volunteer information
Your Trip
Overview
Trip fees cover the costs for all transportation, accommodations, food and excursions, as well as a financial contribution to the project you will be working on. Fees also cover a minimum of one Dynamic lens team member staying with you throughout your trip.
Fees do not cover airfare, travel documents or gifts/souvenirs purchased during the trip.
Special pricing is available for university-sponsored students and organizations who self-fundraise for the project.
Who Volunteers
High school students
Undergraduate students
Graduate students
Students taking a gap-year
Families (including children under age 16 if with parents)
Any other volunteer in good physical condition
Volunteering with Dynamic Lens International is a great way to...
Make a positive impact on the community through service
Form lasting friendships with locals and other volunteers
Explore the vibrant Ghanaian culture
Sample Volunteer Trip Plan
Day 1
Kotoka International Airport is the airport you will fly to, located in Accra, Ghana. After you have landed in Accra, it takes about an hour to (1) get your passport stamped by the Ghana immigration service, (2) pick up your luggage from the conveyor belt, (3) clear customs and (4) meet Mr. Coffie and his team outside with your name(s) written on a card at the arrivals hall.
We encourage every volunteer to save our contact number, +233 244 037 661, on their phone and to give us a call in case of any questions or concerns. It is possible that you may be unable to find your luggage after arrival due to layovers or flight changes. If you do not find your luggage within an hour after your arrival, please contact one of our staff members who will be waiting to assist you. In the case that you arrive and are unable to reach a staff member, please wait for a member of our team in the visitors lounge or give our office a call. Please inform us of any changes to your flight schedule, so that will can ensure that we will be ready to welcome you upon arrival.
After our staff have welcomed you at the airport, we will take you to the hotel to spend your first night, if you arrive at night. The hotel is not far away from the airport. We will take the team to a restaurant for dinner and travel back to the hotel.
A Dynamic lens team member will meet and discuss specific project details with you and transport you to the community. Once there you will meet the chief, elders, and other members of the community as well as participate in a welcome ceremony with celebratory drumming and dancing. A Dynamic lens team member will be with you throughout your stay.
Day 2
In the morning, you can choose to attend a church service with community leaders, or simply relax and get to know the village and its people. In the afternoon, you will tour the community and learn about its history.
Days 3–4
You will work on a community project in the mornings, and participate in cultural excursions during the afternoons. The projects range from building a latrine to installing a water tank to building a school or playground. The cultural excursions can include drumming lessons, batik making, Amazing Race-style marketing and cooking with villagers, kente weaving, field trips with community students, and more.
Day 5
You will enjoy a full day of cultural experiences and sightseeing. Oftentimes this will include a trip to the Wli Waterfalls, Kente village and a Monkey Sanctuary.
Day 6
You will work on a community project in the morning, participate in a departure ceremony in the afternoon, and then enjoy a celebratory culture with drumming and dancing. You will also have the opportunities to learn some traditional dancing moves and steps.
Day 7
You will visit a different village to learn about the life of another community. During this visit, you may also dance, play and craft artworks with the villagers to create a bond between you and the community members.
Day 8
A Dynamic Lens team member will facilitate a debriefing session with your group and transport you back to the airport for departure. If there is time, you will visit a local craft market (Art Centre), or tour some selected places in Accra the capital of Ghana. (Departures are normally in the evening).
Additional Information
Volunteering with Dynamic Lens International is a great way to...
Make a positive impact on the community through service,
Form lasting friendships with locals and other volunteers
Explore the vibrant Ghanaian culture
Group Volunteering
Coordinating a group of students, community groups, or colleagues to volunteer can contribute a large impact by planning additional projects not included in the original program. Dynamic Lens International will support and organize these special projects and experiences if interested. If you would like to send a group on a trip, please email info.dynamiclens@gmail.com to discuss your ideas and interests further.
Opportunities for Employers
Please contact 00233-244-037-661 email: info.dynamiclens@gmail.com to arrange for a customized trip based on the needs and goals of your organization. As a baseline, a Dynamic Lens team member will be with you at all times and you will also have a personal cook throughout your stay to help ensure the health of your team.
Food / Water
Meals are cooked and served for volunteers by the Dynamic Lens chef.
Volunteers are served 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and include Continental and Traditional Ghanaian dishes. We provide filtered drinking water throughout the day.
People with dietary restrictions will be provided with dishes that accommodate their needs.
Volunteers who are staying with host families will be fed by their host.
Flight
Dynamic Lens programs begin the first week of the month. It is therefore recommended that volunteers arrive during the end of the previous month or the first week of the following month. The minimum duration of volunteering is 2 weeks. However, volunteer length of stay is flexible. Recommended websites to book flights to Ghana include:
www.allcheapfares.com
www.kayak.com
www.tripadvisor.com
www.cheapoair.com
www.expedia.com
Please be aware that flights must be booked before applying for a visa to Ghana.
Visa
Volunteers traveling to Ghana should apply for a volunteer or business visa. The Ghanaian consulate requires you to include:
Your passport (valid for at least six month after your return).
A money order or bank check for the amount of your visa.
1-4 passport sized photographs (varies by origin country).
A copy of your yellow fever vaccination card.
A copy of your flight itinerary.
Self-addressed envelope (the embassy will use to post your visa and passport to you).
An invitation letter from Dynamic Lens International.
Two contacts details of Dynamic Lens International staff or host family. Please contact Dynamic Lens International for contact information.
If under 18 years old, a letter of consent from a parent or guardian.
Note: The processing of visa application normally takes about three weeks. However, you can apply for expedited visas which are processed in a shorter amount of time. Visa applicants must include their passport in their application since visas are inserted into the passport.
Volunteers are to complete an online visa application...
US: www.ghanaconsulatenewyork.org
Canada: www.ghc-ca.com
Australia: www.consulate-ghana.com.au