KENYA MEDICAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
LIMURU, KENYA

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 one or two days each week in Nairobi - visiting and assisting in the slums, and the majority of their time in Limuru and the surrounding communities - giving a really diverse experience of life in Kenya. 

Kenya's population is badly affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment. While structures are in place for an effective health service, staff and resources are in short supply and volunteers have many opportunities to make an impact on the lives of those affected by these problems.  Volunteers with a medical inclination can help in the Kikuyu Hospital, a busy place treating more than 350 patients each day. HIV and AIDS has created more than one million orphans in Kenya and the orphanages and homes in Limuru welcome volunteers who can offer much needed one-to-one attention for the youngsters - aged between 4 and 15 years of age - many of whom are suffering from developmental problems and who need a little love and care to come into their young lives.  Volunteers can also make a real difference to the lives of the people who live in the slums of Nairobi where mortality is high as is unemployment and disease. Here volunteers can help in the local clinic and public health centres or accompany the medical staff on visits to rural communities. The list is endless - and volunteers are desperately needed to help with all these projects.  Volunteers to this project should be 18 years of age or over.

	Location:	LIMURU, KENYA	Dates:	Any date throughout the year.
	Fees:	£845 - 2 weeks £1,285 - 4 weeks £1,725 - 6 weeks	Payment:	£180 deposit at time of booking – balance payment of project fee due 12 weeks before departure
	Reference:	AV024

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 due to study, or currently studying medicine or who are qualified in a medical field suited to the hospital's' needs and requirements
• 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 a role in teaching and looking after the children there
• Take a look at life in the slums of Nairobi and then use your time to make a real difference to this poor and desperate community
• 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 your fellow volunteers 

General Information

Kenya's population is hugely affected by the struggles of HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment. It is known to be one of the poorest countries in Africa. There are countless possibilities to make an impact on the lives of those that are affected by these problems, such as in the Nairobi slums, surrounding orphanages, schools, and hospitals.

Public sector services in Kenya - including health and social care - are poor. Although the infrastructure for an effective service is in place, staff and resources are scarce - and the help provided by volunteers is much appreciated by doctors and nurses alike.  All volunteers will play an active part in the community support programme in the slums of Nairobi for two days a week. The remainder of the time will be spent either in the Kikuya Hospital, public health centres or the orphanages/pre-schools in Limuru, a beautiful area just outside Nairobi where the volunteers will be based.

Volunteers will spend every Tuesday in the one of the community or teaching projects in the Nairobi slums and every alternative Wednesday will be spent assisting at a Limuru Feeding Programme which serves over three hundred destitute elderly and vulnerable people who often walk over two hours to get to the programme. Both qualified and non-qualified volunteers can join this project and the afternoon will be spent in a school for children with intellectual and physical disabilities, either assisting with renovating the school or working and socialising with the children.  Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays will be spent at one of the medical, community or teaching projects.  The skills and interests of volunteers will be taken into account when matching them to a relevant project so that they get the very best from their time in Africa.

Medical Opportunities

Kikuyu Private Hospital

Kikuyu is a large general hospital offering medical care to this community regardless of their ability to pay for treatment.  The hospital is therefore extremely busy and doctors may treat around 350 patients each day.  It is a great environment for volunteers who are wishing to undertake a medical elective for which an extra administration fee of approximately $50 is payable to this hospital.

Although this hospital is particularly well-known for its specialised eye unit it has a variety of departments and wards such as maternity, orthopaedics, HIV and diabetic clinic, 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.

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.

Medical Outreach:  Home Visits in Kawaida Village

This initiative is run by a local community health worker and six untrained community field workers.  It aims to act as the middle man between the public health centres and the destitute and vulnerable who often do not have access to proper medical care.  The community based initiatives offer services in:

• home based care/economic empowerment
• dressing of wounds
• HIV care and counselling (VCT)
• treating of jigger infestation (sand fleas which dig into the skin under toenails causing major infection)
• community awareness of various health issues
• training of staff
• guidance and counselling (working with the youth of the community|)

This is a new medical project that exposes participants to a wide range of health care issues within the boundaries of a small African village.  Volunteers get the opportunity to assist in treating patients afflicted with jiggers, TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, cancer and elephantitis, while also getting to witness the community's culture, economy and the major limitations of the health care system.  Many of the health care issues present are common in most of the rural areas in the country and even the continent.  The challenges presented by the lack of resources encourage volunteers and community health workers to get their heads together to find ways to help the community in dealing with their health issues.  The medical knowledge that volunteers bring to Kawaida is badly needed and much appreciated by the local community.

Nairobi Slum, Clinic:

Challenged by the problem of an increase in child mortality and a decline in maternal health, coupled with an alarming rate of HIV/AIDS-related complications, a local clinic has been created to play a part in helping to provide health solutions to the slum population of around 62,000 people.  Volunteers will have the opportunity to help in this clinic - located on the outskirts of the slums - which provides services such as maternal and child health, family health care, curative health care, primary health care, voluntary counselling and testing and training in health and HIV/AIDS awareness.  Volunteers help with administration as well as working hand-in-hand with the nurses or visiting doctor.  There is also an extra optional opportunity to assist with the vaccination clinic which takes place every Saturday morning where nursing staff can often deal with more than 300 children in the morning alone.  There is always a need for an extra pair of hands.

Community and Teaching Opportunities

Orphanages/Pre-Schools in Limuru

AIDS is largely responsible for creating more than a million orphans in Kenya, of which only 5% receive any form of support.  Volunteers play an invaluable role in helping these children - with ages ranging between 4 and 15 - in the orphanages and homes.  In addition to HIV and AIDS the children have often been affected by abuse, poverty or sickness and are in need of love and attention.  Some particularly suffer from developmental problems and need individual attention to stimulate them.  Within the orphanages there are opportunities to:

• Help to teach and care for the children, perhaps cooking their meals, or organizing sports activities and games, all of which help towards their well being.
• Assist orphanage workers in offering moral support and guidance to the children, teaching of basic life skills and activities connected with various rehabilitation programmes.
• Create and teach the children arts and sports activities to help them make creative use of their time and perhaps find hidden skills and talents!
• Helping to make the orphanages more like home for the children - perhaps painting murals on the walls to brighten up the rooms or there may even be the opportunity to help with small building works. Whatever skills the volunteers have will be put to good use.
• Just spending time with the children - which will have an enormous impact on their learning and development.

Mukuru Slums Clinic and Community Support, Nairobi

More than 85% of the mortality in Kenya occurs in the slum areas where there is high unemployment, poor housing and drainage, and where many people die of HIV/AIDS related or water-borne diseases.  The shanty houses in the area are made from torn up cardboard, recycled wood or old iron sheets. Each house has one room of about 2 sq metres in which the whole family live. One single latrine (pit) is used by up to 20 families and there is high unemployment amongst these people.  Volunteers will help the teachers at local slum school by enhancing the educational environment in the classroom, assisting with extra lessons and the reading lab for children needing one-to-one attention, and planning sports days and outside play time.  Volunteers will need to think out of the box for ideas as space is often a challenge!

Adult Community Work

There are also great opportunities to work with adults in the community with food relief and income generating projects, some of which include:

• a bi-weekly feeding programme which aims to assist over 300 elderly and destitute people living in villages surrounding Limuru;
• assisting in a baking programme established by the church committee which completely supports a pre-school, which offers free education and support to vulnerable and severely impoverished children and orphans;
• test out marketing and business skills by assisting a group of HIV positive women to get a bead working project to a successful and sustainable level able to support all seven members and their families; alternatively, host health talks and workshops with the women to encourage them to speak up and speak out on issues of HIV/AIDS, poverty and abuse to their communities.
• help the special needs children of the Mukeu Special Unit particularly in renovating their accommodation and classroom, and assist with a skills development and life skills programme for them; or socialise with the children and help all those working with the schools - from church committee to teachers and caregivers - to improve their quality of life.  

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 and Friday

7:30am	Get up and start getting ready for the project
8.00am	Breakfast at Brackenhurst (the volunteer base in Limuru) - self service
8:30am	Head off on the short drive to the project - anything from 20 minutes to 1.5 hour's drive
9/10am	Start work at the allocated placement - local orphanages, nursery schools, medical clinics
12:30pm	Lunch break - packed lunch will either be provided or volunteers take their own snacks and a hot meal is prepared for them when they return from the project
15:00pm	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.

Please note that on Friday afternoons volunteers have the option of going to Village Market, a large shopping centre 20 minutes' drive from the home base, where they can change money, do some shopping, post letters home, have a luxury coffee and a piece of cake or enjoy a cultural experience at the Masai Market.

Tuesday

6:30am	An early morning - get up and get ready for the project - and then hit Nairobi's traffic.  Remember to pack a snack/fruit to last until late lunch at 3.00 pm
7:00am	Self service breakfast at Brackenhurst
7:30am	Leave for the slums - this is quite a long drive (1 - 1.5 hours), but Nairobi traffic is an experience of a lifetime!
10:00am	Help in the local medical clinics or schools or become involved in the home-based care
12:30pm	Help with marking books and preparing lessons or sports for the afternoon session
15:30pm	Home time - be collected by the co-ordinator/driver
Evenings	As above - volunteers will arrive home from the slums at approximately 1700 hours

Wednesday

Every second Wednesday volunteers will head to Limuru to assist in distributing food to 300 destitute elderly people; alternate Wednesday mornings will allow time to prepare lessons, do some research, make teaching aids, writing reports, evaluation of the placement and recommendations - or even a much needed lie-in!

8.000am	Enjoy a lie-in
8.15am	Self service breakfast at Brackenhurst
8:30am	Leave for the feeding programme in Limuru town or prepare for a day of planning and research
11.30am	Return to Brackenhurst for an early lunch prepared by the chef
12:30pm	Leave for the Rift Valley and a school for disabled children, or a local medical outreach project to assist in cleaning and renovation
16:30pm	Head home and enjoy a refreshing shower or swim in the country club pool
Evenings	As above - volunteers will arrive home by approximately 17.00/17.30

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.

Optional Excursions

These are not included in the project fee, but the project managers are able to assist with making the necessary booking arrangements.

Safari

Kenya offers a variety of safari options, not far from its bustling capital, Nairobi, perfect for a weekend 'get-away'.   Below is a popular options that will enable volunteers to experience more of this spectacular part of Africa.

The Masai Mara

Most visitors to Kenya make time to experience the Masai Mara National Reserve, the northern extension of the Serengeti.  Well known for the renowned migration of 1.4 million wildebeest (usually between July and November), the Masai Mara is famous for its prolific game-viewing and abundance of predators all-year round, and boasts the country's highest wildlife density.  Spend your days exploring the beautiful surroundings and searching for those unforgettable wildlife encounters. The Mara experience is a must and will never disappoint.

Support

Support and advice is available from the Project Managers whilst on the project and from the UK Amanzi Travel Team.
Find out more about Amanzi Travel support

Orientation

A comprehensive information pack will be sent to all volunteers upon booking their trip and further advice and information will be provided via telephone and email before departure. A full two-day orientation will be provided on arrival at the project by the project co-ordinator including information on the current status of the projects and familiarisation with the local staff and surroundings.

Volunteers will receive relevant information about common diseases and illnesses that you will probably come into contact with (eg HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria etc).

Accommodation and Meals

Volunteers will stay at the Brackenhurst Baptist International Centre, where 2 x 2-bedroomed cottages are kept for the volunteers. Brackenhurst provides secure accommodation with everything needed.  Internet and phone services are readily available.

Rooms will be shared (maximum of four in one room) and are fully furnished. A cook will be provided in the kitchen of one of the cottages.  Also included are daily laundry and house keeping services.  One of the cottages also provides a great lounge area with a fireplace and satellite TV, which is a wonderful social area for all volunteers.

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 allowed on the premises of Brackenhurst.  However, 20 minutes drive away is a lovely restaurant where volunteers can have a couple of drinks in the evenings.

Three meals a day will be provided.  Breakfast is on a help-yourself basis and usually consists of cereals/porridge, toast, tea and coffee.  Lunch and dinner are full meals, and will be provided.  Lunches may also be packed or there may be local lunches at the placement.

Getting There

Volunteers should fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya where they will be met on arrival and transferred to the accommodation.

(There may be a number of ways to reach this destination airport - for further information or advice please contact Amanzi Travel)
Let Amanzi Travel arrange you flights for you

Fees

What is 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
• "On-the-job" educational activities and support from project staff
• Accommodation 
• Three meals a day
• Laundry and domestic service

What is excluded

• Personal travel insurance (to include cover for repatriation)
• Return flights to Nairobi International Airport
• 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