CEWEFIA - Operation Crossroads Africa

Location: Elmina, Ghana (others available)
Organization: Operation Crossroads Africa
Categories: Environmental Sustainability
Duration: mid June to mid August
Contact: tel: (212) 289-1949
PO Box 5570
NY, NY 10027
Cost: $300 for a homestay, $300 for living expenses, + airfare

Description: I worked at a fishmonger cooperative in rural Ghana with a group of American volunteers. Our work included fish smoking, stacking, scaling, and drying, as well as interacting with the women and children. We stayed in a guest house on the property of the woman who founded the organization. The program costs $3500 for 8 weeks including a week of in-country travel and includes all (non-personal) expenses (airfair, food, lodging, etc).

Field Notes: Other projects are available in many other categories including health, education, and community development. Other host countries include Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, and Senegal. I thought the program was a very good experience, but be prepared to spend a lot of time with the group (this was my experience, some other groups did not spend as much time together)

-- Dunya Cope