Volunteering abroad

<p>Hi, I'm a high school junior posting on the parents forum. I couldn't find any other place to ask about volunteering abroad in the summer. I am planning to volunteer with an organization called Elghana in a hospital in Ghana, Africa. There is a cost that provides transportation, housing, and meals, but it doesn't include airfare. I was curious if any other cc'er has gone to volunteer in Africa, and if it is safe to go. Also, I'd like to know if there are any programs that provides the cost of the trip and volunteer.</p>

<p>P.S. If there are any Asian cc'ers fluent in their own language who have gone to Asia to teach english, I would like to know about it, too! I really want an experience abroad this summer, but I can't find very many places that accept high schoolers (I'm 17, and most places only accept 18 or over).
Thanks!</p>

<p>My daughter spent 3 months in Ghana and 3 in Senegal 2 years ago. You don’t say what part of the country you’re going to but I think you’ll be as safe there as you are at home. Make sure you’re taking antimalarials. I don’t think any program will pay for your trip. Don’t know where you live, but Delta has direct flights between New York and Accra. I work with lots of Ghanaians and that seems to be the service they all use.</p>

<p>My daughter also went to Ghana ( but with a high school group), she loved it .
( but while English is the " official" language, it * really* isn’t what is mainly spoken & watch out for the gutters- if you fall in one you could break something!)</p>

<p>Her group went through Amsterdam & used KLM
[Airlines</a> Flying to Ghana](<a href=“http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/transport/airlines.php]Airlines”>http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/transport/airlines.php)</p>

<p>There is also a large community of Ghanaians in the Netherlands.</p>

<p>Friends – including their 13-year-old daughter, who found this opportunity-- spent a couple of weeks in Ghana in Dec. with Global Volunteers. All said it was a wonderful experience.</p>