United Planet (UP) works closely with the local community of Putubiw, a small village located a few miles inland from the town of Cape Coast and close to Kakum National Park in Ghana. UP’s local volunteer projects are coordinated by the Putubiw Students' Union (PUSU) and sponsored by the village chief. 

PUSU, a village organization established in Putubiw, started receiving UP volunteers to assist with their projects in early 2007. UP volunteers work on a wide range of projects - -  construction, teaching, awareness campaigns focusing on HIV/AIDS, hygiene, reproductive health education and more depending on the ever-changing needs of the Students' Union. 

Since the summer of 2007, UP Country Coordinator Raj Gyawali has worked closely with PUSU in developing new projects that benefit the environment as well as the local community. Gyawali, who is originally from Nepal, runs two organizations based on responsible travel in his home country - - socialtours.com and socialtreks.com. Both organizations have been working on different initiatives dedicated to environmental protection.

“I introduced the idea of a carbon offset forest program to PUSU after launching it in my private businesses. It immediately caught on. PUSU had drafted their village development plan in late 2006 and environment protection was a top priority. The chief of the village, Nana Bokyrewa Ekwambir III, who had visited the Kakum National Park, became deeply interested in the concept of tree plantation,” said Gyawali. 

Gyawali’s carbon offset program is a unique initiative and has helped the village of Putubiw in many different ways. “We have calculated that over time, the carbon emissions of a long haul air flight can be eliminated by planting an average of 10 trees. Based on this research, we decided that 10 trees would be planted for each volunteer/traveler coming to Putubiw. We priced each tree at USD 1 (10 Ghanaian Cedis) which means that for each volunteer, the village receives USD 10 for planting and maintaining 10 trees,” added Gyawali. 

The carbon offset initiative is a demand-driven service which in turn generates income for PUSU. At the same time, the village becomes greener. “The idea is to take this forward into a full-fledged forest program, offering the carbon offset service on a mass level,” explained Gyawali. 

In August 2007, during the tree planting season in Ghana, the Kakum National Forest Tree Nurseries donated free seedlings to PUSU. According to Gyawali, 161 trees have been planted by members of PUSU and UP volunteers to date. 

UP Volunteer Journal - Ghana

After two years at DeSales University, I realized I needed to take a semester off from school to discover a new culture. With the tremendous help and support of my father, family, friends, and United Planet, a three-month Quest to Ghana this past fall became a reality. 

I spent two weeks in a lodge just above a village called Biakpa in Ghana’s eastern region helping two other volunteers run a day camp in the village’s junior secondary school.  Biakpa is nestled below Ghana’s second highest point, Mt. Gemi, and is surrounded by lush green jungle which made the whole time there even more beautiful. 

I made great friendships, traded songs, dances, smiles, laughs, and loads of soccer moves. I also had the blessing of taking all the kids from the camp on a field trip to Wli to explore one of Ghana’s largest waterfalls.  The trip was one of the most special moments of the entire Quest because most of the students had never left their village before. To hear them sing and clap the entire bus ride to Wli, was one of the most satisfying moments of my life.  It was clear that we gave the kids the best summer of their lives - - and it was the best summer of mine.

During the remaining two and a half months, I stayed with a family in the Central region of Ghana in a village called Putubiw. After meeting the Annobil family, I quickly realized how much fun I was going to have. The family was made up of five kids: three boys and two girls. There was Kofi, age 8; Adjua, age 12; Bizmark, age 14; Kodjo, age 18; and Auntie Bea, age 20. 

When I wasn’t at home having a ball with my family, I was helping at Putubiw’s Students' Union, known as PUSU.  During my stay, we completely restored and renovated PUSU’s student union center which we used to teach night classes to junior secondary students.  When school began September 9, I taught English, Science, and Physical Education until November 4 when I was set to return home. 

During my stay in Ghana, I made countless friends, had amazing experiences, and achieved complete cross- cultural immersion and acceptance.  I enjoyed Ghanaian food, farming, speaking the language, attending festivals, rites, and ceremonies, and was an honorary guest and made a full member of Putubiw. I recommend a United Planet Quest or any sort of cultural trip to anyone that loves and accepts all people of the world. 

All the best,

Scott Cramer 
United Planet Volunteer