Volunteer in Kenya and live and work alongside local people making a positive difference to animals, people, rural communities and the environment. There are lots of short and long term worthwhile projects available, you could choose to live as part of a Maasai tribe or help street children in the coastal city of Mombasa!
Best Volunteer Programs in Kenya
• Community Development
• Wildlife Conservation
• Medical Outreach
• Teaching and Sports Coaching
Popular Projects & Locations
Maasai Tribe Village
The Maasai village placement is located 2 hours south west of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, inside the great African Rift valley. This sweeping Rift valley stretches for 3,700 Miles down through Africa and is believed to have been created 22 Million years ago.
A visit to Kenya can be considered getting back to your roots as it is where some of the earliest human fossil remains have been found dating back 200,000 years.
Living in the village with your new adopted family and your new Maasai name you will easily forget about concerns back home and modern life. Lucky visitors may not feel the urgent need to go on safari here as wildlife can often be seen strolling past the village on their way to and from the great plains in Tanzania.
Street Children Project
There are street kids projects located in the coastal city of Mombasa, perfect for history fans and beach lovers. Mombasa was an important Kenyan sea-faring trading post for thousands of years trading in spices, gold and ivory with links with India and China. The historical old town of Mombasa and the Jesus fort is worth a visit.
With an average minimum temperature of 20 Celsius throughout the year, beach fans will be able to enjoy a swim at any time of year, even in July, which many visitors do not realise, is the middle of the Kenyan winter. Getting off the plane from northern Europe you will probably find their mid-winter considerably warmer than our summer as temperatures can still reach 27 Celsius.
These projects can also be combined easily on the same trip by taking the night train sleeper between Nairobi and Mombasa so you needn’t be under pressure to choose just one if you have time to help at both.
Building and Construction in Nakura
Work alongside the local Nakura community to help build homes they are very much in need of. Indeed, there is no social housing scheme here, which forces those who cannot afford their own domicile to live on the streets, or in slums or caves.
Constructing these homes, you can get to know the locals and learn a lot about the various difficulties that face the community – and the developing world as a whole. It is important to remember the work will be very hands-on, and you should be ready to pitch in with whatever needs doing.
Another reason to choose Nakura as your base is that it is a truly beautiful area. Work on the project for one to 12 weeks and spend your free time exploring your stunning surroundings. There are several national parks nearby, including Lake Nakuru National Park, which is famous for its flamingos.
Medical and Healthcare Projects
If you will be 18 years old on arrival and are interested in working in health, there is something for everyone in the Masai. Younger volunteers or anyone not currently on courses at home (nursing/medicine) help at clinics and pharmacies. From registering patients, to observation and working alongside the junior local staff to keep things clean and organised you will learn a lot about working with professionals and the challenges of healthcare in rural Kenya.
Nursing and medical students together with qualified professionals will have opportunities to directly attend to patients with under supervision of the local team. An additional contribution of £75 per week is payable for health placements to cover the following: pre-arrival organisation of placements and liaison with local health teams, on going supervision time and a contribution towards resources.
Volunteering in Kenya FAQ
Climate
Kenya has a tropical climate. Kenya gets a lot of sunshine all year round; however it is usually cooler in the morning and evenings so you will need to take a warm fleece or jumper together with a wooly hat. The hottest period in Kenya is February to March and the coldest is July to August. April to June is the longest rain season. The highest temperature in Kenya is 30 degrees and the lowest is 22 degrees. On the Masai reserve it can be a bit cooler due to the altitude and sweeping plains so best to pack a jumper or two for the evenings and warm pyjamas if visiting between April and June.
Language
Swahili and English (both official) over 200 tribal languages.
What happens on arrival?
If you book a structured programs, on arriving in Nairobi, there will be someone there waiting for you at the airport. The person that picks you up at the airport is a regular driver who collects all volunteers and will usually take you to the volunteer accommodation close by for an orientation and overnight stay. It may be possible to transfer straight to the village depending on time of day and other volunteers arriving. The co-ordinator will explain how things work the next day you will then be transferred to the project. Before heading off to your village you will have an opportunity to stock up on supplies at a supermarket to make sure your stay with your host family is as comfortable as possible whilst you settle in during the first week.
Food
Kenyans make their food from locally sourced produce such as goat, chicken and vegetables with rice. If staying with a host family, you will be provided with three traditional meals per day. These can be starchy so take your extra special treats from home. We recommend you top up with snacks and plenty of drinking water on arrival in Kenya at a supermarket on the way so no need to take everything from home! Long life cartons of milk, juice and long life bread and biscuits are essential due to the walking distance into Ngong town. Masai breakfasts generally consist of Chai (tea), toast, cereal, fruit or Mandazi (deep fried dough). A typical lunch can include meat and vegetables in gravy with rice, or sandwiches and fruit. Dinner, usually served between 7 and 8pm is a more traditional fare of ugali, chapatti, moboga with some meat and vegetables. However there is plenty of time at the weekend to shop for treats and snacks.
What do I need to bring?
Rural Kenyan communities like the Masaai have very few resources and luxuries and without a hectic schedule and electricity time can pass more slowly, so pack extras accordingly. A thick novel or history/culture/Masai of Kenya guide, a journal, a pack of cards, a couple of games to play with the children and adults in the evening. Other basics to include: mosquito net, sleeping bag, pillow and a head torch. A lockable trolley type suitcase can also be more practical to keep the dust out of your clothes for long stay volunteers. If you plan to teach during your stay, may also wish to bring some activity books for primary school age with ideas for Maths and English. Science and Geography might break things up too, most of the children will not know that there are other countries outside of Kenya. A Swahili dictionary will be extremely useful for making conversation. For the new orphanage to open in June 2014 they will be in need of bedding (available cheaply in the UK from Primark or second hand from home) and first aid kits. From Kenya pillows, furniture, reading books and kitchenware can be bought cheaply. Financial donations will be welcomed to help cover food and school uniforms as they grow!
How will I travel around?
It is very easy to get around in Kenya. If you want to get out and explore, transport is usually by matutu, basically a mini-bus. It is not far in miles to get to Nairobi but getting out of a Masai village into town then onto Nairobi can take longer than you would expect it to back home so leave early and stay overnight in Nairobi if you can. Generally volunteers only go back to Nairobi to join a tour or fly home. Ask your coordinator about getting back to the airport at the end of your stay, they will be more than happy to organise this for you.
Health conditions
Yellow fever, malaria, schistosomiasis, cholera, hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, typhoid, HIV/AIDS