Volunteer/Intern Safety Rules

The safety of our volunteer and intern is our number 1 priority.  By accepting to participate on our programme, you have agreed to abide by the rules and our policies. Our volunteer/intern safety rules are designed to keep our  volunteer/intern safe from the day of arrival to Ghana to the day you depart back to your country. 

Our safety rules are frequently updated should there be any new development. Some of these rules are advised by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS),  the Ghana Police Service (GPS), Ghana Foreign Ministry and VARAS' board

1.  Before Arrival

* Volunteer/intern must make known his/her flight itinerary (round trip) at least 5 days before departure.

*  If you intern to travel to a neighboring country  while in Ghana, you must inform  VARAS at least 10 days before your departure.

*  Channel of communication during your stay  is always through  VARAS'  field officer assign to your programme or project. You are therefore not allowed under any circumstance  to share confidential information with any other person apart from the intended receiver.

2. On Arrival

*  VARAS representatives shall be the one to pick you up at the airport to your host community and project site.  Should your flight arrive late, you will stay in a guest house  with VARAS' representative before travel the next day to your host community.

3. Host Family

*  The volunteer/intern shall stay with the host family throughout the programme or project.

*  The volunteer/intern shall not invite locals to his/her room without the concert of the host family or VARAS representative.

*  The volunteer/intern shall not sleep outside the host house without the concert of the host family or VARAS representative.

*  The volunteer/intern shall not stay deep in the night ( 10.00 pm and above) without the concert of the host family or VARAS representative.

*  The volunteer/intern shall go strictly to VARAS policy on  Safety, Photography, Host family and Community and Programme Fee.  read more about our Policy here.

* Should there be any concern/emergency about your host family/house, do contact VARAS' field officer assign and projects director  through phone call and email.  

*  Should the volunteer/intern mistakenly break any property in the host house, you are to  contact VARAS' field officer assign and projects director  through phone and email.

4. Community

* The volunteer/intern shall go strictly to the norms of the host community as said during your orientation.

*  Should there be any concern about your host community, do contact your host family and  VARAS representative on the ground or reach us on our phone number provided during orientation.

5. In Country Traveling 

* The  volunteer or intern should make known at least 3 days to your host family and VARAS' field officer assign to you before you travel

*  Should you intend to travel to visit any tourist site, VARAS strongly advises a representative of VARAS or member of the host family accompany you.  This is to ensure your safety and  to know your way about as you travel.

6. Visiting Neighboring Country 

* The  volunteer/intern must make known clearly his/her itinerary to VARAS' field officer assign and projects director at least 10 days before  departure.

* The volunteer/intern must give consistent update to the  VARAS' field officer assign and projects director while in this other country.

*  The volunteer/intern must as a matter of urgency alert  VARAS' field officer assign and projects director  through phone call, text or email should there be a change in itinerary while in this other country.

7. Departure

* VARAS' representative shall drop you off at the airport.