This four-week internship program in Ghana offers you a transformative immersion into West African art, culture, and history through the philosophical lens of Sankofa—a Ghanaian concept encouraging engagement with the past to ensure informed progress into the future. Based in Accra, Ghana's vibrant capital, you'll complete 95 hours of formal internship work with a local organization focused on contemporary art and culture, gaining hands-on experience in research, project management, curation, and community-driven initiatives. You'll work alongside accomplished faculty from the University of Ghana's Department of English, earning three college credits through The Experiment's accredited partner, the School for International Training.

Your experience centers on a homestay with a Ghanaian family—the cornerstone of The Experiment's approach—allowing you to live as part of a community rather than as an outside observer. During your stay, you'll attend cooking classes, visit art museums and local markets, explore contemporary art galleries like Gallery 1957 and the Nubuke Foundation, and engage with institutions that showcase Ghana's position in a hyper-globalized world. You'll also participate in guest lectures and dialogue sessions that deepen your understanding of present-day Ghana through discussions on politics, democracy, human rights, gender justice, and environmental challenges, countering Eurocentric narratives with a cosmopolitan perspective on Africa.

Beyond your internship placement, the program includes an excursion to the historic coastal castles of Elmina and Cape Coast, where you'll learn about the trans-Atlantic slave trade, visit the Java Museum to understand African-Indonesian-Dutch relationships, and explore the diverse ecosystems of Kakum Rainforest. These experiences are woven together with orientation in Accra, site visits, and reflection sessions with your cohort, building your critical thinking, intercultural communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.

This program is designed for high school students ready to be intellectually challenged and adaptable to rugged travel conditions, limited internet access, and cultural differences in daily life. You'll gain exposure to hiplife music, media houses, and the vibrant contemporary art scene while developing technical skills in writing, presentations, and email communication. Whether you're interested in arts, culture, international development, or social justice, this program equips you with the perspectives and competencies needed to succeed in a globally connected world.