Before you leave to Ghana
On this page you'll find everything you need to know, about the costs you'll make before you leave for Ghana. Next to the registration fee to MASODEO you should think of a plane ticket, vaccinations and insurance. Below we will give you a rough summary of all the standard and variable costs. 

                              

Program cost
Costs for the MASODEO program is $950 for the first three or less months. Every month you stay in addition to that will cost you $150 extra. We try to keep the program costs as low as possible. This ispartially possible because, a contribution to MASODEO is on voluntary basis. MASODEO doesn't aim to make any profit, so the registration fee consists only of the costs that are made and the local projects in Ghana. It's also important to be aware that a minimum of $50 is reserved for two separate projects, which MASODEO supports in Bolgatanga. At the end of everyfinancial year we add the money that is left from reserves and donations to the $50 for projects in the rural communities where you are placed to work.

Please note that: food, drinks and accommodation are included in the price for the first two months. To calculate your total program costs, you have to multiply every extra month (after the first two months) by $150; you add this amount to the $ 800. This amount should be paid in Ghana on your arrival to MASODEO .

  Variable part

Lariampills only for duration of stay, weekly one pill	$ 10/week
Extended program costs Only in case you wish to stay longer than three months (the first 3 months are included within “MASODEO program costs)”	$150 / month
Further costs E.g. lunch, snacks, drinks, short trips, extension of visa, weekend expenses etc.	+/- $50 / week
Costs for traveling recommended is that you first end all voluntary work before starting a travel longer than a month. Your expenses are uncertain; we can only give an estimation based on own experiences.	+/- $ 60 / week

 ** These costs will have tobe paid at one instance with your program costs for the first three months. MASODEO will also pay the host family from this fee.

Note:
The value of the Ghanaian Cedi compared to the US dollar fluctuates strongly, that's whyit's hard to estimate the exact expenditure. Because of the devaluation of the Cedi compared to the dollar, life in Ghana for Europeans has become cheaper in the past. If you don't go crazy with your money, you should stay under the amount mentioned. The schedule hasn't calculated the costs for souvenirs,telephone calls to the people at home and extra excursions outside Bolgatanga in the weekends. As many of our volunteers tend to have such excursions once in awhile and many of them also tend to buy a lot of souvenirs and make many phone calls, there seems a tendency to exceed the amounts calculated. 

The costs will go up though, when you visit any of Ghana's neighboring countries. Because of the stronger CFA France (which is used in the neighboring countries) the cost of living is considerably higher. Next to that, a visa is also very expensive(don't forget you need to get a new visa for Ghana before you leave your country).

Do not forget to take along some cash notes of Euros (Dollars or Sterling Pounds) besides the safely ensured Traveler Cheques (for the first day(s), for in case the bankers are closed or for unexpected casualties).