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Program Description

GVI Volunteer Programs in Kenya

Description

Work alongside local community members of Tsavo West National Park, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, to support development in rural Kenyan communities. Harsh environment with low rainfall and limited work opportunities have forced communities to hunt wildlife for the bush meat trade. As a volunteer you will help with the construction of infrastructure essential for local villagers to find other ways to make a living in a sustainable way and so conserve Africa's big game.

Interview with Joanne Marshall, GVI volunteer alumni

GO: Why did you decide to volunteer with GVI in Kenya?

Joanne: GVI offered a program that suited me best. I was travelling with a couple of friends and we all wanted different things. I wanted construction, one friend wanted wildlife and another community. So the volunteer project in Kenya suited us perfectly! It also seemed to be the most reasonably priced company, which helped with the decision considering we are all students!

Volunteering in Kenya with GVI
GVI volunteers working on a construction project in Kenya
GO: Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

Joanne: On the first day, we spent a good 6hrs on a coach to Taveta, which wasn’t the comfiest journey to say the least! Then we travelled about another 2hrs to the village we were working in where we were met by the very friendly community. The 2nd day, we just dealt with the safety aspects of the project and settled in to the camp before starting construction on the 3rd day.

On a typical day of construction, we woke up at 7am and had breakfast (cereal, tea and banana). We walked about 10 minuets to the construction site and did work till 12pm, we had a long lunch over the hottest part of the day and returned to work at 2pm (ish) where we had a short afternoon finishing off the mornings work. In the evening we would play football with some of the children, sat round the campfire with the community or played cards with the other volunteers. For dinner we would have a meal based around rice, pasta or potatoes and vegetables and sauces would be added to it.

During the trip we had little side trips to Lake Chala, Njoro Springs and a local safari lodge. On the 10th day we departed for the safari with the other volunteers to Tsavo West National Park. We saw lots of wildlife and the big 5! It was sad to leave at the end and I would defiantly consider going back.

Volunteer Abroad with GVI in Kenya
An elephant at a waterhole during Joanna's safari trip in Kenya
GO: How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?

Joanne: This has been the best experience of my life and I hope to do more of them in the future. I am considering going back to the village in future. It has made me realise how much I love travelling and I hope to entangle this into my career after I have finished university. I also made some great friends which I will stay in contact with for a very long time.

Further Information
Cost Description: 

The volunteer contribution includes all your food and accommodation, all necessary training, airport transfers between designated times, side trips to Lake Chala, Taveta and Njoro springs, 4 day / 3 night safari visiting Tsavo East and West National Parks, staying in safari lodge accommodation.

Age Group: 
14-18
18-50
Languages Learned/Spoken: 
English
Living Arrangements: 
Home-stay
Dormitory
Participants live with other volunteers
Accommodation is included in the program cost
Travel Arrangements: 
Participants travel to the program independently.
Some travel is required during the program.
Application Requirements: 
Online Application
Health Requirement
Visa Required
Passport

Ratings and Reviews

22 of 43 people found this review helpful
Kenya!!

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Overall Rating

100%Overall
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I had such an amazing time on this project and really didn't want to leave! The community were so welcoming and it was good to experience how they live on a daily basis. The night that stood out the most for me was when the local maasai danced and sung for us, it was fantastic and not many people can say they have seen that for real! We watched them for a bit and then they got us to all join in. We also taught them some dances from home, such as the macarena!
On the construction, we built a storage facility for animal skins and hides in order to generate an income for the community. We worked with the community and we were seen as one of them for the week. It was really nice to see how grateful the community were that we were helping them. Extra side trips made the experience really special and we got to see lots of different sides of Kenya.
GVI organised everything and made sure you had done everything you needed to do prior to leaving (visas, flights, CRB's etc). Meeting them at the airport/hotel was easy and they offered very valuable advice whilst we were staying there.The cost of the project was very reasonable considering all food, accommodation and transport (apart from flights) were included. I would recommend this project to anyone, it is defiantly worthwhile!

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Submitted by JMarshall on 09/18/2011
Reviewer's Bio:    Female    |   Age: 1-18    |   United Kingdom    |    Experienced Traveler    |    University of Sussex   
13 of 31 people found this review helpful
Awesome Volunteering experience with GVI in Kenya

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Overall Rating

100%Overall
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We, GVI staff and 7 volunteers, travelled over 7 hours on bumpy road to what felt and looked like the middle of nowhere arriving at the remote and beautiful village of Kasaini Lepolosi.
The landscape was amazing and i felt like i had stepped into a National Geographic magazine article.
We were greeted by the locals with great warmth and shyness. The locals consisted of Maasai and Kamba men, women and children.
We slept in an open hut on the ground each nigh under mosquito nets and the local men took turns guarding our camp against wildlife. We cooked and occasionally washed with water the local women collected by walking 1.5 hours to a creek and carrying it back on their heads and on their donkeys backs.
During the day we worked together with the locals to build a new Storage facility that will provide space which is optimal for storing partially preserved hides and skins before they are collected for export.
This space will also be used as a training centre to ensure top quality skins are being supplied for export, meaning higher prices can be fetched for the skins!
the purpose is to strengthened the capacity of the Kasaini Lepolosi comunity to survive without returning to poaching and charcoal burning.
I would recommend this trip or others like it to everyone- it is important to be open minded and not be compulsive about being clean!
My experience of hanging out with the Maasi people and playing football with the children is not one i will ever forget
i have come away from this experience feeling so grateful for all i have and have such admiration for the human spirit and how people with so little can be so loving and generous and joyful!

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Submitted by LKWilson on 09/16/2011
Reviewer's Bio:    Female    |   Age: 31-50    |   Melbourne, Australia    |    Experienced Traveler    |    University of Tasmania   

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Program Info

Country: 
Kenya
City(s): 
Throughout the country.
Volunteer Type: 
Animal Welfare
Community Development
Building / Construction Projects
Conservation
Community Health
Teaching
Education
Internship
Length of Program: 
1-2 weeks
2-4 weeks
Cost: 
$500-$2,000 (USD)
$2,000-$5,000 (USD)

Program Photos

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