How My Body Works Camp
August 11- August 25, 2026

In Humjibre, Ghana, junior high students are eager to learn—but few have had a chance to explore basic anatomy or health science in a fun, hands-on way.

This session gives you the opportunity to:
- Lead interactive sessions on key body systems
- Build simple, reusable models and activities
- Create fun, memorable ways to learn about health
- Collaborate with GHEI staff in a safe, supportive environment

You may even inspire the next generation of health workers!

Sample daily themes and activities

Day 1- Organs and gastrointestinal

Key Concepts: Name, location, and function of major internal organs; digestive system
- Organ Map Challenge: Students place labeled organ cutouts on a large human outline
- Organ Function Relay: Teams collect cards and match them to the correct body area
- “Track the food” path through the digestive system with cut-outs or rope trail

Day 2- Heart

Key Concepts: Pulse, heartbeat, circulation, exercise effects
- Use stethoscopes to listen to each other’s hearts (resting + after running laps)
- Take and record pulse at wrist and neck before and after jumping jacks
- Build a "blood flow path" obstacle course (oxygen-rich vs. oxygen-poor)
- Draw and label a basic heart + blood path (color-coded arteries/veins)

Day 3- Lungs

Key Concepts: Oxygen exchange, effects of activity
- Breathing awareness exercise: “count your breaths” before/after light running
- Build a balloon-lung-in-a-bottle model to show how lungs work
- Act out the path of oxygen from nose to blood using a role-play relay

Day 4- Musculoskeletal

Key Concepts: Body structure, joint function
- “Match the movement”: Students act out actions and name the muscle/bone involved
- Joint station: Learn hinge, ball-and-socket, pivot by acting them out
- View and discuss sample X-rays to identify bones and understand fractures
- Create body outlines and place (draw or cut/paste) bones and major muscles

Day 5- Immune System

- “Germ spread” experiment using glitter or flour to show how easily germs transfer
- Role-play: Immune cells vs. bacteria (tag-style game or obstacle course)
- Build a basic immune system diagram (skin, mucus, white blood cells, etc.)
- Handwashing challenge using simulated germs (paint, powder, or visual test)

Day 6- Showcase

- Students present what they learned (skits, posters, games)
- Volunteers set up simple stations to share what they taught
- Invite parents and caregivers to engage, reinforcing messages at home

Download Sample Itinerary

Who will I work with?

Joseph, Happy and Mensah will work with volunteers to conduct all camp planning and sessions. Dr. Rickard will assist with planning and play an advisory role.

Joseph Yankson

Health Program Coordinator

Happy Nkrumah

Assistant Country Director, Education Program Manager

Mensah Gyapong

Health Program Administrator

Diana Rickard, MD MSHS

Co-founder, Board Chair (will not be on site)

Session Leader Role

We’ll select one volunteer to serve as the Session Leader, who will contribute ~2–5 hours/week for 2–3 months before departure.

Responsibilities include:

Get to know your team’s interests and coordinate ideas and preparation
Help finalize the session itinerary
Coordinate materials (local vs. brought from the US)
Assist GHEI with logistics including ensuring volunteers meet deadlines

Interested? Mark your interest on the application. Candidates may be interviewed, and the leader will be selected by early spring.

Program Fee: $2,550

Included:

All in country travel costs including transportation, lunch, dinner and accommodation.

Program activities, workshops and field excursions
Visit to Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast
Pre departure guidance and 24X7 onsite support
Contribution to GHEI's year round programming

Not included in the SSL Program Fee: airfare, VISA and passport costs, vaccines and malaria prophylaxis, travel/evacuation insurance, breakfast (volunteers have preferred to get this on their own), and souvenirs.