About us

Our aims

Gap Year Ghana aims to give gap year students an authentic taste of Ghana and the chance to safely do something meaningful and challenging in an exotic destination.

By allowing students to stay in a house built by us, for personal use in Ghana, our gap year organisation provides a genuine view of the country, a unique aspect which many similar companies cannot offer.

On the other side, we will be giving back to Ghana by assisting in the provision of public toilets in Accra (woefully lacking and a personal hobby horse of Aurore Down) and donating equipment to impoverished placements.

Andy and Aurore Down

Aurore is a Ghanaian native and her early education was in Ghana. Later, she studied at the university of Dundee and became a Chartered Architect in 1989. She has worked in both the public and the private sector. Aurore's public sector experience involved running refurbishments to old people's homes and the new Barnet Town Hall building.

Educated at Sherborne School in Dorset, Andy went on to study architecture at Dundee university where he was awarded the Gordon Mathewson award as the top degree student of 1984. While working for the commercial practice of E.P.R (London), Andy worked on a number of large commercial projects. He became a Chartered Architect in 1987 and joined the medium sized practice of APT where he was made an associate in 1985.

Andy and Aurore also have their own architectural practice, Archplan.

Emmanuel and Erica Wobil

Emmanuel and Erica Wobil are a married couple who are responsible for your welfare throughout your stay. They visit the Beach House twice a week to check, advise and help, more often if necessary. They are also responsible for your initial induction into Ghanaian life and best practices. Together, Emmanuel and Erica run a school in Ghana.

Beach house staff

Oscar is the manager of the Beach House and will live there throughout your stay. He will be able to help with many of the basics of living and working in Ghana. The other permanent resident is Philippe, our French Togalese cook.