About the Hike Ghana

 The Hike Ghana is a one in a life time challenge. It’s a 24-hour charity walk whereby you will see both the beautiful and the less beautiful facets of Ghana. Of course there is time during this walk to enjoy the surroundings and to rest. The food and drinks are provided by us. The participants in this charity walk raise funds for the work of SOS Children's Villages in Ghana within their own network. In this way you ensure that children without parents or a secure and caring home, can grow up in a loving and stable family. You also ensure that these children get all the opportunities every child deserves!

Every participant is asked to raise a minimum of €1500 per person. You can participate in The Hike Ghana individually or in teams. The money you raise goes directly to the children in our programs in Ghana.  

In two 12 hour stretches, you commit yourself to walk as many miles as possible for the children in Ghana. You will start walking in the morning of November 16. After a basic overnight stay, we wake up early on November 17 to cover the next 12 hours.The (mandatory) Kick-off meeting is on November 15th 2019 starting in the afternoon in Accra. We therefore advise you to book an overnight stay in Accra for the night from 15 to 16 November. Also, we will depart from Accra real in the early morning of November 16th to start this adventure

Via the register form

The target amount is a minimum of €1500 per person. With this money you contribute to helping children in Ghana to grow up in a safe and loving family and to give them every opportunity that every child deserves. Of course you can raise more!  You’re more than welcome to!

• in Ghana, 1.1 million children have lost either one or both parents
• In Ghana, 28% of the population lives below the poverty line
• In Accra, the capital of Ghana, thousands of children live and work on the streets
• 20% of children of school age do not go to school
• 34% of the children in Ghana are forced to work
• HIV is still a major problem in this West African country

With the sponsor money you raise as a participant of The Hike Ghana, you make a direct contribution to helping children in Ghana, who are all on their own, to grow up in a safe and loving family with everything that goes with it. You also help families who live in such difficult circumstances that they cannot take care of their children themselves properly, with the means to do so.

We are currently determining the exact route, in close consultation with our colleagues in Ghana. We will walk near Tema, along the Volta river and in the Shai Hills nature park. We can guarantee that you will walk through a unique landscape, through beautiful nature and through special communities. The details of the route will still remain a surprise for a while.

Keep an eye on this website for the latest updates and news. Keep in mind that in Africa things might go a little different than planned. We will always choose the most special and the safest route

During The Hike (the night from 16 to 17 November) we’ll spend the night in big army tents, set up in our base camp at a lodge on the Volta River. Here, men and women will sleep separately. When you wake up, you will have possibility to freshen up. There are (basic) toilets.

Important! You arrange your own accommodation prior to the start of the Hike and afterwards as well. This way you can choose something that best fits your wishes and your budget. We recommend to book an accommodation in Acrra from 15 to 16 November since the (mandatory) Kick-off meeting is on November 15th 2019 in Accra. Also, we will depart from Accra real in the early morning of November 16th to start this adventure. 

We also recommend you to book 1 extra night (from 17 to 18 November) in Accra since end here with all the festivities.

If you have any questions about this, please contact us via info@sosthehike.nl.

This 24-hour walk is a real physical challenge. This is mainly due to the heat and humidity (80%) in Ghana. In November the temperature will be around 25 degrees, but still very warm, since there is little wind. We will walk as many miles as possible in two 12 hour stretches, in between there’s room to rest. You must have a basic good condition. Are you unsure about your physical condition? Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or trainer. It is also important to start training in advance. Don’t worry, you will receive tips and advice from us. A useful site is:

https://www.wandel.nl/gezondheid/wandeltraining/trainingsschema-wandelen-beginner.htm

Here you will find many useful tips and trainings schedules.

You will receive an extensive packing list a few weeks prior to the start of the event.

Hereby some things that can be packed in your suitcase!

• A medical passport with the compulsory vaccinations for Ghana
• Passport with visa
• Luminous (safety) vest
• Refillable water bottle
• Deet
• Hiking boots
• Backpack
• Hiking socks (summer)
• Shorts
• Long pants (it might get cold during the evening)
• Wind jacket
• Headgear, hat with brim
• Suntan factor 50
• A light which you can put on your head (for walking in the dark)
• Drinking bottle
• Sunglasses
• Bars, gel, etc.

We will provide water and food. However, it is always good to bring some extra tasty snacks!

Optional:

• Walking sticks 
• Patches, blisters, paracetamol, ORS, diarrhea inhibitors
• Medicines if needed
• ICE (in case of emergency) data

Safety is paramount at all times. Participating in The Hike Ghana is certainly a challenge, but it can be done by everyone. First aid and doctors will be present during the event. We expect the participants to be fit. Furthermore, during every journey with a physical challenge, dangerous situations can arise. This also applies to traveling abroad. Participants will be well informed about this in advance. However, participation is at your own risk.With regard to the security situation in the region, we are guided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our local SOS colleagues and travel partner.

SOS Children’s Villages always makes a very accurate cost and benefit analysis for every campaign, mailing or event that we organize. SOS Children's Villages is supported by volunteers in the organization of this event. This means that the expected costs are small in relation to the expected benefits. When 50 people participate in this event, 75,000 euros can be used to help Ghanaian children grow up in a safe and loving family and everything that goes with it. This is a huge amount with which we can help many children. Participants pay for their own travel and accommodation expenses and participants are asked to pay a minimum of 150 euros (early bird) or 190 euros (full-fee) to participate by means of the registration fee.

We really like it when people and their children participate in The Hike. Children can therefore participate, but only under the supervision of an adult. They also must be in a team with adults. As a family team you can then raise money for the children in Ghana. We often hear that children like to work for a better world. For children up to the age of 18 there is a 50% discount on the registration fee.  

If you want to register your child(ren), e-mail a copy of your child's passport to info@sosthehike.nl. You will receive a discount code for each child that will participate that you can add when registering your child(ren). Add the code [step: check your data] before you click the complete the registration. (Click on ‘enter code’ to enter the code. If you don't see it, click on the small blue square button with the arrow.)

There is a minimum age of 14 years. This is because the weather conditions (humidity, temperature) are a challenge. Children (anyone under the age of 18) may only participate under the supervision of an adult and gave to part of an adult team. Register as a team and you can register your child immediately after your own registration. For children there is a 50% discount on the registration fee. 

If you want to register your child(ren), e-mail a copy of your child's passport to info@sosthehike.nl. You will receive a discount code for each child that will participate that you can add when registering your child(ren).

Add the code [step: check your data] before you click to complete the registration. (Click on ‘enter code’ to enter the code. If you don't see it, click on the small blue square button with the arrow.)

We are very cautious with project visits. Many children have already been through a lot and now that they are in our program, we want their lives to be as normal and stable as possible. We believe it’s very important that the children in our projects grow up in a stable, loving and "normal" family environment. This means that visitors are only received in the children's villages under very strict conditions.

If you can’t continue walking, you'll be picked up by the safety car. 

We expect to go hiking with a group of one hundred people. 50 participants from the Netherlands and 50 participants from Ghana. Depending on the number of registrations, this number may change. The Hike is a challenge that we organize together with our Ghanaian colleagues. That means there will also be Ghanaian participants. These participants also pay a registration fee and also raise money to support children in Ghana. The amounts for people with a Ghanaian nationality are adjusted to the standard of living in Ghana.

 There are only a limited number of places available. One hundred in total. So register quickly!

It sure is! In the run-up to the event you will be invited to a Facebook group. Here you will come in contact with the other participants and you can share experiences or post news. We also organize a gathering in the Netherlands.

There are lots of effective and fun ways to raise funds. We help you with tips and tools for recruiting donations. On the sponsor tips page there are various tips! You will also receive an extensive promotional package from us. Let your potential donors know what SOS Children’s villages can do with the money you’ve raised.

The money that is raised with The Hike goes to our SOS children's villages and our other programs in Ghana. For example, with €1500 SOS Children's Villages you provide two children in a children's village with the following:

• Medication for a year              €   130
• Food and drink for a year       € 1.070
• Clothes for a year                  €   300
• Total:                                      €1.500

 SOS Children's Villages also tries to prevent family breakdowns which causes children to be left alone, by including families in our family strengthening programs in Ghana. For € 2,700 we can help three children who live in a family that would fall apart without our help for a period of 5 years. 

The money is raised for the work of SOS Children's Villages in Ghana. This also applies if, due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to participate due to, for example, a change in the home situation or due to a personal injury. The donors have given the money to spend on children in Ghana who need care and help.

You can contact 020-3032500 for more information and consultation.

In the RTL TV-program "Helemaal het einde!" 2018, four families were followed for a year in their adventure of building a life in Cape Verde. In addition to the beauty of the white beaches and blue sea, the families were confronted with the horrible circumstances in which many children grow up. Children without a family or save and caring home, are roaming the streets. Their future is hopeless. The van Berkel familiy wanted to help organize an event to help these children and therefore contacted SOS Children's Villages. A match made in heaven arose. SOS Children's Villages organized The Hike and the van Berkel family volunteered to help organize it in Cape Verde. This year we are organizing the second edition of The Hike in Ghana.