PROGRAM SUMMARY

Anansi Travels offers a 4-week study abroad program in Ghana, West Africa in June 2026 for recent high school graduates. The Anansi Travels Bridge Program is designed for recent high school graduates preparing to begin college. It is ideal for students seeking a structured summer program that supports a smooth transition into higher education.

Bridge students will take academic classes, engage in guided reflection, and participate in educational travel throughout Ghana. Coursework may have the potential to transfer for college credit, pending approval by the student’s future institution. Through experiential learning, students build cultural awareness, critical thinking, and communication skills while gaining early exposure to college-level academics.

The program emphasizes personal responsibility, leadership, and professional development. Students will also gain introductory exposure to internship-style learning and workplace environments, helping them explore interests and develop skills that support long-term academic and career success.

PROGRAM MODEL

Anansi Travels follows the model of Experiential Learning, an engaged learning process where students “learn by doing” and reflecting on their experiences. Participants at Anansi Travels engage in hands-on activities that immerse them fully in Ghanaian culture, encouraging reflection on their experiences and the application of new insights in meaningful ways.

This will be achieved through:

• Academics

• Internships

• Cultural Excursions

• Seminars

Students have the opportunity to choose between two premier universities - The University of Ghana and Ashesi University. Participants will receive three academic college credits from their selected site upon satisfying the requirements for program completion.

Earn College Credits

Coursework may have the potential to transfer for college credit, pending approval by the student’s future institution.

The University of Ghana

The University of Ghana is a public university founded in 1948, making it the oldest and largest university in Ghana. The University educates approximately 40,000 students. The University of Ghana teaches many disciplines, including the arts, sciences, and medicine. The University of Ghana has welcomed international students for 25 years from over 105 countries and will be the university to welcome Anansi Travels’ Students.

Ashesi University

Ashesi University, a private non-profit university, was established in 2002 with a liberal arts curriculum that has proven to prepare students for enriching lives and careers.  Ashesi is ranked as the highest university in Ghana and ninth in Africa. In addition, Ashesi was ranked among the world's top 400 universities in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. Ashesi University welcomes Anansi Travels participants to take a course that provides insightful data on and discussions of a wide array of African popular cultural manifestations and theoretical perspectives.

Volunteering

Anansi Travels offers students the opportunity to engage in meaningful volunteer work, allowing them to contribute positively to Ghanaian communities while gaining hands-on experience that complements their academic learning and cultural immersion.

Through partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and service sites in Accra and beyond, students collaborate with community members on projects including supporting education, youth development, and cultural exchange. Volunteer activities may include assisting in classrooms, facilitating interactive learning activities, helping with community programs, and participating in service projects designed to meet local needs.

These experiences not only enrich students’ understanding of Ghanaian culture and community life but also foster practical skills, empathy, and a service‑oriented mindset that aligns with Anansi Travels’ commitment to global engagement and impact.

Cultural Excursions

We pride ourselves on instruction through various mediums and as such, we will take our participants on adventures to experience the beauty of Ghana like never before.

Aburi Botanical Garden

The Aburi Botanical Gardens is located in the Eastern Region, right outside the bustling city of Accra. To many, this site is peaceful and calming, but that is not all the gardens offer. It is home to many exotic plants, trees, and flowers making it one of the 1,800 botanic gardens contributing to the efforts to save plants globally.

Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farms

Your tastebuds will thank you after this trip to Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farms. Students will learn the tricks of chocolatiering and craft their very own chocolate treats all while learning about the process of cocoa production in Ghana. Almost every chocolate treat you have ever enjoyed has its origins in the cocoa fields in Ghana, and this tasty fact is something you will come to know on an intimate level through this hands-on excursion experience.

Cape Coast Dungeon

The Cape Coast Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and after seeing the slave dungeons therein, you will understand why. This port — built, owned, and run by Europeans in the 1600s— was one of the most infamous in the West African slave trade. Millions of Africans were imprisoned in these slave dungeons and later sent on ships headed towards the Americas and the Caribbean. In this tour, students will visit the dungeons intimately — most in the same condition as they were during the slave trade over 400 years ago. This provides a stark contrast to how the colonials running the castle lived, which students will be able to compare on this tour. This excursion to the "gate of no return" will provide new insight into the slave-trade, and will be, without a doubt, be the most sobering and humbling experience of the entire exchange

Seminars

Anansi travel participants will have seminars to observe and reflect on their experiences with others in the class or group. Seminar allows students to process their experiences, dynamics, themes, challenges, and successes, as well as lessons learned thus far.