Four Volunteer Programs in Kenya

Volunteering Abroad in Kenya

Want to volunteer in Kenya but have no idea where to start? You might consider working with one of these four programs, which offer education, community development, and other much-needed projects throughout this country.

SOME BACKGROUND

Kenya is a country like no other in Africa. You will find savannas rich with game, Massai culture unchanged over centuries, beautiful beaches, luscious equatorial forests, snow-capped mountains, vast desert and countless opportunities to explore. However, despite the country’s beauty, Kenya suffers from corruption that has repeatedly stalled its development. Volunteers are high in demand to help Kenya become self-sustainable and independent.

Massai International Challenge Africa (MICATZ) works out of Tanzania, but offers trips to Kenya as well as many other developing countries worldwide. Edward Laiser, Executive Director of MICATZ, explained what makes MICATZ unique in comparison to other programs in Kenya.

“We work with the local people on the ground, the indigenous,” said Laiser. “They are all from the local area and we aim to show volunteers the reality of the situation here.”

MICATZ programs allow volunteers to get involved with the community at an affordable price and with quality service. A typical day for a volunteer with MICATZ starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends around 2:00 p.m. Volunteers work with medical and educational projects in orphanages, schools and dispensaries. They also have opportunities to go on safari and visit a traditional Massai village. Accommodations with host families allow volunteers to immerse themselves in and experience all aspects of life in Kenya.

When asked about advice on choosing and preparing for a volunteer trip to Kenya, Laiser emphasized the importance of knowing your dreams.

“You need to analyze your dreams and make sure that you achieve them,” said Laiser. “Don’t waste any time.”

The Village Experience is a program created by two sisters from Indianapolis, USA. Both were avid travelers and one of the sisters, Kelly Campbell, having studied in South Africa, backpacked to Kenya and fell in love with the country.

The company organizes trips based on the demand of the sisters’ community in Indiana, a group ranging from 8- to 75-years-old, but welcomes anyone to come along. Volunteers can find themselves planting trees, supporting nursery school teachers, motivating small businesses or caring for children in orphanages. Volunteers with specific experience are usually placed in their area of expertise, be it anything from construction to medical support.<.p>

The factor that sets The Village Experience apart from others is its fair trade online store that sells products made by women in Kenya. Campbell explained the importance this has in helping Kenya grow as a country and become self-sustainable.

“We want to put money back into the communities,” said Campbell. “We want to create job opportunities.”

It isn’t all work and no play with The Village Experience; volunteers can go on safari and stay in a traditional lodge, take horseback rides through villages, learn to make fair trade crafts and other materials, take cooking classes, take a boat out on Lake Victoria or play on the beach in Mombasa.

The Village Experience prides itself on being focused on relationships, so they personally negotiate all prices and promote fair trade. Campbell also emphasized the importance of staying as long as you can on your volunteer trip to Kenya, and advised that you try and see as much as you can.

Volunteer with Children in Kenya

Kenya Voluntary & Community Development Project (KVCDP) was created to address issues with food, security, poverty, environmental conservation and HIV/AIDS in Western Kenya. The program works directly with communities and aim to give volunteers a compound experience with both the culture and in the wild. Program fees cover airport pick-ups to housing and food. Every volunteer is taken on a tour of Kibera, the second biggest slum in Africa, as part of their introduction to the program. No trip is the same, according to Jackline Ouko, Project Coordinator, who explained that they adapt each tour to the individual volunteer.

“The trip differs depending on volunteers’ requests, interest and program needs,” said Ouko. “Those volunteers who would wish to do safaris may spend their last days on safari in either the Masai Mara or to other parks in Kenya or Tanzania.”

Volunteers can get involved in a variety of projects focused on education, HIV/AIDS, health, orphanages/care centers, infrastructure and football coaching. Ouko expressed why Kenya is a perfect destination for volunteers.

“Kenya is a very safe country, beautiful and full of fun. The people are very friendly, welcoming and ready to assist,” said Ouko. “It has a lot of adventure to explore and accommodates all kinds of people regardless of their background.”

What really sets Dawn Africa apart from other programs is that it is run by orphans who were raised by the Kenyan community and local churches. The members have had firsthand experience with the challenges facing this volunteer program, and are firmly integrated within the community in which they work.

Volunteers typically work from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and have time afterwards to get involved in alternative activities, from teaching Braille, to marine expeditions. Victor Ochieng, Operations Manager for Dawn Africa, feels it is important for volunteers to know what their money is going towards.

“Volunteers in Kenya need to know exactly what their money does for the community and they need to be involved in the development of the community,” said Ochieng. “Working with these volunteer organizations is greatly encouraged as they do more for the Kenyan people than the government.”

CONCLUSION

Whether you want to work with children, restore local buildings, or teach others about the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness, you can find a great opportunity to help others and learn about their community culture in Kenya. To find more organizations working in Kenya and throughout Africa, click here!