Volunteer at Orphanage / School in Nairobi, Kenya

  Kenya

Nairobi

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All year

Description: A great chance of working in an orphanage and school at the same time. The center comprises of a home and a school. Once placed, a volunteer could decide to work in either of the departments - cook for the children, feed them, teach them, help with laundry, mop the floor, give those who are sick their medication and soothe them to sleep one at a time. At present, the center is short of staff and most of the above chores are taken care of by a slim staff collectively with the children. The children are from different backgrounds hence, have different emotional problems in addition to societal effects that range from grinding poverty to HIV/AIDS. Others are from broken homes, where they were physically abused. This category of children together with those affected by HIV need special care, child psychiatric services and above all, friends whom they can trust and open up to - a motherly, fatherly, brotherly or a sisterly figure - a shoulder to lean on, sow hope and reap something in life. There are also those who have never known a mum or a dad - these are children who were either found abandoned by the road side or whose parents are long dead from HIV/AIDS. Therefore other than material insufficiencies, Nairobi children's home is a mix of emotions that needs every one of us.

Highlights: Many who have visited East African cities, have an impression that, "Nairobi is East Africa's hub of fun". The city is awash with standard fun bobbling joints for the young and the old alike. Nairobi is the only city in the world where one can go for a game drive in the wild, thus, weekends out to the Nairobi National Park could be in order. There is also the Nairobi Safari Walk, Animal orphanage, a giraffe and an elephant sanctuary, where one could get to kiss a giraffe lip to lip. For a cultural night out a visit to the Bomas of Kenya, will leave you thrilled and educated about various Kenyan traditional cultures, music and history. One could also climb Mount Longonot, two hours drive from the city, for skilled climbers, Inspire Kenya will be more than glad to organize her volunteers a climb up Africa's second highest point - Mount Kenya. The mountain's icy peaks of Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5,189m) are accessible only to experienced mountaineers, Kenyans are uniquely hospitable people, intelligent and out going. A chat with them over an exclusively refined drink after a hard day's work could be equally a fun.

Qualifications: This placement is suitable for people from all walks and strips of life with an interest in fellow human beings' plights and sufferings. For young people, they should be able to bear hash realities of life with regard to the levels of suffering and situations the children live under.

Cost in US$: see website for latest offers

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: This program would best suit any one with a humane heart. Someone willing to reach out and inspire hope where there might be none, someone with a niche to leave the world a better place that he/she found it.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Resume
• Written Application

Inspire Kenya's Mission Statement: To send groups of people to Kenya to contribute to the people and culture in a productive and meaningful way.

Year Founded: 2006