Volunteering Guinea ~ Go Volunteer Africa

Volunteering Guinea! Go Volunteer Africa, the leading and largest volunteer travel organization welcomes you to Guinea. Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. It’s known for the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, in the southeast. The reserve protects a forested mountain range rich in native plants and animals, including chimpanzees and the viviparous toad. On the coast, the capital city, Conakry, is home to the modern Grand Mosque and the National Museum, with its regional artifacts.

VOLUNTEERING GUINEA PROGRAM

Go Volunteer Africa supports projects in rural water development, education, healthcare and sustainable agriculture. Go Volunteer Africa is looking for volunteers wish to get involved in our Community Development Initiatives through our volunteering Guinea program.

As a participant, you will have the opportunity to try different roles and projects, dependent on your interests and skills. Go Volunteer Africa’s volunteer work in Guinea does not require specialized skills (although these would be an advantage), and volunteers are accepted on a short-term basis all the year round.

The first few days of your placement will be orientation and adjusting to Guinean life. After this initial period, your placement work will begin. The type of work you are involved with will be dependent on your interests, abilities, level of experience as well as your comfort levels.

Please note: Our volunteer opportunities in Guinea have been put on hold because of travel restrictions. Hopefully will will open up soon. In the meantime, check out our other volunteering opportunities in Western Africa.

GUINEA FAST FACTS

Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a coastal country in West Africa. Guinea borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Cote d’Ivoire to the southeast, and Sierra Leone and Liberia to the south. Formerly known as French Guinea, the modern country is sometimes referred to as Guinea-Conakry after its capital Conakry, to distinguish it from other territories in the eponymous region such as Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea. Guinea has a population of 12.4 million and an area of 245,857 square kilometres (94,926 sq mi).

Guinea is a predominantly Islamic country, with Muslims representing 85 per cent of the population. Guinea’s people belong to twenty-four ethnic groups. The country is divided into four geographic regions: Maritime Guinea on the low-lying Atlantic coast, the Fouta Djallon or Middle Guinea highlands, the Upper Guinea savanna region in the northeast, and the Guinée forestière region of tropical forests.

French, the official language of Guinea, is the main language of communication in schools, in government administration, and the media, but more than twenty-four indigenous languages are also spoken. The largest are by far Susu, Pular, and Maninka, which dominate respectively in Maritime Guinea, Fouta Djallon, and Upper Guinea, while Guinée forestière is ethnolinguistically diverse.

Guinea’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture and mineral production. It is the world’s second largest producer of bauxite, and has rich deposits of diamonds and gold. The country was at the core of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Guinea
CAPITAL: Conakry
POPULATION: 12,314,300 (approx)
LANGUAGE: French
COUNTRY SIZE: 245,857 sq km
MONEY: Guinean franc
DAILING CODE: +224

PEOPLE & CULTURE

The Republic of Guinea has a population of over 12 million people including thousands of refugees from the neighboring countries like Liberia and Sierra Leon. The population is made up of 24 ethnic groups with Conakry, the capital city, the most ethnically diverse town in Guinea. The majority of the population is Muslims at 85% of the population while about 7% identify with the indigenous religion.

In Guinea, the majority of the population, 41%, belong to the Fulani tribe and are mainly found in the Futa Djallon region. Fulani has their roots in the North Africa and is bound together by the Fula language, culture, and religious beliefs. Fulani people are mainly pastoralists making them the largest nomadic pastoralist community in the world. They are primarily sedentary farmers. They follow a code of behavior known as “pulaaku” which is characterized by patience, self-control, honesty, and respect. They have a rich musical culture accompanied by traditional instruments like drums, hoddu, and riiti. Kossam is a major delicacy among the Fulani community. The traditional Fulani people live in temporary dome-shaped houses called bukkaru supported by millet stalk pillars.

33% of the population belongs to the Mandinka group. Mandinka belongs to the larger Mande people. The Mandinka originated from Mali and gained their independence from the empires in the 13th century. 12% of the Guinean population belongs to Soussou ethnic group. They live in an extended family setting with polygyny an accepted practice in the society. Soussou is mainly Muslims with Islam dominating their culture and practices.

Other ethnic groups making the population of Guinea include Kissi who accounts for 5% of the population and speak kissi language, the Kpelle who accounts for 5% which is also the largest ethnic group in Liberia, and the Toma. The non-Africans living in Guinea include the Europeans and the Lebanese.

GEOGRAPHY & NATURE

The country is divided into four geographic regions: the narrow coastal belt; the pastoral Fouta Djallon highland region, with elevations averaging 1,000 feet above sea level; the hotter, drier upper Guinea savanna region; and the tropical rainforest in the southeast.

Guinea has a lovely and varied landscape. The coastal region includes 320 kilometers of coastline and offers beautiful offshore islands, remote beaches, and mangrove swamps; the highland region encompasses verdant hills and stunning waterfalls; and the southeastern region contains ancient and beautiful forests and Guinea’s highest point, the 1,752-meter high Mount Nimba.

The coastal areas and most of the inland regions of Guinea have a tropical climate, with a rainy season lasting from May to October, uniformly warm temperatures, and moderate to high humidity. The upper Guinea region has a hotter, drier, more desert-like climate. The Niger, Gambia, and Senegal Rivers are among the 22 West African rivers that originate in Guinea.

Conakry is located on a narrow, 36-kilometer-long peninsula that juts into the Atlantic Ocean. The peninsula has low, rolling hills, tropical vegetation, and many vistas of the sea. Conakry’s year-round high temperature averages 85°F, and rarely rises above 90°F or falls below the mid-70s. Relative humidity is generally 70% or higher.

ARRIVAL & AIRPORT PICKUP

After you have applied, booked and confirmed your placement, please book your flights to arrive at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport, also known as Gbessia International Airport in Conakry. This is the main international airport in Guinea. A member of staff from our local partner organization will meet you on arrival at Airport.

VISAS

Visitors to Guinea must obtain a visa from one of the Guinean diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the countries or territories that are visa exempt. Nationals of all other countries/territories (except Palestine and Zambia) that require a visa can obtain an electronic visa. Electronic visas are available for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of Canada and the United States who obtain an eVisa can stay in Guinea for up to 5 years.