Teaching at Avatime Biakpa School, Volta Region
Location:          Ewe Village in the mountains of the Volta Region – east of the capital
Stay:                In a homestay (the Mountain Paradise Lodge option may have an additional fee)
Meals:              Included with homestay. Volunteers responsible for meals if they stay at the Lodge.

The junior secondary school building with Mt. Gema in the background

Avatime Biakpa is a small village of about 300 inhabitants in the Volta Region Mountains, about 3 hours east of Accra, the capital of Ghana. The inhabitants are Ewe, formerly from Togo. Biakpa has a predominantly farming community, and deeply Christian.

Biakpa has a primary school and a junior secondary school that are terribly understaffed. Currently the junior secondary school has three teachers and is supplemented by a Peace Corps Volunteer. The local teachers are paid by the government and there is a constant struggle for the teachers to get by with their meager salaries. So from time to time, they go on strike, severely affecting the education of the students.

The syllabus covers English, French, Mathematics, Science, Moral Science, Social Studies and Vocational Education.

Volunteers are sought for the subjects English, Science and Mathematics, widely considered to be the foundations of education in this country. Volunteer opportunities also exist for teaching French or even just a vocational skill. The school has opted for graphic design as the vocational skill to be taught, and graphic designers are welcome. There exists one computer and it is not working, so most of the graphic design has to be restricted to theory and drawings.

However, other vocational skills are also welcome. As each opportunity to learn a new skill can incite interest for future employment, it is welcome.

Stay during this Quest is at a comfortable though meager lodge called the Mountain Paradise. The school is about 20 minutes walk away from this lodge.

The itinerary combines a cultural tour in Accra, visits to the Chief of Biakpa and the Church, hiking and visiting the tourist highlights of the Volta Region with this excellent volunteer opportunity.

The itinerary is customized for each Quest.