The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre is a forest reserve, covering 60 acres of land. The centre is located in Ghana West Africa, and is about two and half hours outside the capital city of Accra. The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre is an old dream of one man who decided to stand alone and protect Ghanaian’s ecology. Mr. Danso has struggled his whole life building the only privately own forest reserve in Africa. The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre has grown into diamond in the rough. For his efforts and commitment to mother earth Mr. Danso has won the Green Apple Award for Best Environmental Practice, twice! In a third year he came runner up, secondly only to the national forest service of Cameroon. One man almost beat a whole nation!
The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre serves as a research institute for the University of Ghana and has hosted interns and researchers from various Universities across the world, such as Oxford. The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre is taking on a new challenge. To achieve that challenge the Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre has partnered with a microfinance company, the African Support Network, develop 80 acres into an agro-forestry farm. To take this farm to the level of international standard that Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre has already achieved, outside help is necessity and brings skills unavailable in Ghana.
The farm’s genesis is to display environmental conversation and responsibility, along side the successful integration of this farm into the Ghanaian economy. This project combines social entrepreneurship with agribusiness, breaking down the barrier separating business ventures for profit from Non-Governmental Work non-profit work. This project believes that business works for the people of a community, that means looking a investment from a different angle. As the farm grows, so should the community that has given the Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre and its partners the opportunity conduct business expand.
The concept of social responsibility was ground breaking, but still the idea that business need not benefit the community that produced it does not live up to the honor and reputation of the Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre. This initiative breaks down the assumption that business core values are no socially responsible and forges a link between the Ahyirensu community with this farm’s overall success.
Company Profile:
The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre is partnering with the African Support Network, a Ghanaian Microfinance Company, and with an American firm, HM Asset Investment. This partnership takes three firms from different backgrounds to build these 80 acres of land into a farm that displays the highest standard of environmental stewardship.



Qualifications:
1. At least College or Community College Student with an interest in sustainability and development. An individual that is willing to take risks and to work hard without supervision. Individuals with any background are welcome.
2. The application process must be complete.
Dates:
First internships will begin on 5/1/2011: following programs will be negotiated with the intern.
Hours per week:
30-40
Application Process:
Rolling admission
Step 1 to fill out the Application and send in your resume to the provide e-mail address, either mcadajo@emmanuel.edu or info@asnghana.org.
Step 2 the project proposal and two letters of referencesent to either mcadajo@emmanuel.edu or info@asnghana.org.
Step 3 Approval by interview with ASN’s international development office, contact via e-mail. Our website is asnghana.org, come learn more and see if it is right for you.
Contact Information:
International Development Office
Mr. McAdam, John T.
Phone: Ghana: 223-020-705-4462, USA: (603)305-2781
E-mail: mcadajo@emmanuel.edu or info@asnghana.org
USA mailing address: P.O. Box 722 Hollis NH, 03049 USA
Please use e-mail if at all possible, otherwise send only to the American address.



This project is something that does not come around often in this world. The Ahyiresnu Naturalist Centre is looking for committed interns willing to go into conditions that will test one’s creativity and provide the opportunities for success. The farm is in a rural area and the development of the land is still only in its earliest stage. Anyone who comes to help will be asked to work hard and contribute in anyway they can. This project is powerful opportunity for an individual to take their ideas and make them grow. The internship revolves around the farm. This program is a long-run internship initiative to develop 80 acres of land into a sustainable farm that uses agro-forest techniques. There are two major kinds of placements, those interns that work solely to develop the farm. Those interns that work within the broader community to keep the villages involved. Above all interns are expected to bring a level of individuality and creativity that will enable the farm to grow. The opportunities are endless. The internship is flexibility and strives to fit the needs everyone and anyone.
Placements on the farm are expected to contribute the expansion of the agricultural potential and output of the farm. This might mean constructing a building or managing a new plot of land. Interns will work along side the staff and management of the Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre. The interns will first of all learn from Mr. Danso (the owner of the Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre), advise and help develop old and even start new projects. Students will be given roles in development, implementation and management of various projects.
Placements within the community range from teaching positions to work in the local clinic and everything in between. Building trust is hard, intern’s role in this placement will work to instill within the community relationships that enable farmers in villages to learn from sustainable techniques at the centre. These interns will move around a lot, and be expected to think of innovative ways to keep the community involved and benefiting from the development of the commercial farm.
The only attribute that we know to be necessary to make any stay in Ghana a successful one is the determination to learn: to learn about Ghana; more importantly to learn about yourself before you come. It is difficult task coming half way around the world, and the Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre and its partners will help anyone come to Africa. Before anyone comes you have to ask yourself why. We ask that you search our own reasons to come. This internship program is flexible and we are happy to help anyone’s dream. At the core, this project’s objective will cultivate an environmentally driven farm. The most important component is to keep the community evolved! Evolvement takes all shapes and sizes.
The Ahyirensu Naturalist Centre invites individuals from all countries, ethnicities and creeds to apply!