsheets, so a good grasp of Excel will be useful. With the team, you will review the many applications received from potential beneficiaries to identify who meets the eligibility criteria. You may find this challenging when there seem to be so many good reasons to lend to everyone.

You may be asked to write proposals for extra funding for the project so that more funds can be secured, enabling the project to reach out to more members of the community. This project will certainly enable you to help with the day-to-day tasks and improve your understanding of this global initiative to increase lending access to the more disadvantaged members of society.

Skills Required

If you have a passion for finance, banking or lending you should apply for this Microfinance for Economic Empowerment project. Volunteers should have good Excel skills, as this is a key tool used on this project.  Soft skills you should have include flexibility, openness and a willingness to work with others, as these are important attributes for this project. Volunteers are expected to come with ideas and be willing to share those with the project team in a constructive manner.

Can I use this program as part of a college or university placement? 

It is certainly possible to use one of OGVO’s programs as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. OGVO regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects across Ghana and we have ties with some of the leading universities.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of OGVO’s programs could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly.

Location
Ghana is a peaceful and welcoming country; Ghana satisfies one's appetite for both modern and traditional life. Its wide valleys, low-lying coastal plains, and thick rainforests resound with the beat of traditional rituals, while her cities glow and vibrate with all the bustle of the modern world. The Ghanaians are the friendliest people in West Africa: warm, proud yet humble with a contagious and calming sense of funniness.

Ghana is hot. It is always hot. What’s more, it's always humid. Humidity usually lingers between 95 and 100 percent. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-November - sometimes. The rain provides a little respite from the intense heat, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The south of the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during September.


Typical day

A usual working day will be from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Volunteers and interns will participate by looking over loan application forms, filling out and balancing the daily ledger, leading exit interviews for individuals who are doing repaying, keeping track of beneficiary profiles and standing, as well ...

Typical day

A usual working day will be from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Volunteers and interns will participate by looking over loan application forms, filling out and balancing the daily ledger, leading exit interviews for individuals who are doing repaying, keeping track of beneficiary profiles and standing, as well as paying visits to beneficiaries in order to look over their progress and collect payments.

For longer-term volunteers, you will be able to analyze reports in a more in-depth manner as you project long-term financial growth, review microfinance loan policy and procedure and, finally, help to create new microfinance initiatives.


Free-time activities

During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant Sanctuaries in ...

Free-time activities

During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant Sanctuaries in Africa with the chance to spot Lions, Leopards & Antelopes in their natural habitat.
Volunteers can also take a trip to Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana to relax in the beautiful beaches and see the famous Cape Coast castle, the Kakum Canopy walkway and Elmina castle, where slave trade begun.

NOTE: We do provide tours, therefore you can add a tour before or after your volunteer program for an additional cost. We can perform quality tours and can offer discounts to volunteers.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (fluently)

Education Requirements

at High School / University /College etc. level

Required Documents

No

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

No previous experience is required.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 17:30

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Our Generation Voluntary Organization

Airport pick-up and transportation from Accra to your project sites - Three times daily local dishes - Introduction to host family and program - Accommodation - Placement and supervision in program - Medical Assistance - 24/7 Hotline for support - Recommendation Letter / Certificate - In country introduction/orientation - Regular Culture/Recreational Activities (Personal spending not included)

Airport Pickup at Kotoka International Airport

You will be met upon arrival and you will be transfer to your project site, it's about 4 -5 hours drive from the airport, Accra.

Accommodation

All accommodation with a Ghana home-stay family is included. Rooms are private (you can share with other volunteers but the price will remain the same) and have all the basic furnishings you could expect, including running water, electricity & clean bathrooms. The home-stay families have been specially chosen by OGVO and have hosted many volunteers over the course of several years. Our home-stay families form some of the most memorable parts of Volunteer Programs and provide amazing insight…..

Food & Beverages

Three meals a day are provided by the home-stay families and consist mainly of traditional Ghanaian meals with some flexibility for home comforts when available. If you have special eating needs, you can indicate that while applying. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ghana. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Ghana provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Ghana you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Ghana. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This program is available all year round, so volunteers or interns can arrive any day of the week or any month of the year with advance notice!

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 582€
3 weeks 679€
4 weeks 776€
5 weeks 873€
7 weeks 1,067€
9 weeks 1,261€
24 weeks (max. stay) 2,716€
Average fees 202€/week

Program fees

202€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Our Generation Voluntary Organization during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Our Generation Voluntary Organization

Fantastic 4.5 rating (41 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2004

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Frank

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Our Generation Voluntary Organization (OGVO) works to foster cross-cultural understanding through travel and volunteer work experiences in Ghana, Africa.

Meet your organization

The Our Generation Voluntary Organization (OGVO) was founded in 2004 in order to enable young people to use their leisure time for international volunteering, interns, cultural exchange programs etc. in Ghana. Our Generation Voluntary Organization is a non-profit and non-governmental African Organisation. Our volunteer programs/projects are suitable for anyone on a Gap Year, Career Break or for anyone looking to do a short term volunteer program.

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation provides safe, unique, flexible, meaningful and extremely affordable volunteer programs and non-paid internships work-experience in Ghana. We have a variety of programs on offer at affordable prices. Our projects are designed to cater to the needs of people from all backgrounds. 

Since its inception in 2004, OGVO has delivered great experiences to thousands of volunteers across the ten regions of Ghana. Our Medical and Healthcare internships are much admired amongst the medical students, and this is where medics get hands-on knowledge into complex medical procedures. Be it for college credits or an internship or volunteer certificate or even a service learning trip - schoolies, gapers and numerous high school students enroll for our programs throughout the year.

Our Generation Voluntary Organisation's volunteer and intern programs are available in both urban and rural areas. OGVO has flexible start dates and durations that runs from 1 week to 6 months depending on the program of your choice. Extensions can be arranged with advanced notice. You can arrive any day of the year with advanced notice as well. During this time, you will be staying in the home of a local Ghanaian family. Our host families are carefully screened, socially respected and experienced with hosting international volunteers.  Accommodation is simple but clean and includes 3 meals a day of local cuisine. Typically, volunteers eat breakfast and dinner at the host family and have lunch at their project.  

OGVO believes that home stays offer you the best experience during your time in Ghana by allowing you to save money, while providing you with an easy way to integrate into Ghanaian culture. In most cases, you will share a room with volunteers (of same gender). Your weekends are free to explore some of the amazing sights that Ghana has to offer. Volunteers regularly travel together and our team will help you plan weekend trips. Our staff visits volunteers regularly and always happy to help our volunteers in any way needed.

At Our Generation Voluntary Organisation  our programs are designed to help the local communities at the same time of providing a valuable learning and cultural experience to our volunteers and interns. We invite you to volunteer or intern in Ghana with us, and have the experience of your lifetime!

As a volunteer or intern in Ghana you will have the opportunity to work in number of different capacities including Teaching English & other subjects to kids, Medical & healthcare internships, Dental electives,Veterinary, and many more!

41 reviews · rating4.5

Overall this was an amazing experience. My program placement organization completed different work than I was expecting initially coming over, but exposed me to the true microfinance industry within Ghana. The individuals that I worked with daily welcomed me with open arms and were there to teach me ...
Fenna van den Berg rating4.4

2023 at Animal Care Supporter

Me and my son worked at the Kumasi zoo for 2 weeks. From the moment we arrived everything had been arranged, we where picked up, and someone showed us what bus we had to take to go from the guesthouse to the zoo. Although we where somewhat overwhelmed by the bussride and the fact that the kumasi ...
Elisavet Goulia rating5

2023 at Mental Health and Psychology Internship

It was a greatful experience as the host family as my experience at Pantang hospital. Ghana is a polite and peaceful country with people with good vibes and the appetite for dance and ...
Leila Leloup rating5

2023 at Construction & Renovation

2 friends and I, aged 16 and 17, from the Uk, spent 2 weeks helping with construction in Senya Beraku, a small fishing village. We stayed with Seth and Naomi, our host family. Seth and Frank greeted us at the airport and we took a taxi to where we were staying. We arrived late so we set up our room ...
charles girard rating3.6

2023 at Environmental Protection & Conservation

First, if you are going with this organization to Ghana, do not rely on the photos. There are at least 15 destinations in Ghana if you are leaving with this organization so pay attention to the comment, inform yourself about the destination before. On the other hand, I imagine that all destinations ...
Laura Meier rating4.2

2022 at Construction & Renovation

I highly recommed volunteering with OVGO/Miracle Works Education Complex. I took part in the construction project and stayed with Seth and Naomi. During my stay of 4 weeks we built a classroom for the school. As I am used to construction processes in Germany it was really interesting for me to find ...

Location

Africa > Western Africa > Ghana > Kumasi

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