By participating in our Social Work Internship program, you will work alongside established Ghanaian social workers and gain experience and insight into this field that will stick with you throughout your career. If you are looking to make a positive change in the lives of others, especially those who are victims of abuse, abandonment, and/or affected by HIV/AIDS, then our Social Work Internship will be a tremendously rewarding experience for you. Interning abroad is one of the best ways to learn about the variety of social challenges facing communities around the world and the ways social workers meet those challenges. Interns learn about the day-to-day work of social welfare and outreach as well as how to work effectively with different cultural values.

Having an international internship on a résumé indicates self-motivation, commitment to the social work field, and the ability to adapt to a variety of circumstances. Our past Internship participants have had the opportunity to work in orphanages, clinics and NGOs. Ghana is facing rising levels of economic inequality, which has deeply affected orphans, child labourers, and children living in troubled homes. Our program is a great opportunity for social work students looking to gain professional experience in a different cultural setting.

DAVS Social Work internship is designed to encourage you and the local staff to share your knowledge regarding the best practices and models needed to improve social work at various care facilities. Your daily tasks will vary during your time in Ghana. Your tasks could include writing behavioral management plans and developing counseling skills, as well as improving research and interviewing skills.  Some days may see you in contact with children from abusive homes, or children sold into cheap labour and trafficking. You will also be engaged in workshops and presentations.

This internship can help you accumulate working hours, provide you with hands-on work, and ensures you are supervised by a qualified professional. Your knowledge, dedication, and skills will allow you to work with people that desperately need help, while also raising awareness in local communities. Throughout your internship, all of your work will be supervised by a qualified local professional.

Typical Day Schedule (Monday to Friday)

Breakfast is usually ready for volunteers at exactly 7am and volunteers will have enough time to start the day’s work by 8:00am. You are expected to be present at the project site to undertake the daily roles to be assigned by the supervisor. You will have some hours of free time for lunch at (2pm) in the volunteer hostel or at the host family. Your session usually closes at 2pm and you will have time to engage in any other business such as going out for drink, shopping or visiting the internet café etc. in the evening. Volunteers work from Monday to Friday; weekends are free for volunteers to travel for sightseeing.