Win An *almost* 
    Free Trip To Ghana!

                ***THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED***
               

We’re New Lens Travel, a social enterprise that turns international volunteering on its head.

Instead of sending volunteers to 'help' or 'save' people in developing countries— which sometimes does more harm than good— we send them to learn from locals. 

We pair our program participants with storytellers in Ghana like reporters and filmmakers. Participants spend their time abroad with these pros (who freelance for the likes of the BBC and The New York Times), hearing people's stories unfiltered and learning from their unique perspectives. 

We flip the power dynamic typically involved in international volunteering and create a space where people can think critically about social issues and development. 

Typically, we charge program fees that cover participants' expenses on-the-ground, with the profits going towards training and equipping the next generation of African storytellers. This year, our profits will support a group of youth who are starting a newspaper in their slum community in Accra, Ghana. 

Thanks to a generous donor who is willing to cover the program fees for a participant to join us, we’re running a contest to find a winner who will join us in Ghana this August.

Here’s the low down…

Your program fees to participate in our August trip will be completely covered. This is a value of $1950 and includes the following:

  • 10 hours of pre-departure training on topics including: cross-cultural communication, anti-oppression and conscious storytelling

  • A virtual toolkit to familiarize yourself with Ghana's history, culture and current affairs

  • A custom placement with a local storyteller

  • Airport transfers

  • In-country orientation

  • Accommodations (private room, shared washroom)

  • Food: 2 meals per day

  • Local transportation to placement

  • 24/7 support from a trip leader

  • Debriefing and support upon completion of placement

  • A financial contribution to community media initiatives in Ghana

Additional costs not covered: airfare, entry visa, vaccinations, personal expenses

In exchange for covering your participation fees, you will be required to collect 10 Q&A style interviews with leaders in Ghana (we'll help facilitate this when you're there). 

You don’t have to be a media professional to do this, but it's important that you’re someone who's naturally curious and a people person.

In order to enter this contest, you should be available to participate in our program that’s taking place in Accra, Ghana from August 1 to 26.

While a significant portion of your in-country expenses will be covered, you’ll still need to cover some of your expenses as indicated above. 

This contest closes Wednesday July 13 at 12am EST.

Ready to apply? Fill out the form below. 

Additional note:
*We ask that you enter this contest if you have financial barriers that otherwise prevent you from covering your program fees. If you have the means to pay for this program and want to join us, fill out a regular application form. 

Want more info on our work? Click on the links below to...

Learn more about New Lens Travel.

Get acquainted with the amazing storytellers you can partner up with.

Find out what makes our approach different.

Read up about our social impact.

Learn about voluntourism and why it's controversial.

ENTER THE CONTEST

Please note you'll be signed up for our newsletter when you enter in the contest and can unsubscribe at any time.

Bonus points if you follow us on social media! (Ok, not really, but it'll keep you in the loop with what we're up to.)

Sometimes volunteering abroad unintentionally does more harm than good. When you're an outsider to a community and want to get involved, we believe the best thing to do is listen and learn from locals. That's why we pair our program participants from around the world with media experts in Ghana. These experts are storytellers like reporters and photographers whose job it is to capture what's happening in their communities. Imagine learning about what issues impact a community by hearing about them directly from community members... This is what these storytellers do everyday and here's an opportunity to be part of that. We're going to Ghana this August and have a few spots open for people who want to participate in this unconventional trip that turns voluntourism upsidedown. If you're interested in joining us, check out the link in our bio for details. #learnfromlocals #journalism #media #experientiallearning #travelblogger #visitAfrica #exploretheworld #storytellingphotography #storytelling #media #commstudies #traveldeeper #experientiallearning #experientialtravel #Ghana #Africa #travelafrica #AfricaInspires #conscioustravel #ethicaltravel #responsibletourism #volunteerabroad #volunteer #girlslovetravel #travelphotography #ethicalfashion #fairtrade #bloggers #consciousstorytelling #photography #travelbug #wanderlust
Hey, it's @jackyhabib, founder of New Lens Travel. Here's a photo of the first (and only) fashion show I've ever been to, which was in Ghana. That's where I met @ameyaw112, one of Africa's top entertainment journalists and a celebrity gossip blogger. Lots of people are surprised when I tell them Ameyaw makes a living as a blogger, because it challenges the ideas we have of people in Africa. Ameyaw is one of the storytellers that we pair our program participants with. If you're interested in an alternative experience #voluntourism, consider participating in our Ghana program to spend time with people like Ameyaw, whose creativity and entrepreneurial skills will challenge your assumptions. #learnfromlocals #journalism #media #experientiallearning #travelblogger #visitAfrica #exploretheworld #storytellingphotography #storytelling #media #commstudies #traveldeeper #experientiallearning #experientialtravel #Ghana #Africa #fashion #travelafrica #AfricaInspires #conscioustravel #ethicaltravel #responsibletourism #volunteerabroad #volunteer #girlslovetravel #travelphotography #ethicalfashion #fairtrade #bloggers
This little guy lives in the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana's Volta region. If you're at the town to see the monkeys, you'll be woken up at 6am by the friendly sanctuary staff. They'll have bananas in hand and will show you how to gather the monkeys from the forest. #Accra #Ghana #learnfromlocals #commsstudies #journalism #media #experientiallearning #travelblogger #visitAfrica #exploretheworld #girlslovetravel #travelphotography #travelbug #monkey #explore #forest #monkeyingaround #responsibletourism #travelwithpurpose #ethicaltravel #wonderlust
While there are hundreds of newspapers and TV stations in Ghana, radio dominates. There are more than 300 active radio stations and over 70% of the country's population says its their primary source of news. We know the importance of media in setting the agenda for what people talk about, keeping the public entertained and of course, keeping powerful people accountable. As journalists, we're biased, but we think getting involved in media is one of the best ways you can learn about a place that's new to you. If you're curious about how to get started, get in touch. #storytellingphotography #storytelling #media #commstudies #traveldeeper #experientiallearning #experientialtravel #Ghana #Africa #radio #radioshow #travelafrica #AfricaInspires #conscioustravel #ethicaltravel #responsibletourism #volunteerabroad #volunteer #girlslovetravel #travelphotography
All good travel leads to great stories. #travel #wonderlust #quote #storytelling #travelafrica #travelgoals #wanderer #traveller #inspirationalquotes #Ghana
At New Lens Travel, we put a spin on voluntourism by sending people to learn from locals rather than 'help' or 'save' them. We pair participants with storytellers in Ghana like reporters and photographers, who are the ground capturing and telling the stories that don't make it to mainstream media. Participants spend their time on the ground listening and capturing alternative narratives. As a participant, you'll return home with countless stories, photos and other media to help you share your experience with others. If you're interested in joining us in #Accra, #Ghana for this alternative experience, get in touch!
(Part 2 of 2) This photo was taken in Cape Coast, a city and fishing port in Ghana. Between this city and Elmina, which is nearby, there are about 40 slave castles and fortresses still standing. These castles were used to hold millions of slaves from across West Africa, before they were shipped off. The atrocities that happened here as part of the region's colonial history are chilling. A visit to Ghana isn't complete without touring these slave castles to learn about this history and understand its impact.
(Part 1 of 2) Once a British colony known as Gold Coast, Ghana became a central point in the West African slave trade. Ghana's ports were the final destination or the "gate of no return" as Europeans called it, for the millions of slaves who were shipped to the Caribbean to be sold. This plaque hangs at a slave castle in Cape Coast, Ghana. It reminds us of the country's colonial history and pays tribute to the millions of lives which were destroyed through the slave trade.