Start Date: Year Round

Age:  18+

Skills:   No skills, but those who are Passionate about the game

Language:  English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions:  No restrictions.

Time Commitment:

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Description

Coach athletics to children in Ghana and give aspiring athletes the opportunity to train and develop in the sport they are so passionate about. Coaching athletics in Ghana is a fantastic way to experience Africa while sharing your love for athletics with others.

There are very limited opportunities for children in Ghana to develop in athletics. The schools receive little funding for sports activities and the local clubs that do exist tend to struggle for decent equipment and dedicated staff. This is why you can make a huge impact as a volunteer athletics coach. You do not need recognized qualifications, just some experience in your chosen event(s) and a willingness to organize athletics training for young, enthusiastic athletes.

Athletics Volunteer Placement

Our athletics coaching placements are based in and around Kumasi.  As a volunteer athletics coach, you will be assigned to one of the athletics clubs or schools in the local community. The athletes are aged between 10 and 16 and vary in talent and experience. You will, however, be surprised by the levels of speed, strength and stamina many of the children possess. Your young athletes will train hard, dreaming of being the next athlete to represent Ghana at the Olympic Games or World Championships.

However, coaching athletics in Ghana is not all about rigorous training. Your main goal is to simply allow more youngsters to train in a fun and structured environment, giving them the chance to belong to a team, enjoy sport and develop in the athletics events they are so passionate about. The events you can choose to coach are listed below.

• Long Jump• High Jump•  Triple Jump•  Shot Put•  Javelin•  Discus•  100m•  200m•  400m•  800m•  1500m•  3000m•  4 x 100m Relay•  Marathon

We welcome athletics volunteers with varied levels of coaching experience. We just ask that you have trained or competed on a regular basis and have a good understanding of the athletics events you wish to coach.

Typical day

Volunteers will help local coaches run training sessions from 6am to 8am for young athletes in the community as well as the school.

Evening Training sessions, starts from 3pm to 6pm

This may sound daunting, but you will soon realise that you possess an understanding of athletics that the young players are eager to have. The rewards are great because the raw talent is often there but the experience of a structured training environment is lacking. Through strength and conditioning work, group fitness sessions, and of course, dedicated athletics training in particular disciplines, your athletes will develop rapidly. Furthermore, you will not be left alone. You will work alongside our in-country team and our other volunteer sports coaches.

Volunteers can also assist in teaching children various skills such as fitness training. In some instances, a sport coaching involves teaching children about healthy lifestyle awareness and team building.

Volunteers will have 1-3 periods of sports education per day, and outside of this will assist teaching in the classroom. This can of course vary depending on the activities planned for the day, and the volunteer’s creativity and initiative to conduct their own physical education lessons with the children.

Additional Info

After the participants arrive, there will be a Program orientation (of at least 2 days)

Program Orientation takes place the day after arrival day. It includes introduction to Ghana, introduction to the work program, and introduction to the living and working environment.

Transportation costs during orientation are covered by SAVO, culture, lifestyle of the people, food, safety measures etc.

Introduction to Ghana:

The following areas are covered: communication, transportation, safety, travel opportunities, the culture of Ghana, survival language, health matters, socially accepted behaviours, and work ethics in Ghana.

Introduction to the work program (including the expectations of the institution and the host project) for volunteer/internship program participants.

Introduction to the Living and Working Environment:

The participants will be shown how to take bus from home to work place, to town, to the nearest supermarket, to the nearest internet cyber, to the nearest ATM, etc.

The participants will be given a print out of the completed program detail form (including 24/7 hotline for support, work place address, work phone number, typical duties at work, host family address, host family phone number, useful contacts and other program details).

Free-time activities

Weekends, are free days to volunteers. You may choose to travel out of town to see the many interesting sights and sounds in other parts of Ghana or hang out with your fellow volunteer(s) and/or locals in the neighbourhood. (At their own expenses)

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.

Programs Fee

What’s Included?

Airport pickup upon arrival

Hotel and meals in Accra upon arrival, before transfer to project site

Transportation to project site first day

Accommodation

Utilities

Meals – Breakfast, lunch and super.

Certificate

Info on Airport Pickup at Kotoka International

On the day (or night) of your arrival, SAMBA AFRICA VOLUNTEERING (SAVO) staffs will be at the Accra Kotoka International airport to welcome you and transfer you to a hotel with air-conditioned rooms and restaurant only in the night of your arrival, Orientation and transportation to your assigned placement will be done the next morning following your arrival day but arrival in day time you will be transported to your destination (Kumasi).

Accommodation

Accommodation belongs to the host-families. There are always other people in the house as well; and they would be willing to give you some assistance. You would be placed in the same location with another volunteer – unless you specifically state that you like to be stayed alone. Participants coming as couple or pair will not be placed with other volunteers in the same bedroom. Volunteer have their separate room – with a lock and key. It is advisable to come along with mosquitoes nets.

Bedroom (Double)                                                  Bedroom (Single)

Bungalow                                                                 Guest Family

Food & Beverages

Host families will provide volunteers with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Breakfast is usually ready by around 7am; however volunteer can eat later if you prefer to get up late. Lunch is usually packed by your host family in a lunch box so that you can eat at your project if you wish. Dinner is usually served around 6pm.

If you have special eating needs, you can inform us. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.

What’s NOT included?

Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations, Internet are NOT included in the program fees.

Airport

Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ghana.

Travel Insurance

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

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.