Description
Ghana is one of the friendliest and most peaceful countries in West Africa. Ghana is known for her stable democracy, forward-looking development, beautiful beaches, rich culture, and hospitable people. Ghana is a diverse country with different tribes and over 70 languages throughout the ten regions, co-existing harmoniously. Welcoming visitors is a point of cultural identity. Hosting visitors is the ultimate expression of Ghanaian culture. Acknowledging the presence of another human being by greeting them, honors their existence. In the local communities, visitors will be welcomed into families and quickly be made to feel at home. Ghana is Peace Corps’ oldest post, hosting nearly 5,000 volunteers since the Agency’s first cohort departed in 1961.
The Agriculture project has 3 objectives:
(1) Increasing smallholder farmers’ capacity to improve the diversity, productivity and/or sustainability of their agricultural production.
(2) Increasing small holder farmers’ capacity to generate agricultural income.
(3) Increasing the capacity of women of reproductive age and/or key decision makers to increase the dietary diversity of households.
To achieve these objectives, Agricultural Volunteers promote crop cultivation, focusing on home gardens including specific multi-purpose trees, small animal husbandry, sustainable soil and water conservation and management practices, and post-harvest management. They also assist agricultural organizations and promote better business practices, and add value to agricultural products to increase income and improve food security.
Another valuable component of many Volunteer assignments is the backing of community associations through Savings and Loans initiatives that allow community members to have a secure place to save their profits, and have access to funds all year long.
Volunteers collaborate with community leaders to identify community needs and implement appropriate interventions. Therefore, Volunteers play the role of catalyst for a wide range of activities limited only by the creativity of the community and the Volunteers. Activities may include but are not limited to:
• Training farmers to use Climate Smart Agriculture techniques to improve crop production and food security.
• Creating model vegetable gardens as a way to train community members on small scale gardening.
• Training farmers to increase small scale animal production through improving housing, supplementary feeding and implementing routine prophylactic treatment to reduce mortality.
• Conducting nutrition sessions and cooking demonstrations for women of reproductive age to improve household nutrition.
• Training farmers on composting, use of farm yard manure and other soil and water conservation practices.
• Training farmers on basic book and record keeping.
Of great importance in any community development work is the time one takes just being present, developing relationships, and building trust.
Cutting across the three objective areas, Agricultural Volunteers will incorporate engagement of women and youth (up to age 35) in all aspects of their project’s implementation. Volunteers and their local counterparts will involve women and youth in programs emphasizing literacy, numeracy, agriculture, nutrition, business knowledge, and skills development. Peace Corps Ghana promotes gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. You will receive training on gender challenges in Ghana and you will have the opportunity to implement gender-related activities that are contextually appropriate. During your service, you will look for ways to work with community members to promote gender-equitable norms and increase girls’ sense of agency.
Volunteers are trained and equipped with the skills necessary to carry out these activities during Pre-Service Training (PST).
Ghana is one of the friendliest and most peaceful countries in West Africa. Ghana is known for her stable democracy, forward-looking development, beautiful beaches, rich culture, and hospitable people. Ghana is a diverse country with different tribes and over 70 languages throughout the ten regions, co-existing harmoniously. Welcoming visitors is a point of cultural identity. Hosting visitors is the ultimate expression of Ghanaian culture. Acknowledging the presence of another human being by greeting them, honors their existence. In the local communities, visitors will be welcomed into families and quickly be made to feel at home. Ghana is Peace Corps’ oldest post, hosting nearly 5,000 volunteers since the Agency’s first cohort departed in 1961.
The Agriculture project has 3 objectives:
(1) Increasing smallholder farmers’ capacity to improve the diversity, productivity and/or sustainability of their agricultural production.
(2) Increasing small holder farmers’ capacity to generate agricultural income.
(3) Increasing the capacity of women of reproductive age and/or key decision makers to increase the dietary diversity of households.
To achieve these objectives, Agricultural Volunteers promote crop cultivation, focusing on home gardens including specific multi-purpose trees, small animal husbandry, sustainable soil and water conservation and management practices, and post-harvest management. They also assist agricultural organizations and promote better business practices, and add value to agricultural products to increase income and improve food security.
Another valuable component of many Volunteer assignments is the backing of community associations through Savings and Loans initiatives that allow community members to have a secure place to save their profits, and have access to funds all year long.
Volunteers collaborate with community leaders to identify community needs and implement appropriate interventions. Therefore, Volunteers play the role of catalyst for a wide range of activities limited only by the creativity of the community and the Volunteers. Activities may include but are not limited to:
• Training farmers to use Climate Smart Agriculture techniques to improve crop production and food security.
• Creating model vegetable gardens as a way to train community members on small scale gardening.
• Training farmers to increase small scale animal production through improving housing, supplementary feeding and implementing routine prophylactic treatment to reduce mortality.
• Conducting nutrition sessions and cooking demonstrations for women of reproductive age to improve household nutrition.
• Training farmers on composting, use of farm yard manure and other soil and water conservation practices.
• Training farmers on basic book and record keeping.
Of great importance in any community development work is the time one takes just being present, developing relationships, and building trust.
Cutting across the three objective areas, Agricultural Volunteers will incorporate engagement of women and youth (up to age 35) in all aspects of their project’s implementation. Volunteers and their local counterparts will involve women and youth in programs emphasizing literacy, numeracy, agriculture, nutrition, business knowledge, and skills development. Peace Corps Ghana promotes gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. You will receive training on gender challenges in Ghana and you will have the opportunity to implement gender-related activities that are contextually appropriate. During your service, you will look for ways to work with community members to promote gender-equitable norms and increase girls’ sense of agency.
Volunteers are trained and equipped with the skills necessary to carry out these activities during Pre-Service Training (PST).
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Benefits
Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Stipend, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Education Requirements
College Graduate
Desired Languages
English
Other Conditions
Subject to criminal background check