Category Archives: Events

Volunteers

How do I become a Solid Rock Association Volunteer?
(Please note all volunteers must be at least 18 years old and speak English)
Request for application form. Send it back to info@solidrockassoc.org
Once you are accepted make your deposit to reserve your space:

The cost of Volunteering/Intern info and fees are as follows:
2 Weeks $500
3 Weeks $650
4 Weeks $750

You should pay the deposit of $150 per person to the Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited to reserve your place. Participants make balance payment of their fees within 18 hours after their arrival in Ghana. It is payable in US Dollars, Ghana Cedis, Euros or British pounds equivalent.

Bank info: (please include your name on the transfer)
Beneficiary: Solid Rock Association
Acct Number: 1050022359067
Bank Name: Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited
Bank Address: Accra, Ghana
Swift Code: FBLIGHAC
Sign and return via email the by-laws agreement document that is sent to you with your acceptance.
Purchase or reserve your plane ticket, get the required vaccinations, obtain travel medical insurance and a tourist visa for Ghana (please see FAQ section for information on obtaining a visa).
Email your flight information to info@solidrockassoc.org so that we can arrange for you to be picked up at the airport!
We sincerely appreciate your interest in our organization and hope that you will join us in our endeavors. Your time in Ghana will not only be beneficial for the children, youth and women but an amazing learning experience for you as well!

SOLID ROCK ASSOCIATION CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS GHANA is easy to find in the Accra metropolis. We can be located in the Center for National Culture (Arts center) right at the back of arts and craft market close Mensa Guinea beach.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Our Phone numbers in Ghana are:
+233 302976342 (Office)
+233 243322558 (Mobile)

SOLID ROCK ASSOCIATION
P.O.BOX AC 571
Arts, Center
Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233 302976342
info@solidrockassoc.org
www.solidrockassoc.org

FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PRIOR TO DEPARTURE please contacts William Agbeko Segbedzi (volunteer coordinator) at info@solidrockassoc.org or call office numbers given above
*You must be 18 years of age and speak English in order to participate in our volunteer program

Where program fee goes:

Airport Pick Up: Upon arrival, SRA staff will be at the Kotoka International Airport to pick you up. Please send us your flight information to be able to pick you up at the airport in time.
Orientation: Orientation about the local culture, history, safety, religion, and other issues relating to the country.
Accommodation-Utility Bills: You will be staying on local African lodge/guest house, within the community and volunteer might stay in a shared room and live in safe neighborhoods, just walking distance from Solid Rock Association main office. They will provide 2-3 meals a day.
Food: In most cases your meals are cooked and provided for you by your host family. You will be getting 2-3 meals per day. Breakfast and Supper is provided during weekdays when volunteers are on placements and lunch is provided some weekends when volunteers are in their host home. If you’re a vegetarian or have any allergies, this is taken into account when we arrange your placement.
Safety: Your well being while volunteering with us is our priority. We make sure your trip is safe and we will provide whatever support you may need at any step along the way.
Marketing & Development: As there are competitions, we have to advertise on the internet by sometimes through pay service. Internet access is expensive here in Ghana and some of the program fee are spent in that respect which also includes office rent.
What is NOT included?
Flight, Airport Taxes, Visa, Immunizations, Personal expenses, Drinks, Passport, Travel insurance, Entrance fees and travel expenses related to any excursions the volunteer wishes to take whilst volunteering. Personal internet time and long-distance (domestic and international) phone calls,laundry service.
Important information
Volunteers will be traveling on local buses and not air-condition buses.
If you are thinking why pay to volunteer, the answer is that volunteering in another country requires a lot of resources and preparation. Volunteers abroad need accommodations, food, in addition to transportation in and around the country and orientation to ensure their safety.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Is a visa necessary?
YES, a visa is necessary: contact the nearest Ghana embassy in your country of residence.
Request a tourist visa. The cost will vary depending on country of residence and length of stay. A two-month visa from Europe is about $100.

In order to process the visa the embassy may ask you for the following:
A valid passport
Passport sized photos
Yellow fever vaccinations
Plane ticket reservation
Filled out visa application form
2 Ghanaian references:
Amos Kofi Acquah
P.O.BOX AC 571
Arts-Center
Accra, Ghana

Iddrisu Musah
Solid Rock Association
P.O. BOX AC 571
Arts-Center
Accra, Ghana

Please be sure to apply for your visa well ahead of time as it may take up to three weeks for the embassy to process your visa.
It is recommended that you make photocopies of all your important documents (i.e. passport, plane ticket, vaccination card, insurance card, etc.) and bring them to Ghana with you.
Do I need vaccinations?
Yes. Contact your nearest vaccination center and meet with a doctor in your country. They will tell you about the vaccinations that are required and recommended for travelling to Ghana.
Yellow fever vaccine is obligatory as well as the malaria treatment (pills), even though no malaria prophylaxis is 100 % efficient. If you do get malaria, it is no trouble because we treat malaria very fast, but melofloquine is the most efficient anti-malaria drug and not available in Ghana.
Take with you any medicine you may need for illnesses that you are susceptible to. We recommend a tetanus booster and a typhoid jab, meningitis and maybe hepatitis A if you don’t come from a Mediterranean country.
Are there ATM/cash machines, Western Union and can I use American Express traveler’s cheques? How do I change my money into cedis?
Western Union available almost everywhere in the country and traveler cheques can be cashed at banks but usually are not accepted at stores. Only Visa cards can be used at the numerous ATM/cash machines in Accra and all the major cities in Ghana and your money will be dispensed in Ghana Cedis. You can change foreign currency at the airport upon arrival and there are also bureaus de change” throughout the city of Accra. With a MasterCard you can get money at the bank.
Can I sight see, or combine my volunteering with a holiday?
Weekends are your free time; the best guidebook is Brandt’s Ghana. These are some suggested sights: Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle, Kakum National Park, Lake Bosomtwe, Kumasi, Kintampo Waterfall, Monkey Village, Mole National Park, The North Volta Lake Adventure, Volta Lake, Wli Waterfalls, and Accra.
What could I bring as gifts for the kids?
Gifts for the kids can include, but are not limited to, books in English, dictionaries, shoes, used laptops or mobile phones, color-pencils, calculators, pencil sharpeners, watercolor paints, kindergarten material, coloring books, rulers, watches, paints, second hand clothes, simple musical instruments, penknives, and toys. Please be aware that our policy is to share the gifts among the children so as not to encourage any rivalry. Other useful items to donate to the children are baby formula, powdered milk, spinach seeds, multivitamins, vitamin a/c, calcium, iron, oral mouth gel, thermometers, baby bottles (glass or plastic), glucose sticks, and antibiotics.
What should I bring for myself?
Bring Malaria pills, mosquito repellent (a mosquito net is provided by us), towels, torch/flashlight, penknife and sheet (double beds), clothes for tropical weather, and a bathing suit. Please bring any personal medications, contact lens solution and preferred toiletries, as they may be unavailable in Ghana. Bring multivitamin tablets, a painkiller and a strong iron supplement (in case you get malaria). You might want to bring an acidophilus supplement in case you need to take antibiotics. It is always useful to know your blood type. Bring any specific brand name medicine that you know and treatment for cystitis or Candida if you are prone to them, and oral contraceptives if applicable. Water purifiers are not necessary, as bottled water is available, as is soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc. For women: TAMPAX are basically unavailable.
What will the schedule be like?
Volunteers have a minimum of 4 hours work a day. The schedules will vary depending on the assignment. In the afternoon the volunteers design group or individual tutorials in their area of specialty (computer, dancing, English, music, drumming, batik tye & dye etc). On arrival at your placement at one of our government/private schools, whatever activity you wish to lead and who your students will be can be discussed with the director. The program and placement will be designed to suit your wishes. The volunteer co-coordinator and project supervisor is Benjamin Kofi Lartey.
Will I have access to Internet and telephone?
Yes. There are Internet cafes and communication centers in the center for national culture (Arts-center). The cost is about 0.80 – 1.20 Ghana Cedis an hour. You can also have Internet access at our office. Mobile modem is usable. You can buy phone cards or go to a communication center to make long distance calls. Prices vary depending on the country and calls tend to be expensive (about 0.20 Ghana Cedis a minute).
Can I use my mobile phone in Ghana?
That depends. European mobiles may have coverage in some of the areas. If you want to save money on calls however, you can buy a local SIM card for your mobile phone for about 1.00 Ghana Cedis and add money in as and when you need it. Make sure that your mobile phone is unlocked, otherwise you can buy a phone for 50 Ghana Cedis.
Can my friends and family send me mail during my stay in Ghana?
Yes. You can receive letters at the Solid Rock Association office in Accra. We do however recommend communicating by email with friends and family while in Ghana. It is the easiest and most practical way to receive information. Mail is often times very slow. It may take anywhere from a few weeks to a month or more for a letter or package to arrive. The mail simply may not arrive (which is not frequent, but it does happen). The address is:
Solid Rock Association- YOUR NAME
P.O.BOX AC 571
Arts-Center
Accra, Ghana

I can’t go but would like to be a virtual volunteer and help?
We welcome virtual volunteers who can do very valuable fundraising, informing others about Solid Rock Association, or helping out in other ways. Please contact us!
Have a question we haven’t answered?
Send us an email at info@solidrockassoc.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible with your answer

Discover: Reveale: Support Train Point Module(ongoing project)

THE TRAIN POINT MODULE

This Module-initiative was introduced by Solid Rock Association as the operating- activity platform to implement the Youth Preventive Work program. The initiative has been outlined into ‘Phases and Batches’ to meet the practical poverty-challenges engulfing young people, the youth and related groups in deprived communities.

The Ashiedu Keteke sub-metro which is made up of about 12 different communities in Accra is the first community to benefit from the current Phase of the initiative, which is resourcefully supported by Foreningen Roskilde Charity Society in Denmark.

Train Point Model- Project Phases Breakdown

The model has been outlined into four separate Phases. Each Phase of the project spans 3-4 months within which project activities are pursued diligently to achieve set targets.

Participants are grouped into batches as the Module progresses through its cycle of activities.

Each batch forms the first group which will benefit from the other two Phases of the Module as part of efforts to enhance continuity of purpose within the participants and beneficiaries of the program.

Currently, the first batch participants are benefiting from the rollout program activities.

Inter-Phases Breakdown

Phase 1

Activities

Phase 2

Activities

Phase 3

Activities

Introduction

Registration- Grouped into batch system

Counseling Sessions

Participation in Skills/ Capacity Training Program

Presentation of Certificates

Preparation to be introduced to benefits of Phase 2

Introduction

Counseling Sessions

Provision of work start-up

Packages/ incentives to enable batch beneficiaries to trade with the acquired and enhanced skills and capacity

Monitoring/ Evaluation progress of the start-up incentives

Recommendation

Prepare beneficiaries to benefit of Phase 3

Introduction

Counseling Sessions

Project Monitoring/ Evaluation of Beneficiaries work and sustainable livelihood progress

Proceed to introduce the next batch in each training session through the same cycle from Phase 1- Phase 3.

Recommendations

The Train Point Module is an ability and skills enhancement training platform which identifies and supports delinquent and deprived young people and youths and presently, provides the platform and opportunity to some of these interested individuals and participants to acquaint themselves with the ‘know how’ required of each person to experience better daily conditions of life through gainful, self-employable training and learning.

The Module has currently been outlined to directly attract delinquent young people and youth living in under-considered and under resourced communities in Accra-Ghana.

Project Training Sessions

On going through formal registration and, adequately going through completing introductory counseling sessions for all participants, beneficiaries of the model are then regrouped into groups based on the area of interest each participant expresses.

The batch for each training area are then introduced and assigned to the resource person responsible for the particular training program. The specific resource person takes participants through available facilities and training aides before training begins.

As part of an added initiative to enlighten participants during the time span they explore opportunities available within the Train Point Module initiative, a counseling session has been included as, a progressive counseling and motivation platform introduced to participant from the introductory stages of each training program.

Project Team of Resource Persons

A team of professional and experienced individuals from diverse backgrounds constitute the team of resource persons who provide insightful background know how to participants of the Train Point initiative. They include persons who have commitment to supporting individual-youth growth through self-empowerment and self-development programs.

A resource person is assigned to each group session to oversee the training of participant. Participants have the opportunity and interacting with the trainer to learn hands-on knowledge in their chosen area of interest of training.

Additional counseling on the actual prospects in the specific area of training are also outlined to participants on regular intervals.

Train Point Module-Training Course Options Outline

Wood Carving Sessions

The skilled arts and acts of wood carving have been ancient to most communities in Ghana. However, with the passing of time, the ability to generate gainful and enterprising opportunities out of these skills has lost place for preferred white-collar jobs. Under this innovative sessions, participants were who were involved in the caving sessions gradually produces the artistic drums purposefully serving a part of the musical instruments used by the Solid Dance Ensemble Instruments.

Batik ‘Tye and Die’ Training Sessions

Skill training in batik or ‘tie and die’ which is a handmade Ghanaian textile has also taking off in full swing. Participants include ladies and young men who meet with a resource person four times in a week to get acquainted with the rudiment of production.

Their training also introduces participants to professional employable practices and opportunities in the local textile industry which can be of immense benefit which participants can actively patronize to ensure a sustainable economic living condition after receiving training.

ICT Training Sessions

The ICT training platform which is currently ongoing has been categorized into two training groups to include, school-going young people and individual youths within the community who had momentarily dropped out of school and with hope to learn-new.

A routine timetable has scheduled participating-learners to meet with a resource person in charge of ICT training who gives beneficiaries practical experiences with ICT facilities that have been provided for the training. Soon educational learning aids and materials will be needed to progressively promote and expand the ICT education to the increasing interest expressed by underserved children and adults especially women, including the skilled and unskilled within the communities.

Solid Rock Association has also initiated community consultations and collaboration with community stakeholders which has actively stimulated and established a need-met relationship with the community and beneficiaries of the Youth Preventive Work-Train Point ICT program. This is to facilitate the productive use of ICT knowledge acquired from the sessions at training program among youth beneficiaries.

Conclusion

A careful and fundamental assessment of the Youth Preventive Work-Train Point Module program has, productively and progressively demonstrated a need to sustain the program to maintain community impact.

The current progress of the initiative substantively needs monetary, logistical and resourceful assistance and support to enable the constructive implementation and expansion of some the existing infrastructure, logistics and, facilities used for the program.

The aim is to inculcate other young people, youths and youth groups who equally seek the opportunity to benefit from the outline training program as its charts its cycle-Phases.

please support Solid Rock Association to promote and better the lives of many young and needy youth in Ghana.