Although they suffer extreme poverty and hardship, Kenyans are generally literate and it is estimated that approximately 90% of the adult male population and 80% of adult females are able to read and write. Free, basic primary education is widely available for the first 9 - 10 years resulting in primary school enrolment increasing by about 70%. Secondary and college education must be paid for and here enrolment levels drop sharply. There is a great opportunity for volunteers to provide much needed assistance in the under-staffed, under-resourced and overcrowded educational establishments of Limuru.
Duration & Fees
- £875 - 2 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
- Transfers to and from Nairobi airport and the volunteer accommodation and daily transport to and from the projects
- Orientation and introduction to the projects
- Support from project staff
- Accommodation and three meals a day at Brackenhurst Baptist International Centre, Limuru
- 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
- Any excursions over and above the planned itinerary
- Transportation not related to the project
This project is situated on the equator on Africa's east coast. Kenya is a beautiful country with amazing wildlife and a very diverse ethnicity and culture. Nairobi is the capital city and the main economic, administrative and cultural centre and is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. Limuru is to be found just 30 km north of Nairobi - set amid beautiful tea plantations in the Kenyan highlands - and where life goes along at a much slower pace than in the nearby capital. Teaching projects will be located in Limuru and the surrounding areas. Volunteers should be a minimum of 18 years of age and although no experience is necessary, any teaching or training skills will be useful.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to:
- Assist in orphanages, pre-schools,special education schools and skill schools for young adults with disabilities
- Work with disadvantaged and vulnerable children
- Assist and work with the teachers to improve the learning environment and help improve learning in the local community
- Create opportunities to improve the teaching of English - and perhaps learn some Swahili/Kikuyu on the way
- Gain valuable teaching experience in a challenging environment which is under-staffed, under-resourced and over-crowded
- Work on school refurbishment, building projects and developing teaching aids
- Work alongside teachers to develop lesson plans and fun activities that will increase and consolidate learning
- Be an extra paid of hands in the classroom - greatly appreciated by the overworked teachers
- Get a taste of Kenyan culture and Kenyan cuisine
- Take advantage of the location to experience some of the finest safari in Africa through optional excursions
- Make friends for life
Teaching Projects
Teaching volunteers will spend their time providing much needed help in the under-staffed, under-resourced and over-crowded educational establishments in the Limuru area. Four of the five weekdays will be spent at one of seven schools, this time being divided into teaching in the mornings and resource development work in the afternoons. Major development work takes place during school holidays which are in April, August and December each year. Alternate Fridays will be community days where volunteers will help a local project with practical needs - such as a feeding programme - or just have a fun day. Every other Friday is used for fundraising for the community day.
The schools with which volunteers will be involved are divided into three categories:
- Pre-schools/orphanages
- Primary schools
- Special Education schools
To ensure continuity and consistency for the children, the school and the volunteer, each volunteer will be placed at one school alongside one project for the entire duration of their stay in Kenya. Classes are usually large and pupils rarely get any one-to-one attention; teachers are therefore delighted to have a volunteer as a teaching assistant who can provide this extra support and attention. There is a strong focus in the education system in Kenya on literacy and numeracy but as numbers of children are high and teaching resources limited, rote learning is encouraged. This requires little understanding and comprehension but merely the ability to memorize and repeat back and volunteers are encouraged to develop a resource file with lesson plans and creative ideas that will inspire learning in which concepts are fully grasped. Working with the teacher to develop new resources is essential as they are the experts and know what is culturally appropriate and relevant for their children. New ideas, games, activities, songs etc are very welcome. When volunteers have spent some time observing and assisting they may be comfortable in taking a lesson themselves under the guidance of the teacher. This is always exciting and challenging. However it should be emphasized that the role of the volunteer is to support the teacher and help to relieve workload - a system of "working with" and not "working for" staff.
A volunteer may find children within a class who are struggling to keep up and they will be able to take such groups out of the class and go through the work at a slower rate with greater repetition to enhance learning. Help can also be given in marking homework - often this has to be written out by the teacher by hand as text books are so scarce.
In the afternoons volunteers run a reading club to improve literacy skills. They arrive at the club armed with a box of books and can help in several ways - with difficult words, encouraging the children to read for themselves. Revision groups are also a good way of helping children to keep up in the regular classes. Volunteers will see for themselves the lack of municipal services provided - no refuse collections, no sanitation facilities, poor hygiene etc and there will be opportunities to teach them about hygiene and keeping the environment clean.
There are very limited resources available for extra-curricular activities and volunteers are encouraged to come up with interesting ideas for physical education, music, drama, poetry, drawing, painting etc.
School terms in Kenya generally run from January - March; May - July and September - November with one month holiday breaks in April, August and December. Volunteers whose placement coincides with holiday periods will still have opportunities to be fully involved in the schools, especially those attached to orphanages. However work may be more focussed on practical developmental work in April, August and December. In some orphanages there will be lots of interaction with the children with the focus on fun and games and outings - all of which are thoroughly enjoyed by the volunteers and children alike.
Orphanages and Pre-Schools in Limuru
There are more than one million orphans in Kenya, mostly as a result of AIDS, but only 5% get any support at all. There is therefore a huge need for volunteers to assist in orphanages and children's homes and there are several orphanages in Limuru with which volunteers may become involved. As well as being affected by HIV/AIDS, the children also come from backgrounds of abuse, poverty or illness and they are all in need of some love and attention. The children range in age from 4 - 15 years and many have developmental problems also. The following opportunities are offered:
- helping with teaching the children and developing better learning materials and lesson plans;
- providing general care such as cooking their meals or organising sports and play activities
- assisting the local orphanage workers in offering moral support, training in basic life skills and helping with various rehabilitation programmes;
- building/improving the facilities to make a more comfortable home for the children - perhaps by painting murals on the walls;
- working creatively with the children in arts and sports activities - perhaps finding their hidden talents!
The children are all very energetic and love to play football or basketball with the volunteers, who really can make a real impact on these young lives.
Special Education
This boarding school for children with a range of intellectual impairment was started in September 2009 and it continues to need lots of help, support and development. When it opened 26 boys slept on 7 mattresses but they now all have their own bed and volunteers focus on assisting and training the local staff to implement a daily plan to cater for each child's needs and abilities. Help is also needed to teach the children how to accomplish basic tasks for themselves - this takes lots of patience.
A Day in the Life of ......
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 |
| 8.00 am |
Depart from the office building for the project |
| |
|
| 9.00 am |
Start work at the allocated school |
| 12.30pm |
Lunch break - volunteers take their own packed lunch |
| 3 00 pm - 4.00 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.
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
I really had a fantastic time with both volunteering & overland tours. I have so many stories to share with everybody that sometimes I sit down & wonder if I am making them up....I can't believe all of what I did and saw! I left home feeling both excited and so nervous about spending 9 weeks in Kenya alone on the Teaching & Community Volunteer project, but on arrival I was met by one of the Amanzi Travel guys and felt welcome and safe immediately. After that I was never 'alone' and was welcomed by all age groups and nationalities on the volunteer programme and overland trip. The cottage we stayed in in Limuru was brill and it had everything there to make you feel right at home. The variety of food was great and the staff were wonderful. Working with the kids was amazing and I felt as though as I had a good amount of time to spend in both the orphanage and the primary school. My six weeks was split half and half and by the time I left I felt as though I had seen real changes in the kids I gave extra help too who were usually left behind in the back of the class.
The overland trip was an awesome end to my time in Kenya. The truck was surprisingly comfortable and the staff brilliant. Be prepared to do your duties, cleaning, cooking etc but it's all part of the fun. Most places we stayed in were lovely and had bars for a fun evening. The drive through all the different places was lovely and seeing all the wildlife was amazing. From lions walking in front of you in the Masai Mara, to leopards crossing the road in Lake Nakuru and the magniciant gorillas in Bwindi are only a patch of what I saw. Memories I will have forever and the most fantastic 9 weeks of my life. Thanks for guiding me the right direction Amanzi!
Michelle, Ireland, aged 30 (Kenya Teaching and Community Volunteer, Gorillas and Game Parks 14 Day)
Once again, thanks for arranging a wonderful summer for the girls and for being such a reliable contact throughout their journey. You have indeed been a "gem"...
I will be singing the praises of Amanzi Travel to all who ask.
Megan & Allison, Canada, aged 20 & 23 (Kenya Teaching and Community Volunteer)
Gemma at Amanzi Travel was extremely helpful, professional and promt in her replies ...
To sum up, voluneering with children in Africa, some of which diagnosed with aids or orphaned, was the most rewarding, life changing thing I have ever done. Seeing the childrens faces light up when I brought in a picture story book was so moving, I don’t think they had had a book read to them before, which was heartbreaking to think. Seeing their pure happiness in the small things in life like a new soccer ball, a new pencil or a piece of fresh bread was made me appreciate my own life so much more and realise all that I take for granted. When faced with a difficulty in my life now, I look to the big picture and shake myself out of it when I realise how pathetic and trivial it may be after spending time with children who may very well not live until their 21st birthday. I think everyone should volunteer at sometime in their life, preferably when they are young, to see how lucky we really are and how easy it is to put a smile on someone elses face. I learnt that the more we get, the more we want and the less happy we are. These children taught me to be happy with life itself, not with how much cash I have in the bank.
Overall I loved the experience and would go back to see the children in a heart beat. I found it so rewarding and put my life in perspective.
Our 5 week overland tour was absolutely amazing I loved every second of it. The food was delicious and our guides/driver were lovely. The truck and tents were fine, that's all part of the experience!
Jess, Australia, aged 21 (Kenya Teaching and Community 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)