This immensely worthwhile project offers volunteers an opportunity to experience "real" Africa in ways that will never be forgotten. Kenya, situated on the equator on Africa's east coast, offers beautiful landscapes, amazing wildlife and has an ethnic diversity that has produced a vibrant culture. Nairobi - the capital - is one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Africa and Limuru is located just 30 km north of Nairobi, amidst beautiful tea plantations and operates at a much slower pace than the nearby capital. Volunteers will spend their time as a volunteer in Limuru.
Duration & Fees
- £855 - 2 weeks
- £1,055 - 3 weeks
- £1,295 - 4 weeks
Start Dates
2012: 2 Jan | 16 Jan | 6 Feb | 20 Feb | 5 Mar | 19 Mar | 2 Apr | 16 Apr | 7 May | 21 May | 4 Jun | 18 Jun | 2 Jul | 16 Jul | 6 Aug | 20 Aug | 3 Sep | 17 Sep | 1 Oct | 15 Oct | 5 Nov | 19 Nov | 3 Dec | 17 Dec
Payment
£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
What's Included
- A contribution to the project itself for items such as building materials, equipment, supplies, foodstuffs, etc
- Transfer to and from Nairobi airport to the volunteer accommodation and daily transport to and from the projects
- Orientation and introduction to the project
- Support from project staff
- Accommodation
- Three meals a day
- Laundry and domestic service
What's not included
- Personal travel insurance (to include cover for repatriation)
- Transport by air or bus to Nairobi
- Personal items eg clothes, travel goods
- Use of internet (email) and telephone
- Soft drinks, wines, beers and spirits
- Visas and border crossings and any trips/activities undertaken other than in the planned expedition
- Transportation not related to the project
Project Highlights
- Gain medical experience under the supervision of qualified doctors and nurses at Kikuyu General Hospital and in the public health centres. Please note that this is only applicable to those who are currently studying medicine or who are qualified in a medical field suited to the hospital's needs and requirements - minimum placement six weeks
- Assist in helping to improve facilities in the many orphanages and pre-schools in Limuru, perhaps improving or enhancing the actual facilities as well as taking and looking after the children there
- Learn some Swahili and get a taste of the culture of Kenya
- Experience some of the greatest safari lands in Africa
- Make lifelong friends of fellow volunteers
Kenya's health care and provision suffers as much as the other public sector services. While structures are in place for an effective health service, staff and resources are in short supply and the help given by volunteers is very much appreciated by the nurses and doctors. Volunteers will spend Fridays either at a local feeding programme and every other Friday raising funds to support the feeding programme. The other four days volunteers will be very involved in their medical placement, acquiring and sharing knowledge and skills and building good relationships.
Volunteers with a medical background will be placed at one of the public health centres or hospital while those with no medical background will spend time at one of the orphanages, pre-schools or community projects.
Medical Opportunities
Kikuyu Private Hospital
Kikuyu is a large general hospital, a busy place treating more than 350 patients each day. It offers medical care to the communithy regardless of whether they can pay for treatment or not. It is a great place for medical students wishing to undertake an elective - this does incur an additional adminstration fee of approximately $50 which is payable to the hospital and a commitment in time of six weeks. The hospital is well-known for its specialised eye unit but also has maternity wards, orthopaedics, HIV and diabetic clinics, theatre/surgery, nursing and emergency care. Unless volunteers are qualified and have received approval from the Kenyan Medical Board, their involvement is limited to observation. There is a lot of work waiting to be done and volunteers are always very welcome.
Karuri Hospital - solely for qualified health practitioners
Karuri is a small government hospital with an out-patient unit, dental unit and maternity unit which consists of a delivery room and ward, family planning, mother and child clinic and antenatal clinic. Karuri also has a small lab in which volunteers can get involved. The hospital is slowing phasing into a community outreach programme that involves brining basic healthcare to those unable to get to the hospital. Here volunteers have great opportunities to get involved in all units and, if the chance arises, to present workshops to staff or patients.
Public Health Centres
Medical volunteers are also able to get involved in various departments and gain much experience under the supervision of a local qualified health professional. Opportunities for involvement include laboratory work, physiotherapy, maternity, paediatric and child care unit, comprehensive care clinic (HIV and TB patients), counselling, orthopaedics, administration, outpatient care, pharmacy and x-ray. The exposure to medical care in an African country is a real eye-opener.
Community and Teaching Opportunities
Orphanages/pre-schools in Limuru for prospective medical students.
There are over a million orphans in Kenya, mainly due to AIDS, of which only 5% get any kind of support. There is therefore a huge need for help in orphanages and children's homes. There are several such centres for vulnerable children in Limuru with children also affected by poverty, abuse or illness. They are all in need of love and attention and many are developmentally delayed and need extra attention to aid their development. They are mainly between 4 - 15 years of age. The orphanages offer opportunities to get involved in:
- helping to teach the children
- building and improving facilities - painting pictures on the walls - making them more homely
- general care such as cooking the meals for the children or organising sports or play activities
- helping the resident staff to offer moral support and guidance to the children, training in basic life skills
- creating and teaching arts and crafts and sports to hone their hidden talents and skills
The children are very energetic and love to play basketball or football with the volunteers - hoping to beat them if they can!
A typical day in the life of a volunteer
This is an example and itineraries may differ depending on the experience and interests of volunteers at any time as well as the needs of the community.
Monday - Thursday
| 7:30am |
Get up and start getting ready for the project |
| 8.30 am |
Depart from Brackenhurst for the project - perhaps about 20 - 40 minutes |
| 9.00 am |
Start work at the allocated placement - local orphanage, nursery school or medical centre |
| 12:30pm |
Lunch break - volunteers pack their own packed lunch |
| 3. 00 pm |
Home Time - volunteers will be collected by the co-ordinator/driver and taken back to the volunteer cottage at Brackenhurst where they can check their emails, watch TV, socialise or just relax and unwind in the beautiful gardens of Brackenhurst |
| Evenings |
These are very sociable affairs. Generally, volunteers discuss their day's activities amongst themselves whilst having supper together and preparing for the next day. A real favourite is to walk through the beautiful trails at Brackenhurst in the early evening (or a run for those so inclined - but it is quite hilly) and then an outdoor swim and drinks at the Limuru Country Club. |
Friday - Food Programme Friday/Fundraiser Friday:
Every 1st Friday is Fundraiser Friday when volunteers fundraise at a near-by shopping mall to raise money for a food programme in a local volunteering project. Every 2nd Friday the volunteers will go to one of two schools that cater for underprivileged children to prepare and hand out food to the children and have a fun/sports afternoon with them
| Time |
Fundraiser Friday |
Food Programme Friday |
| 7.30 am |
Wake up and have breakfast |
Wake up and have breakfast |
| 8.30 am |
Leave for village market |
Meet for reflection group (1 hour) |
| 9.00 am |
Souvenir shopping |
|
| 10.30 am |
|
Leave for school; prepare and serve lunch |
| 12.30 pm |
Lunchtime/Get ready for fundraising |
Fun/sports activities for children |
| 1.30 pm |
Face painting |
|
| 4.00 pm |
Pick up |
Pick up |
Saturdays and Sundays offer an opportunity for some down time to enjoy the beautiful country, perhaps a safari in the Masai Mara or a visit to Nairobi and its many attractions.
Please note: The minimum age for this project is 18 years. Both qualified and non-qualified volunteers can join this project. The medical background of a volunteer will determine the type of placement at the hospital. Volunteers with no medical background will be placed at one of the orphanages during the mornings dedicated to hospital work; otherwise volunteer duties will be the same. Volunteers are welcome for anything from 2 - 8 weeks on this project.
Volunteers will stay in a fully furnished volunteer house at the Brackenhurst Baptist International Centre which provides secure accommodation in beautiful surroundings with everything needed. Internet and phone services are readily available.
Rooms will be shared (up to five people per room) and are fully furnished. There are two comfortable lounge areas with a fireplace and satellite tv, where most socialising is done. A laundry service is provided twice a week the the house has running water, hot showers and flushing toilets. Volunteers will be expected to help with light duties on a rota basis in order to help the resident housekeeper. These will include washing dishes, making beds etc.
Brackenhurst has beautiful grounds that are perfect for having an afternoon nap in the sun, playing sports, such as ultimate frisbee or football, or going for a jog. On a clear day it is possible to see Mount Kilimanjaro in the one direction, and Mount Kenya in the other from the Brackenhurst grounds.
Please note that Brackenhurst is a Christian conference centre that forms part of the greater Limuru community. In this culture, drinking alcohol is seen as 'taboo' by the local Christian community. There is therefore no alcohol or smoking allowed on the premises of Brackenhurst. However, there is a wonderful restaurant about 20 minutes away where volunteers often enjoy sundowners.
Volunteers are also asked to dress conservatively while on the premises and out in the community.
Three meals a day will be provided by the resident chef. Volunteers help with meal planning, aiming to create wonderful menus with local cuisine as well as traditional dishes from their own countries so come prepared with ideas. Breakfast is on a help-yourself basis and usually consists of cereals/porridge, toast, tea and coffee. Volunteers pack their own lunches from ingredients supplied.
Kenya
Why visit Kenya
For a country of its size, Kenya really does pack a lot in: mountains and deserts, colourful tribal culture, beaches and coral reefs and some of Africa’s best wildlife attractions. Stunning landscapes set the scene, from Kakamega’s rainforests to Indian Ocean beaches and idyllic islands such as Lamu, by way of Mount Kenya National Park, the rolling grasslands of the Masai Mara to searing deserts on the shores of the Jade Sea; with the Rift Valley, home to millions of breeding flamingos on Lake Nakuru and spectacular birdlife and hippo families on Lake Naivasha, cleaving a massive gash through it all.
Wildlife safaris have been hugely popular in Kenya for decades, with legendary personalities such Ernest Hemingway and Karen Blixen highlighting their appeal, and films such as Out of Africa and Born Free portraying the romance, thrill and excitement of the country. Kenya has over twelve national wildlife parks, being among the best places in Africa to see lions, elephants, leopards and the famous wildebeest migration. The Masai Mara is famous for its annual Great Migration of more than two million wildebeest and thousands of Thomson's gazelle, zebra and impala. Aside from the Migration, game-viewing is excellent throughout the year. Large herds of elephant are common sights in the dry, ancient lakebed of Amboseli National Park, as are buffalo, gazelle, giraffe and zebra. In addition to the wildlife in Tsavo National Park, the Mzima Springs are popular, where millions of litres of cool, crystal-clear water flow out of the ground through porous volcanic rocks. The Samburu Game Park is a narrow plain giving way to rocky hillsides which are home to leopard. A highlight of these Parks is watching large numbers of elephant bathing in the Ewaso Nyiro River. The possibilities of trekking the glacial ridges of Mount Kenya, ballooning over the Masai Mara, snorkelling at the Marine National Park in Malindi on the Indian Ocean are all very real in Kenya.
Highlights of Kenya
- Kenya immortalised the safari with legendary personalities such as Ernest Hemingway and Karen Blixen, and films such as Out of Africa and Born Free.
- Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve is renowned for the annual Great Migration of millions of herbivores – one of the seven new wonders of the world.
- Masai and Samburu tribes-people live and tend their livestock alongside the resident wildlife.
- The country abounds in diverse landscapes, including the spectacular Great Rift Valley.
- It is one of the best countries in Africa for seeing large concentrations of animals throughout the year.
- Kenya is a birdwatcher's dream destination, with more than 1,000 species recorded.
- Lake Nakuru is a breeding ground for flamingo - up to two million birds can be found, and greater and lesser flamingos also migrate along Lakes Magadi, Elmenteita, Bogoria and Turkana.
- Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa and features a number of permanent glaciers. The best view of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro is from Kenya's Amboseli National Park.
- The coastline is beautiful, particularly the Lamu Archipelago, featuring the islands of Lamu, Manda and Pate. Old Lamu Town is a World Heritage Site.
Climate
| Seasons | Max | Min |
| Summer (September - April) |
34 °C |
20 °C |
| Winter (May - August) |
25 °C |
11 °C |
| Rainfall: April - June (long rains), October - Mid December (short rains) |
Kenya is divided by the Equator and its diverse geography means that temperature, rainfall and humidity vary widely. However, there are effectively four distinct zones:
The hot, rainy plateau of western Kenya has rainfall throughout the year, the heaviest usually during April when as much as 200mm may be recorded, and the lowest in January, with an average of 40mm. Temperatures range from a minimum of 14°C to a maximum of 36°C throughout the year.
The temperate Rift Valley and Central Highlands have perhaps the most agreeable climate in the country. Average temperatures vary from a minimum of 10°C to a maximum of 28°C. Rainfall varies from a minimum of 20mm in July to 200mm in April, falling in essentially two seasons – March to the beginning of June (the ‘long rains’) and October to the end of November (the ‘short rains’). Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Range are the country’s main water catchments, with falls of up to 3000mm per year recorded in these places.
In the semi-arid bush-lands of northern and eastern Kenya temperatures vary from highs of up to 40°C during the day to less than 20°C at night. Rainfall in this area is sparse and, when it does occur, is often in the form of violent storms. July is usually the driest month and November the wettest.
The consistently average temperatures of the humid coast region vary little during the year, ranging from 22°C to 30°C. Rainfall is dependent on the monsoon, which blows from the north-east from October to April and from the south-west for the rest of the year. Its rainfall averages from 20mm in February to around 300mm in May.
Depending on when the rains come, the Great Migration normally reaches Kenya around July. Hundreds of thousands of herbivores then disperse onto the plains of the Masai Mara for the next couple of months.
Key Facts
Population – 39 million
Capital - Nairobi
Currency – Kenya shilling
Language – Kiswahili, English, tribal languages
Nairobi, from the Masaai "enkare nyarobi" means "Place of Cool Waters"
“jambo rafiki” – hello friend
Time difference – GMT +3 hours
Telephone – country code 254, international code 00
My stay on Kenya Medical Project was absolutely wonderful. The staff were excellent, wise and great and the other volunteers becamse like family that we made tours with during the weekends. It is unique to get a chance to see how the healthcare system in Kenya works and to get as much hands on as time and experience allows. It was really great!
Nadja, Denmark, aged 24 (Kenya Medical Volunteer)
I had such an incredible time in Kenya - thank you for making it possible!
The whole process of booking was extremely simple and Amanzi Travel were able to answer every question that I put to them. Once I was in Kenya I honestly had the time of my life. The project coordinators were all so friendly and helpful and the house we stayed in was beautiful. It was really nice to meet such a range of people from different countries and different backgrounds who are all there to volunteer with you. My project (Mukeu special school) was incredible - the staff were so friendly and the children just want to play and hug you constantly! They are so sweet and always smiling when they have so little in terms of materialistic items. I miss everybody there so much - it really was the an experience of a lifetime.
Nicola, UK, aged 19 (Kenya Teaching and Community Volunteer, Kenya Medical Volunteer)
We have created a blog about this fantastic trip www.kenyawow.wordpress.com.... Everything is so lush and beautiful here. The staff are very well educated and friendly and I am excited that we will learn a lot from them. We can truly say that our hearts grew today – they ached in the process seeing little ones so young and with so little – but the growth is inspirational. Today, our students worked like crazy to finish everything – we really saw them come together as a team to complete their goal! It is not easy to maintain 75 – 6 and under – kids who speak Swahili, but with patience and care our students managed to have a fantastic time. The day ended with heart-felt goodbyes. We have had an amazing experience learning and laughing alongside these wonderful young men and women.
Courtney, Saudi Arabia, school trip (Kenya Teaching and Community Volunteer, Kenya Medical Volunteer)