Pendo Children's Home

  Kenya

• Other Cities in Kenya: 
Rural

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: on going

Description: Located in Narok town in Maasai land and 120 km from Nairobi and founded in 1995 by the A.I.C church together with the child welfare worldwide, Pendo Children's Home has one dormitory that hosts 52 children (all orphaned and 3 disabled) from a radius of 100 km, 5 staff and the home parents Mr and Mrs John Muyendi. The children attend school in the local schools located around the area. The focus of the home is education, health and religion (Christianity). Volunteers are needed to support the centre and to work with the field officer in identifying and collecting needy children from the area. Other activities volunteers can participate in are:

* 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
* Giving a comparison in the education system and giving ideas on how things at the center can be improved.
* Community challenges e.g. Clean-ups, building toilets etc.

What kind of volunteer are we looking for? Any kind of volunteer who can read, speak and write English. Teachers, and community development officers.

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.

Donations: 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.

Highlights: Volunteers will stay in a host family and will learn more about the Maasai culture and visit a few traditional homesteads. Since the volunteer location is near the world famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve volunteers can be arranged for a visit to the game reserve. Also nearby are other other tourist sites like the Lake Nakuru National Park famous for birds and other wildlife.

Qualifications: Any general volunteer who has a love for children; also those who have skills in mentoring, counselling and child care.

Cost in US$: USD 480 two weeks + USD 150 per every extra week

Return trip
30 dollars for the three hour bus ticket to Nairobi from the community.
30 dollars for one night stay at hostel
30 dollars for taxi to the airport from the hostel

Get vaccination/treatment against malaria.
Tell us the local date and time of your arrival.
Tell us the Flight Company and number.

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-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Touch Africa International's Mission Statement: To empower orphans and vulnerable children with quality knowledge to enable them to 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, educational and most of all life changing in short meeting real people in the real world to bring a real change in people's lives.

Year Founded: 2005