Location:

Kumasi, Ghana

Program Type:

Volunteer Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Work Types:

Arts, Economic Development, Social Services, Translation, Women's Rights

Duration:

1-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks, 1-3 months, 4-6 months, 1 year

Program Overview

Program Description:

Nka Foundation is an NGO run by artists and volunteers in Ghana and Burkina Faso. In rural Ghana, we are building a community for the arts, a living learning arts village designed to bring together creative persons from around the world to interact with the local community via projects such as community architecture, community arts and social services to improve local livelihood skills to alleviate poverty. Everybody is welcome to our arts village: Interns and professionals in all of the arts, architecture, design, social work, engineering, and sustainable development work together as peers and share expertise. 7-12 participants needed per program. A typical team responsibility involves the design and construction of community architecture; or an environmental project such as a drainage system, trail building, school playground, organic farming; or to initiate and coordinate a community event.

JOIN US: It is a hands-on, fulls-on site-specific experience. Live with others in our arts village or homestay for cultural immersion. Experience how a design problem, budget and site-specific dynamics such as materials, indigenous technologies and community can provoke resourceful thinking and hybridization. Work side-by-side with local artisans to generate an alternative using sustainable materials from the environment while furthering your knowledge of the intersections between art, architecture and community. The weekends can be used for cultural excursions, expeditions to the national parks, or attend community events such as weddings, funerals, and festivals. By participating in site analysis, project execution and management, you will gain hands-on and international experience while meeting local community design needs, an essential part of design education that employers and clients value. We will provide you with any documentation required by your university for academic credit or work experience.

WHAT: Design-build camp for learning-by-doing on African architecture WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: Open to all students and graduates of architecture, arts, design, engineering, and schools interested in sustainable architecture and rural community development projects in Africa DATES: Year-round and lengths-of-stay from 1-6 months. WHERE: Abetenim Arts Village, 20 kilometers from Kumasi in Ashanti Region; and Sang Arts Village in Sang, 50 kilometers from Tamale in Northern Region of Ghana.

Setting Description:

PROJECT SITE 1: The project site is Abetenim Arts Village in Ejisu-Juaben District, 20 kilometres from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The site is a flat land along a laterite road from Juaben; and the primary means of transportation are by tro tro and taxis. The top soil is red earth mixed with gravel. A taxi drive lives next to the art village; we often hire his services as needed. The population of Abetenim consists of peasant farmers, small scale traders and craft persons. Recently, the Abetenim D/A Primary School expanded to include a junior secondary school. The Ejisu-Juaben District has four semi-urban settlements that are Ejisu, Juaben, Besease and Bonwire. In Ejisu-Juaben District and environs, there are cultural sites such as Bomwire Kente Village, Ntonso Cloth Printing Village, Ahwia Carving Centre, Bobiri Forest Reserve/ Butterfly Sanctuary, and the cultural centres of the historic city of Kumasi. PROJECT SITE 2: Project site is situated in Sang, the administrative capi

Cost:

€900-€1,040 per person for a 6-week camp (Includes airport pick up, accommodation, food and project costs). We suggest that participants apply for travel grants through their school, national art councils or other sources to cover their airfare and cost of project.