PLACEMENTS

Reforestation &
Tree Planting

Combat climate change and the affects of deforestation by growing seedlings, planting trees and working alongside the local communities on educational outreaches.
 
Location: Abetifi District, Kwahu Mountains, Eastern Region, Ghana
Availability: Year Round
Price: From $85 per week
Duration:
1 – 52 weeks

Highlights

12

Communities we work alongside

4x cheaper

Than other similar organisations

4.8/5

Volunteer rating

Placement Overview

About the placement

Join the reforestation team and help us to grow seedlings and plant trees to create patches and strips of diverse native vegetation. Boosting and enhancing the local wildlife and ecosystem by providing a wide range of species to produce oases of biodiversity to tackle a rise in deforestation and local climate change.

Why this placement?

Ghana like a lot of sub saharan Africa is experiencing the affects of climate change with irregular seasons and forest areas gradually turning into Savannah and desert grassland. Already this has had a huge impact on the variety and population of various species across a once thriving rainforest zone.
Working with our community partners in the local agriculture office we have introduced ideas such as the Miyakawi method which involves planting a variety of native species within a certain distance of each other to provide a greater diversity of food and shelter at the early stages to attract local pollinators, insects and birds. Miyawaki forests can grow into mature ecosystems in just 20 years. compared to the 200 years it can take a forest to regenerate on its own.
With a lot of the local population living under the poverty line, previous reforestation work has focused on non-indigenous trees grown for timber or produce to also provide additional income to those farmers/land owners involved. However using Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki’s research to present to the local communities he found that protected areas around temples, shrines and cemeteries in Japan contained a huge variety of native vegetation that co-existed to produce resilient and diverse ecosystems.
Reforestation is a key part of UN and nation’s strategies to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5℃ with various global projects setting ambitious targets. With research such as the Miyawaki method to hand it is surprising to see that not all forests are equally effective in sequestering carbon. Mature forests of native trees soak up more CO2 than the monocultures used in many reforestation projects.

What is included in this placement?

Support Staff – Accommodation – House Utility Bills – Pre Departure Support

We charge cost price for this project just so we can cover your stay and employ local support staff to increase loyal employment. This placement includes accommodation in a modern style house for the semi rural area of which we are based with great views and surroundings of the local towns and rainforest. All house utilities are included for your time, you will have use of the kitchen, electricity throughout the house and running water which is a luxury among the area of Kwahu. You will have a member of our local support team living in house or close by depending on the volunteer numbers so there is always someone on hand for any questions or support you may need.

How do I get to the placement?

Budget an additional 20 – 60 Ghana cedis per day for transport costs.

We work with a number of schools within the local community and slightly further out. Volunteers will usually take taxis back and forth to their placement site. It is very easy to take shared taxis in town and they are very reasonably priced. Most of our schools will require volunteers to pay transport between 5 cedis and 40 cedis a day, with the average being about 10cedis. The more remote village schools are usually located down tracks and therefore cost a little bit more to reach. Our team will be able to assist volunteers group together for transport and where to find taxis etc. Volunteers are usually able to head off into the town after school easily to shop for food supplies, grab a cold drink or meet up with friends before heading home and the ease of taxis offer a really flexible experience for the volunteers.

What will I be doing?

During your placement depending on the stage/time of year you will be packing and growing seedlings, joining in tree planting, setting up seedling patches and mini forest plans and designs at the local schools and town planning committes as well as being involved in the agriculture office’s educational outreach programs to ensure communities and in particular schools are being briefed on the disadvantages and impact deforestation is having on Ghana and the region as a whole.

Who will I be working with?

You will usually be working alongside your fellow volunteers, support team or members of the community however for parts of the day you may be required to work independently.

A member of our volunteer support team will also visit you at your placement site periodically after the initial introduction to ensure you are getting on well and making an impact on site.

What do we expect from a volunteer?

All we request is the passion and drive to make a difference with us, one step at a time. Being able to get involved and stuck in will help you much more with this project especially with the community cleanup days which can be tiring in the heat and humidity. The greatest traits of a volunteer are enthusiasm, empathetic and the ability to adjust to alternative cultures. You will get the most of our your trip by opening your mind to new experiences and beliefs whilst also bringing your own to the table.
We expect volunteers to visit their placements Monday – Friday, exceptions can be made for long weekends of travel etc but we hope for the children and yourselves to get the most of your placement this is kept to a minimum.

What can you expect from us?

We will be on hand any time of any day to support you in your placement and trip as a whole. There will always be someone you can speak to or get a hold of should you want to discuss anything or require any guidance, from organising and altering your timetable to changing your placement. Our team living in the volunteer house will also be able to offer advice regarding travel plans and the local area so you will soon feel at home.

What should I bring?

In terms of your placement make sure you bring at least one strong pair of shoes and full length trousers/tracksuit to use on days when venturing out into the local forests for research and monitoring. Fundraising for seedlings is a great way you can ensure you can hit the ground running as soon as you arrive and make a lasting impact in our lovely communities which we know you will come to love upon arrival.

What happens during school holidays?

Other than for the community outreach and education part of this placement the school holidays will not affect this placement and you will still be able to continue as normal.

Typical working day

  • 07:30am – 08:00am / Volunteer transport leaves the volunteer house to project sites
  • 08:00am – 10:00am / Arrive at project site destination and start placement work. Eg, watering and planting seedlings.
  • 10:00am – 11:00am / Break
  • 11:00am – 13:00pm / Resuming of placement site work. Eg, setting up new seedlings, watering and weeding.
  • 13:00pm – 13:30pm /  End of placement and start to travel back to the house to rest and meet up with the other team members.
In their free time, volunteers are free to go shopping in the local markets, return to the volunteer house or visit the local swimming pools.
 
This is just an example day and a flexibility to workload and timings is a crucial skill for a successful volunteer trip. Increasing workload to lengthen your day is possible, you just need to communicate with your in country support team.
 
Depending on the time of the year, the tasks may vary to be more labour intensive. For example planting days during the rainy season months require travel further afield to Kotoso.

Requirements

What’s Included

Dates & Fees

Program fees

From $85 per week

Click here to view detailed program fees details

Duration

1 week minimum – There is no maximum duration and we would suggest staying as long as possible to achieve the biggest social impact possible.

Availability

We have volunteers and placements throughout the year, therefore you are welcome to arrive in any month. We are also flexible with being able to arrange airport collections so you are able to arrive on any airline into Kotoka International Airport at any time on any day of the week.

“I spent 3 months in Ghana with Atlas, it was amazing. All the area is very safe and the support from the organization is perfect, “

~ Antoine Burillon / Renovation Volunteer

 I volunteered as a Renovation Volunteer with Atlas Volunteers for 6 weeks from January/February 2019. I discovered Atlas via Volunteer World and was attracted by its various programs and the benefits they bring to the local community in a semi-rural area of Ghana. They are a relatively new charity but are building strong foundations in the areas they work in. They view their social impact as paramount. Overall the experience was fantastic; from achieving and seeing the works progress, chilling with fellow volunteers, traveling up and down the country during time off and just generally experiencing what Ghana has to offer. It was a truly wonderful experience. Atlas and the Ghanaian communities are exceptional hosts. To my fellow volunteers, to the communities I worked in and to the volunteer coordinators and the rest of Atlas – thank you. This was an experience I will never forget.

– James Thurston / Renovation Volunteer

Photos

Apply Now

Submit your details below and a member of the team will be in touch to get you started with the application process.