I wrote an article about how to volunteer in Africa for creative types under Volunteer in Africa for Artists, Designers and Photographers at G-lish Foundation, the NGO I co-founded in Ghana.
Volunteer Photographers in Ghana
One of the great things about volunteering as a photographer in Africa (see our volunteer brochure for more) is the opportunity to get outside the office and meet families and individuals at home in rural villages where life is lived with the volume turned up.
Photography can be a sensitive issue in some cultures so it’s important to check and find out what is acceptable and not before heading out on assignment. G-lish Foundation provides volunteer photographers with briefings on how to approach photography on the ground in rural villages in Ghana so as to meet cultural expectations and invite the community be part of the experience. There are some taboos with photography in Ghana and we explain these in our briefings, as well as what might make families and communities happy—they like to be consulted first and we work with our communities to ensure there is an understanding about the purpose and that everyone is comfortable.
We have an extensive range of G-lish photos on Flickr if you would like to see what Ghana looks like and our work on the ground in rural Ghana. We mainly focus on activities that fit within the definition of sustainable social entrepreneurship.
We also touched on volunteer opportunities for artists and designers. Many creative NGOs like ours can always use creative or technical inputs from skilled and passionate volunteers. There is sometimes the possibility of developing new ranges of products, or experimenting with existing ranges, and working side-by-side with artisans and craft-makers to learn and teach new skills.
Many volunteers often remark that they feel they were more rewarded by the volunteer experience than what they felt they contributed. This is most likely because the communities you work with on the ground are likely to make you feel very welcome and show gratitude for the contribution that you make while spending time passing your skills and experience on to communities in Africa.
Our experience is that volunteering is a mutually rewarding experience. Volunteers benefit and feel a great sense of personal achievement and fulfilment. Communities benefit and feel a deeper sense of hope, opportunities and connection with the rest of the world.
Volunteer Photographers in GhanaPhotography can be a sensitive issue in some cultures so it’s important to check and find out what is acceptable and not before heading out on assignment. G-lish Foundation provides volunteer photographers with briefings on how to approach photography on the ground in rural villages in Ghana so as to meet cultural expectations and invite the community be part of the experience. There are some taboos with photography in Ghana and we explain these in our briefings, as well as what might make families and communities happy—they like to be consulted first and we work with our communities to ensure there is an understanding about the purpose and that everyone is comfortable.
We have an extensive range of G-lish photos on Flickr if you would like to see what Ghana looks like and our work on the ground in rural Ghana. We mainly focus on activities that fit within the definition of sustainable social entrepreneurship.
Volunteer Artists and Designers in Ghana
Many volunteers often remark that they feel they were more rewarded by the volunteer experience than what they felt they contributed. This is most likely because the communities you work with on the ground are likely to make you feel very welcome and show gratitude for the contribution that you make while spending time passing your skills and experience on to communities in Africa.
Our experience is that volunteering is a mutually rewarding experience. Volunteers benefit and feel a great sense of personal achievement and fulfilment. Communities benefit and feel a deeper sense of hope, opportunities and connection with the rest of the world.
