At a glance
- Your focus will be on raising awareness and protecting human rights in marginalised communities.
- The areas you will focus on include children’s rights, women’s rights, youth empowerment, and more.
- Spend time exploring this African country over the weekends while making friends with the other interns from around the world.
Is the Human Rights internship in Ghana right for me?
This internship is perfect for students interested in human rights work. By working in a developing country like Ghana, you’ll see different kinds of human rights abuses. You’ll learn how to approach and work with each of these issues.
This is a great way to help your CV stand out, and it will give you interesting points to talk about in interviews. This experience is especially valuable if you want to work with an NGO in the future.
If you don’t have a background in human rights but are still interested, then sign up! You don’t need previous experience. Our staff are human rights professionals and they’ll teach you everything you need to know. They’ll be there to guide you and supervise your work. This is a great way to learn and get practical experience if you’re thinking about a career in law or human rights work.
This project accepts interns throughout the year, so you can join on the dates that suit you. You can stay from as little as two weeks. We encourage you to stay longer if possible, so you can learn more and make a bigger impact.
What will I do at my Human Rights placement in Ghana?
You’ll work directly with local staff in the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office. You’ll assist with the following tasks:
At your Human Rights placement in Ghana, your work will focus on the following areas:
Identify and monitor human rights abuses by conducting community outreaches
In order to properly address the abuse of children, women, and the disabled, research needs to be done on the ground. Through community outreaches, you’ll assist the local staff as they identify abuses and determine their severity. You’ll help assess the needs of people affected, prioritise victims, and determine a strategy to bring about change.
We currently focus on these issues:
- Protecting children from abuse and trafficking
- The right to education for all children
- Prevention of child marriage
- Domestic violence
- Sexual abuse
- Disability rights
- Right to vote
Help with the resolution of human rights abuses
Once the victims of human rights abuses have been identified, you’ll proceed to provide them with assistance. After collecting research, you’ll submit reports to relevant government and human rights bodies. You’ll liaise with them to get the help that is needed for the community members.
Occasionally, you’ll also have to explore alternative methods of resolution. This could see you:
- Liaise with traditional village chiefs and elders
- Assist with mediation
- Conduct lobbying campaigns
- Utilise conventional media
- Talk with families and religious institutions which carry high influence in Ghanaian society
Increase awareness of human rights through educational campaigns and talks
Many people don’t know their basic human rights and therefore aren’t aware when these rights are abused. We’re working to change this through ongoing awareness campaigns and workshops. Our goal is to share knowledge and empower people to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.
You’ll do research into human rights topics and use this information to develop these campaigns and workshops. You’ll also help run them.
Where will I be getting human rights work experience in Ghana?
Akuapem Hills
While assisting with human rights work in Ghana, you’ll be based in the beautiful Akuapem Hills region. Around an hour away from the capital city of Accra, you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery, and enjoy a more relaxed pace of life. You’ll always be greeted by children on their way to school, or be offered a seat if the locals see you have been standing anywhere too long!
You’ll work with members of the Ghana Police Service. This is a professional environment, and you’ll be expected to be punctual and willing to work hard. This is a unique opportunity to help local people from within the police system.
There will be days when you travel to more rural communities for outreach work. You’ll work with people, as well as local schools and other institutions.
A typical day as a Human Rights intern in Ghana
You’ll start each day with breakfast with your host family. Get dressed in semi-formal, conservative clothing before heading off in a tro tro or shared taxi. On your first day, your supervisor will accompany you to ensure you know your way around.
Your day will start at 8am and you’ll finish up at 4pm, Monday to Friday. However, your hours may be longer if you’re doing outreach work. You’ll get an hour each day for lunch.
On an average day, you’ll arrive at the office and meet up with your supervisors before heading to a community outreach. At the outreach, you’ll interview community members, collect data, and raise awareness through educational talks. After returning to the office around midday, you’ll review the information you collected. Once you have analysed the information, you and the human rights staff will be better able to assist and advise community members.
In the afternoons, you can use you time to conduct independent research for current initiatives. You can also plan presentations for educational campaigns, attend meetings, or assist with project planning for future outreaches.
Once you are done for the day, you can spend time getting to know your host family. Over the weekends, you can explore the beautiful countryside and learn about the slave trade at one of the many national museums. You’ll also have the chance to visit Cape Coast and walk through the old fishing town or relax on the beach.
What are the aims and impact of the Human Rights Internship in Ghana?
The aim of this project is to promote and protect the basic human rights of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in Ghana. In addition, we give you practical human rights work experience, and an insight into the challenges people face every day in Africa.
Ghana is a stable and democratic country in West Africa. However, it still faces many challenges and shortcomings with human rights. Issues like domestic violence and child abuse remain a significant problem.
In response to the need we saw, we established the Projects Abroad Human Rights Office in Accra. The office is funded and run fully by us. In addition, the office is registered through the Department of Social Welfare and Registrar Department of Ghana. To help protect and raise awareness of human rights in Ghana, we need your help.
You’ll work towards the following goals in our Human Rights Management Plan:
- Increase awareness of human rights
- Identify and monitor human rights abuses and vulnerable areas
- Resolve human rights abuses
Join our Human Rights Internship in Ghana and help marginalised communities while gaining work experience in the field of human rights.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Ghana. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Ghana and have a truly unique experience.
We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Volunteering in Ghana is an ideal way to explore this colourful West African country. There’s a huge variety of different activities to do while you’re there, giving you plenty of exciting ways to spend your free time.
Music is a central part of Ghanaian culture. In the bigger towns, especially Accra, you will hear some great live bands and have some memorable nights out. Evenings spent at buzzing restaurants will also give you a taste of some of the delicious local cuisine.
For a look into Ghana’s history, you can tour the slave forts of Cape Coast and visit museums. Nature lovers will relish trekking through the rainforests of Kakum National Park or Mole National Park.
We run a wide range of projects in Ghana so there’s sure to be other volunteers there during your trip. This means you can explore the country solo or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
Meet the team in Ghana
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