| Work at Orphanages in Kenya |
Quick Facts: Orphanage projects in Mombasa, Homabay and Nairobi
Project At A Glance |
Location: Mombasa, Nairobi and Homa Bay in Up country |
Project Summary
Kenya has a lot of orphans who have been affected by the AIDS as well as poverty. There is a need to help kids who have lost their parents through theepidemic. We are presently working with more than 5 local orphanages in the different parts of the city and in Kiambu and Homa Bay district. At this program you mostly help orphans kids by tutoring, home schooling and organizing creative extra curricular activities.
Skills /Qualification
There is no specific qualification needed to join the orphanage volunteer project. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible and patience. You should have passion and love for orphans and children in general.
Volunteers' Responsibilities:
As a volunteer in the orphanage project, you will help tutor the children 
in the orphanage during the day. You will also help kids to stay clean by helping them in brushing teeth, shower, and personal hygiene. During the evening, you will organize sports and games, drawing, singing, dancing, and other creative education and extra curricular activities. Later you will help kids to do homework, monitor academic progress, and make sure kids complete next day's homework.
In the orphanage where the children go to school, during the day administrative work helping in cleaning, cooking, garden work will constitute most of your work.
Room/Food
We arrange for room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. During first, week of language and cultural program, volunteers stay with one of the host family in Nairobi. The home is located 20 min drive from the city giving easy access to most part of the city. The personal assistant/ Guide will pick you up in the morning and bring escort you back to the home after program activity of the day.
During volunteering period, volunteer will stay with a host family or at the orphanage. We arrange a separate room and shared bathroom for volunteers at the orphanage/ host family.
| Teaching Project in Kenya |
Project At A Glance |
Location: Mombasa, Nairobi and up country |
Project Summary
There is a current lack of teachers in most schools, which are located in the outer city areas and villages due to brain drain. The Kenyan education system recently went through major changes when free education was provided to the primary level. More students have are now going to school and so there is a shortage of teachers in the public schools. Volunteers are a welcomed resource. As a teacher volunteer, you will work in the rural schools mostly work under the direction of the head teacher.
Skill/Qualification
Volunteers/Interns interested in teaching must possess some kind of teaching certification, degree in education, have a major in science, math or computer oriented classes. Volunteers without credentials are not allowed to work in this program because of the regulations. The schools require a copy of your resume, clearly stating credentials and education, before your arrival to the project.
Volunteer's responsibilities:
Job responsibilities of volunteers joining as teachers vary with each school (secondary or primary). The schools provide the curriculum and teaching material. Mostly you will work in conjunction with another teacher and you will report to the head teacher.
Room/Food/supervision
We arrange for room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. During first, week of language and cultural program, volunteers stay with one of the host family in Nairobi. The home is located 20 min drive from the city giving easy access to most part of the city.
During volunteering at the teaching project, volunteers will stay with a host family. You will either stay near the center or you walk or will commute to the project by matatu every day. Host families will offer a separate room but you will share the bathroom with them. Our field staff visits you every 2 weeks and maintains contact by phone or through email with volunteers who are placed in farther locations.
| Health Project in Kenya |
Project At A Glance |
Location: Mombasa, Nairobi |
Project Summary
There is an obvious lack of manpower 
and resources in the local hospitals, which are located in the outer city areas and villages and urgently, need volunteers. As a medical volunteer, you will work in these rural health posts and community clinics. You mostly work as an assistant to the doctor. Work responsibilities vary with your education, skill and experience.
Skill/Qualification
Volunteers/Interns interested in joining the volunteer health program must possess health care certification, such as an ID as a medical student, Paramedic certification, or nursing or physician's credentials. Medical volunteers without credentials are not allowed to work in this program because of the potential risk. The hospitals require a copy of your resume, clearly stating credentials and education, before your arrival to the project.
Volunteer's responsibilities:
Job responsibilities of volunteers joining as a medical volunteer vary with education, skills, experience, and qualifications. Volunteers/Interns are not allowed to perform the major identification or surgery works. Most of the time volunteers help doctors or work as an assistant to doctors. Volunteers measure BP, temperature, height, weight Assist doctors and medical staffs with health center tasks. You also help in health camps (if any), distribute medicines, provide tips to patients on health, nutrition and sanitation and counseling patients, and involve yourself in the treatment for minor injuries or wounds and keeping patient records.
Room/Food/supervision
We arrange for room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. During first, week of language and cultural program, volunteers stay with one of the host family in Nairobi. The home is located 10 min drive from the city giving easy access to most part of the city.
During volunteering in the health project, volunteers will stay with a host family. You will either stay near the center or you will commute to the project by matatu every day. Host families will offer a separate room but you will share the bathroom with them. You can find the details of arrangement for room/food in placement sheets provided you. Our field staff visits you every 2 weeks and maintains contact by phone or through email with volunteers who are placed in farther locations.
| AIDS Project in Kenya |
Project At A Glance |
Location: Mombasa, Nairobi, Homa Bay, Kwale |
Project Summary
There is obvious lack of manpower and resources in the local hospitals, which are located in the outer city areas and villages and urgently, need volunteers. As a medical volunteer, you will work in these rural health posts and community clinics. You will mostly work as an assistant to the doctor. Work responsibilities vary with your education, skill and experience.
Skill/Qualifications
There is no specific education, experience, skills and/or qualifications needed to join the HIV/AIDS project. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible and patient as well as possess a passion and love for the poor and HIV-infected people as well as the willingness to learn.
Volunteer's Responsibilities:
Job responsibilities of volunteers joining as an AIDS volunteer vary with education, skills, experience, and qualifications. Most of the time volunteers help in counseling, feeding program (if the centre has one), visiting patients and their families, and participating in public Aids awareness and behavior change communication activities. Providing tips to community and patients on health, nutrition and sanitation and keeping patient records will be part of your task.
Room/Food/supervision
We arrange for room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. During first, week of language and cultural program, volunteers stay with one of the host families in Nairobi. The home is located 20 min drive from the city giving easy access to most part of the city.
During volunteering at the AIDS project, volunteers will stay with a host family. You will either stay near the center or you will commute to the project by matatu every day. Host families will offer a separate room but you will share the bathroom with them. You can find the details of arrangement for room/food in placement sheets provided you. Our field staff visits you every 2 weeks and maintains contact by phone or through email with volunteers who are placed in farther locations.
| COMPUTER PROGRAMME |
This is a new programme to promote Information technology in the rural areas and in the slums. The programme is striving to provide affordable and appropriate computer equipment and services to partner organizations and schools. Computer literacy has become the engine of development all over the world. Africa is always marginalized in Information, Communication and Technological advancements of Europe and North America. Action Africa Volunteer plans to bridge the digital divide especially in the rural areas through an ambitious programme of computer mobilization and distribution in the rural areas. You will also volunteer in the digital villages being set up in the districts to promote ICT. You will teach the use computers to the local youth and children. .You are welcome to donate an old computer or lap top to support the programme.
Room/Food/supervision
We arrange for room, food, and supervision for volunteer from the start to the end of program. During first, week of language and cultural program, volunteers stay with one of the host families in Nairobi. The home is located 20 min drive from the city giving easy access to most part of the city.
During volunteering at the ICT Project, volunteers will stay with a host family. You will either stay near the center or you will commute to the project by matatu every day. Host families will offer a separate room but you will share the bathroom with them. You can find the details of arrangement for room/food in placement sheets provided you. Our field staff visits you every 2 weeks and maintains contact by phone or through email with volunteers who are placed in farther locations
Language and Culture Program in Kenya |
Day 1: Orientation at Nairobi Host Home
In Nairobi, volunteers will join an orientation covering Kenya’s religion, language, culture, history, customs, politics, and geography. Also, participants will be briefed on necessary health and travel precautions. Volunteers are welcome to discuss any issues that interest them as well as ask any questions. Swahili language and cultural immersion classes continues. (2-3 hours), rest is free time. Volunteers will have time to visit Maasai market in Nairobi/Gigiri
Day 2: Swahili language and cultural immersion classes continues. (2-3 hours), rest is free time. A tour of the city area to familiarize the volunteers with different shops, cyber cafés, the city market, bus stops etc. Areas visited are flexible. Swahili language class continues (2-3 hours). Cooking session in the afternoon. Volunteers can learn how to make a Kenyan dish or they can teach host how to make their cultural meal. (This is an option)
Day 3: Culture day. Volunteers will travel to a rural home to spend a day at the village. On the way a stopover at the world famous viewpoint, is a must for photo shoots. From here one can see the famous Rift Valley floor and its salt - water lakes. After dinner there is a story-telling time by the elderly (translation will take place), around the bonfire while drinking chai or uji. Volunteers will have an opportunity to practice their language skills. Stories include: life during the colonial days, traditions events, folktales or songs by the children. This is another opportunity for volunteers to ask questions and practice what they have learnt so far.
Day 4: Volunteers will embark on a three day safari that may take them to different choices such as the game park to see wild life in Masaai Mara, mountain climbing in Mt Kenya or to Lake Victoria.
Day 8: Closing of orientation program and departure for respective project placement
What’s Included in Program Fee
- Food: Action Africa offers 3 meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner). We offer locally available, fresh and nutritious food from start to end day of the project.
- Accommodation: Volunteers will either stay with a host family, within a hostel or within a home base. We offer simple but clean, comfortable living spaces. Volunteers will stay either in a single or shared room depending on the host situation and peak versus off-peak seasons. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags and other accessories.
Other Services Offered
Action Africa provides a highly qualified and dedicated people to answer your phone call 247/ 365.
- 24-hour medical assistance
- Medical evacuation assistance
- Legal assistance
- Lost documents assistance
- 24 hour emergency travel assistance (change tickets, book cars, hostels and hotels)
- Concierge services (book events & restaurants, airport transfers,
- Airport Welcome: Upon the receipt of your flight information, our country coordinator or other project staff will receive the volunteers in the airport and take you to your project site or to our hostel. The address and telephone number of the local contact hotel will be given before departure just in case volunteers miss our representative in the airport. Please make sure to e-mail your flight information to our project coordinator.
- In-country transportation: Action Africa manages one-way transportation to project site. Volunteers will be responsible for their own personal and return travel although a member of the project staff will be sponsored by Action Africa to accompany the volunteer back to Nairobi.. We do not cover daily transportation from host family/hotel to the project. Volunteers will be responsible for their personal and return travel. Our program is designed to save you the volunteer as much as possible. Rarely, a few do request an escort back to the airport; this is an extra expense of about $ 30. Most are very familiar and comfortable with their stay and have great ease taking their own taxi or bus back to the airport. In some cases some Volunteers have made local friends wiling to see them off to the airport.
- Support from the in-country coordinator: From the very beginning to the end of the project, Action Africa's Project Coordinator will help volunteers by supporting them with regular personal visits, telephone or e-mail.
- Thoroughly researched and personalized projects: Action Africa offers the best projects that focus on matching the interests, skills and experiences of volunteers with their volunteer humanitarian work. Our caring, experienced, Country coordinator networks on your behalf and explores the best local organizations and handpicks the perfect program for each volunteer. Volunteers will receive before departure detailed information of their project including your volunteer work program, living arrangements and food.
- SAFE Volunteer Placement. We will strive to place you in a safe humanitarian volunteer work placement. You will be able to do good works for those most in need; thus, you will make this world a better place.
- Pre-departure information: Action Africa's comprehensive pre-departure booklet offers detailed information on issues that will concern volunteers, such as health, safety and culture shock.
- Volunteer Care and Other Services: Action Africa's staff is always willing to support volunteers by answering all of the volunteers' questions and providing the best advice on fundraising and other issues, like health, culture, excursions, travel, passport and visa, safety and special events.
- Emergency support: If you need, Action Africa will provide you with 2-3 mobile telephone numbers of the local staffs for emergency support (these numbers are available for use at all times—24/7. Volunteers will also get contact details to pass along to your family before departure. Please let us know if you need the mobile numbers of our local staffs before departure.
- Certificate of Appreciation/Completion: once you complete you volunteer project, we will give you a certification of appreciation, an accomplished and important addition for your professional resume.
- Fund Raising Ideas: Many Action Africa successfully raise fund for their volunteer abroad trip. We would be glad to supply you with an effective introduction letter from the organization for your self-fundraising.
Applying for the volunteer program
(How can I apply? What happens when I apply? Do you guarantee placement? How long does it take to receive confirmation?)
Please read the 4-step application process
There are two options for applying to Kenya’s volunteer programs. You can apply online (http://www.actionafricavolunteers.org. Participants are required to submit their application with a $300 application fee plus the program fee for the number of weeks you choose. However to simply start the process, all that is needed upfront is a $200 deposit which will be deducted from the final invoice. This non-refundable deposit from you is required to ensure the validity of the application and the seriousness of your application as we immediately confirm plans for you.
Click here for more on what happens when you arrive in Kenya