-Is there a functioning mobile phone network in Ghana?                                     Yes, whilst the landline system is not well established there is network coverage in the whole of Ghana.

-Do Douglas and Nana only organise the project for me?
Nana and Douglas not only find a project for you but also take care of you during your entire stay. They will visit you once in a while, meet you in the evenings and if you have any problems they will do their best to help you.

-How much money does a host family get, and does it inlcude my meals?
The hostfamily gets fifty Ghana Cedis a month (c.£25), and this also covers your meals.

-How much money will I need each month?
Aside from the money for the project and us, you should expect to need £75-150 per month for additional food, taxis and travelexpenses etc..

-Can I get in touch with the project before I leave to Ghana?
If this is important then yes we can send you the phone number of the project so that you can call them.

-Is it dangerous to travel my own as a woman?
No, as long as you don’t travel during the night this shouldn’t be a problem.

-Is somebody going to pick up me from the airport?
You will definitely be picked up from the airport. Either Douglas or Nana will come to Accra and fetch you from the airport and bring you to your project.

-How should I bring money?
Either Traveller-Cheques, Visa-, Master-, or Maestro-Card is fine. The easiest is Visa since availability is the highest and Nationwide is the best value as they don’t charge when you withdraw abroad.

-Can I buy clothes in Ghana?
It is easy (and cheaper) to buy clothes in Ghana if you want to travel light, but bring enough clothes for the first week.

-I found a very cheap flight but I’d reach Accra at 11′o clock pm in the night…
Since you will be picked up from a Ghanaian arriving late at night isn’t a problem.

-What about those preperation camps other organisations offer?
Out of lack of personel we can’t offer such camps before you come to Ghana. However in Ghana you’ll get a two-day camp where you can learn some things about Ghana and get an introductin in Twi, a Ghanaien language.

-What do I have to take care of beforehand, and what will you take care of for me?
You have to find a flight to Accra, look for health insurance, get all needed vaccinations and buy all the stuff you are going to need in Ghana. We are going to find a project for you in Ghana and make sure they’ll receive you. Also we help you if you have any problems and questions.

-Is there a specific time I should come to Ghana?
Since the projects work all year you can come any time. But we will inform you about holidays of the project so that you can plan accordingly.

-What should I do if I’ve decided on a specific project?
Once you have chosen you tell us and we let you know if there’s a place for you.

-What kind of presents should I bring for my family and my projects?
Perfume, Radios, nice toiletries, coloured pens for kids.

-Will I need a mosquito net inside the house?
In most cases it’s advisable.

-Nana and Douglas work with ICYE, right?
Nana and Douglas work voluntarily for ICYE-Ghana, organising projects in Kumasi and taking care of the volunteers stationed in and around Kumasi. They are the only two representatives of ICYE-Ghana in Kumasi.

-What clothes should I bring to Ghana?
In Ghana it’s warm all year, often hot. Therefore you should mainly bring light summer clothing. You won’t need a jacket, just a light rain jacket maybe. For evenings longsleeves are good protection against mosquitoes. Don’t bring many white clothes as they will be difficult to keep clean with hand-washing.
The most important shoes are flip-flops. In the evenings trainers or something similar.

Below is an example list
- 3 light long trousers
- 7 t-shirts
- 2 proper shirts, long sleeves for girls.
- 2 thin jerseys
- 3 short pants
- 1 swim suit
- 2 towels
- 5 pair of socks

Misc.
-Mosquito net
-a very thin sleeping bag made out of cotton.
-hat
-simple first aid kit
-gifts
-Creditcard or similar
-Suncream

Malte Löhlein is 21 years old and lives in Freiburg, Germany. He completed a Steiner school with Abitur(Highschool Graduate) in 2007. From August 2007 until August 2008 he works as a volunteer at a school in Kumasi, Ghana. In September 2008 he will study Economic Engineering at university in Dresden, Germany.