Volunteer Abroad in Kenya Africa Makuyu Village Orphanages Children Schools Clinics Volunteering

Volunteer Abroad in Makuyu Village Kenya: Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteer Abroad in Makuyu Kenya: Our volunteer placements are primarily based in a rural town called Makuyu, about 30 miles north of Nairobi. In Makuyu, you will truly experience African life, cultural and language. The closest urban area to Makuyu is Thika, about 20 minutes away by bus. Volunteers work alongside a local grassroots organization assisting needy children in the surrounding rural community. HIV/ AIDS has swept through rural areas, targeting adults ages 30-40 years old. Cultural and social conditions have created an environment where this disease has spread at an uncontrollable rate. This result is the elimination of the parent age of the core society. Parentless children and aging grandparents now compose many communities, unbalancing the socio-economic structure of the region.

The volunteer program goal is to give real hope to as many needy children as possible.

Our program focus is on agriculture, housing, feeding and educating these needy orphans and street children. By implementing sustainable programs and working with the community, our projects work to strengthen the present living conditions to allow all orphans and struggling street kids a chance to survive this crisis.

With our volunteer programs we allow you to discover the wonders of East Africa, while doing meaningful and rewarding community work. This is a great opportunity to explore life in rural Kenya, live and work amongst the locals and realize one person can make a difference Makuyu Villa.

We offer the following programs in Makuyu Village:

Program Length: 1-24 weeks

Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day

Accommodations: Shared volunteer residence or homestay Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day

Requirements: 17 years , open-mindedness to new adventures.

Child Care Assistance

Volunteer at a small orphanage in a farming village of Maragwa, home to over 40 children. The orphanage is a simple structure, with an outdoor kitchen and bathroom, as well as animal sheds with animals, all on 2.5 acres of green fertile land. There are banana, avocado, mango, and coffee trees: a playground for soccer, basketball, and volleyball that let the children forget about the stresses of orphan life. Experience typical African village life, with no electricity but kerosene lamps for lighting, no tap water; but clean well water for drinking and no gas stove but firewood for cooking..

As a volunteer, you will primarily assist with the daily care of the kids; including feeding and clothing, teaching basic English. You can play games, arrange activities, create arts & crafts projects and share your time and caring with these wonderful children. Prior experience not necessary, volunteers should have a lot of patience, an open mind and a sense of adventure.

Teaching/Education Program

Volunteers needed for primary and secondary level school (ages 5yrs-13yrs) to teach English and other subjects. The objective of this program is to contribute to the academic development of the school in order to provide the best opportunity for the orphans to receive quality education. Volunteers support the local teacher; encourage students to learn and play and instill pride in their schooling.

Volunteers can assist with the physical upkeep of the school; painting, decorating, mending desks etc. Most important volunteers should try to develop activities/programs that can be sustained in the future. Prior teaching experience is not required; volunteer simply need an open mind, caring spirit and a compassionate nature.

HIV/Aids Prevention Program

Kenya has been hit hard by the HIV epidemic with approximately 1.8 million adults and over 400,000 children infected. By 2010, it is estimated that up to 30 million children will lose one or both parents to the disease. Volunteers need to work with the local communities to fight the disease.

This project focuses on providing culturally sensitive methods of awareness and education with the goal of preventing transmission of the disease and seeks to offer assistance and encouragement to those infected with the virus.

Some of the activities for volunteers include: Promoting safer sex through education, assisting with home-based care for victims with HIV/Aids, and most especially rural outreach programs to those in need with food distribution, assistance with activities of daily living and providing words of encouragement. Experience in this field is not required. Volunteers with a strong interest in making a difference are welcome.

Sustainable Agriculture Program

Recognizing the long-term physical, emotional, social and economic effects of malnutrition, hunger and poverty, we offer projects that place great emphasis on teaching older children how to grow vegetables and staple food crops. The children learn sustainable techniques to produce basic grains such as maize, beans, rice and peas, and learn how to organically produce garden vegetables and fruits. The farm animals provide the malnourished orphans with protein in the form of meat, eggs and milk. They are also taught to use manure as fertilizer. The children learn how to feed, breed, manage disease and record keep in all areas of animal production. The children will learn how to build and tend fishponds, milk dairy goats, and bee keep. Volunteers with farming experience, or a desire to contribute to physical labor projects are needed.

Youth Sports Program

The goal of this program is to identify and develop the rare talents of these special kids. Exercise of the body is also extremely important for growth development. A coach will be responsible for developing and implementing a physical fitness program for the children as it pertains to the creation of boys and girls soccer teams, netball, volleyball and basketball teams. Coaching or sports experience preferred, but not required. A desire to share your time and spirit with children is necessary.

Program Includes:

Accommodations on-site shared volunteer house, or local home stay. Typical rural conditions - no electricity, well water and basic bathroom facilities. Internet access is 20 bus ride away in Thika. Three meals a day are included and on-site housing staff. Airport transfers on arrival and departure in Nairobi. Our local Project Coordinator will provide orientation tour on arrival, project briefing, an introduction to work placement. Percentage of the fee is donated to the project site.

Tel: 1-215-780-1845 / Toll Free: 1-866-423-3258 / Fax: 1-215-887-0915

volunteers@abroaderview.org - www.abroaderview.org