St. Paul's Street Children's Home

  Kenya

Nairobi

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: on going

Description: This is a children home located at on the slopes of Ngong hills 30 km from in Nairobi, Kenya. The Home was started by Mama Mary in 1983 when it opened its doors to abandoned and orphaned children of all ages. These children all have their own incredible stories of their hardships they have lived through as well as their own testimonies of how God spared them from a life of fear and uncertainties on the streets.

The Home initially started with 200 street children though the effort of Mama Mary and her daughter out of the love for streets boys and girls and the friendship they had established at the time the kids would be housed at Pangani, Nairobi. Later the home to Ngong Bul Bul where they were able to build semi permanent buildings where the children now sleep, eat and learn. Mama Mary started of the home by first sharing the word of God to all these less fortunate children and offering light lunch. This continued until they developed a rapport and later into a parent-child sponsorship. However this was not enough as at night the same children were still exposed to hardships most of them became wiling and followed her at home although it s not possible to accommodate all of them the government donated land to her. The children who have passed nursery school age attend a nearby primary school and come back at home for the evening.

Currently the children come from all over the country namely places like Loitoktok, Kiambu, Kikuyu, Meru, Kakamega, Magadi, Machakos, Muranga, Nyeri and Machakos. They are normally referred to the home by the Kenyan social service department and provincial adminstration. Many children are not hosted by the home due to limited accommodation space. The home caters for children aged between 2- 18 years.

Volunteers are involved in a number of things;
- Recreational programs e.g. playing with the kids during school designated play hours.
- Teaching in the classrooms; subjects English and mathematics.
- Helping the kids organize their books and schoolwork
- Invigilating of exams.
- One on one mentoring of the kids who for example do not have specific interest in education.
- Helping out in the kitchen,
- Assisting in giving food during the lunch feeding programme.
- Giving a comparison in the education system and giving ideas on how things at the center can be improved.
- Community challenges eg. Clean-ups, building toilets etc.

What kind of volunteer are we looking for? Any kind of volunteer who can read, speak and write English. Professional volunteers who can help in the running of the home

Length of Commitment: minimum of two weeks and a maximum of 1 year before renewing the commitment.

Accommodation: It is our policy that all our volunteers to stay with an African host family to learn more about day to day living of an average African home; we have trained selected host families with an experience of handling volunteers with all the care that they need; Some volunteers who come as a group are allowed to stay in the home; we have guest rooms that can be used by visitors. We receive volunteers at the airport and take them to an already booked hostel. We will have a big paper with your name/names on it e.g. JOHN They then rest for one day in the city. The following day we travel by day bus to the community. All this time you will be with a Touch Africa guide.

For young volunteers who are under the age of 18 need Either A letter from parent or guardian to Touch Africa indicating that they have agreed for you to come to this program. This letter can either be mailed to us or you come with it yourself as you come to join our program. Or A letter from the patron of your school club (e.g. interact volunteering club, model UN, community service club, school travel club etc) who should be an adult to tell us that he /she have released you to come to join our program. Or A letter from your school; to tell us that they are happy you have chosen and agreed to come to volunteer and learn more about Africa.

Highlights: Visit to places on interest in the town. One on one interaction with the children who will share with you their moving experiences.

Qualifications: Any General volunteer who has a love for children. Professional volunteers who have skills in financial planning, child care are also invited.

Cost in US$: US$320 two weeks + US$150 per every extra week

Other Assistance: We want to give everybody a chance including those who do not have a donation to give. We appreciate the presence of volunteers and this means a lot to the kids and us; any kind of donation is allowed. We recommend clothing and school materials for kids. Volunteers can also sponsor a child at the rate of US$25 dollars. You can also pray for the home.

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-50yrs

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 10

Application Process Involves:

• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Touch Africa International's Mission Statement: To empower orphans and vulnerable children with quality knowledge to enable them contribute positively towards our national development. To provide shelter , care and education to our children. Revolves around issues of poverty, particularly the lack of education, economic opportunity and environmental concerns. Our goal is to train people to be effective business entrepreneurs, community leaders and global citizens through organizing of community work camps, internships, volunteer programs, community development projects and educational tours which focus on Four key issues of our work foundation namely Reducing poverty; Increasing global cooperation; Sustainable development; equality & social justice; Environmental conservation and protection; we believe in giving everyone a chance to contribute to a better society by organizing affordable programs as listed above and we ensure that they are interactive ,enjoyable ,educative and most of all life changing in short meeting real people in the real world to bring a real change in peoples lives.

Year Founded: 2005