How to apply for Volunteer/Internship
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 ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PRIOR TO DEPARTURE please contacts Alfred Davies (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.