Teach English near Mt. Kenya

  Kenya

Nanyuki

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Departures every month

Description: Be part of it with i-to-i!
Our goal is to achieve 400yrs of combined volunteering all over the world by the end of 2008.

So far we have achieved 325yrs which when broken down means we achieved the following:

- Over 5500 children cared for on our community projects around the world
- A minimum of 13,000 children and adults taught English in schools and community centres
- Hundreds of animals protected including Turtles, Pandas, Elephants, Monkeys and more
- At least 80 homes and structures built for families and communities in need
- More than 8000 trees planted which are enough trees to offset the CO2 emissions of over 2,000 cars

Fancy a walk on the wild side as you befriend African youngsters?

If smiles were money there really wouldn't be a need for these schools to exist and Kenya would be the richest country in the world. Unfortunately despite the resilience they show, too many of the local population live in slums, trapped by abject poverty. Primary education recently became free and schools in the country saw numbers rocket. Such an explosion of new students puts real strain on the meagre resources and volunteers can play a really important role in helping the children make the most of educational opportunities. As you are working with younger children you'll be a teacher, friend, parent and teddy bear all rolled into one and we'll include our TEFL certification to help you prepare!

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
As a volunteer, you will need to show patience and initiative to cope with the sheer volume of children in your classes. Your resources will be limited so you will need to show imagination and creativity to get the most out of your time. Please budget for stationery supplies that you may wish to purchase while in Kenya.

It is important to remember that many of the pupils in these schools come from single-parent families, others have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDs virus and now live in the care of elderly grandparents. Other children have suffered family break-ups or other harsh conditions as a result of their environment. Volunteers will therefore need to be patient, caring and understanding and are called upon to act as a role model, possibly helping with counseling on an informal basis.

You don't need any specific skills, but if you do have experience in any specific subjects it will be a great advantage. To give you a head start with your teaching you will be provided with an i-to-i online TEFL course which is included in the price of this project.

Your role as a volunteer:
Your main role at this project will be to work alongside the staff and teachers at the school to teach English to the children. If you have the confidence you could also get involved in teaching other subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies, Christian education, creative arts (e.g. arts and crafts), music and physical education.

Another important role at the project is to provide companionship, care and love for the children in a 'big brother' or 'big sister' role. You may also find yourself reading to the children and engaging them in recreational activities and sports.

Finally, you will also assist with some of the administration of the school such as documenting case histories.

Where the project is based:
The projects are based in Kiganjo or Narumoru town, near Nanyuki town in the Nyeri District of Kenya. Nayuki town is a popular start point for Mt Kenya treks and sits on the edge of the massive Laikipia plateau which is currently one of Africa's most important wildlife conservation sites. Here local communities and ranches are being encouraged to share their space with local fauna, allowing wildlife to flourish while at the same time decreasing potential human-animal conflict.

Nanyuki has relatively good transport and is well linked to the rest of the country. Facilities are good with several banks, internet cafes, tour operators, and small hotels. There are occasional water and electricity cuts but in general they will be available. Accommodation is in a shared volunteer house.

Please book your flight to arrive into Nairobi Airport (airport code NBO) on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup.

Qualifications: You will need to demonstrate patience and initiative to cope with the sheer volume of children in your classes. Your resources will be limited, so you will need to show imagination and creativity to get the most out of your time.

It is important to remember that many of the pupils in these schools come from single-parent families, while others have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS virus and now live in the care of elderly grandparents. Other children have suffered family break-ups or other harsh conditions as a result of their environment. You will therefore need to be patient, caring and understanding and will act as a role model to the kids, possibly helping with counseling on an informal basis.

You don't need any specific skills, but if you do have experience in any specific subjects it will be a great advantage. To give you a head start with your teaching you will be provided with an i-to-i online TEFL course which is included in the price of this project.

Cost in US$: US$ 1590.00 for 4 weeks, US$ 250.00 for every week thereafter

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Your main role will be to work alongside the staff and teachers at the school to teach English to the children. If you have the confidence, you will get involved in teaching other subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies, Christian education, creative arts (e.g. arts and crafts), music and physical education. Another important role is to provide companionship, care and love for the children in a 'big brother'/'big sister' role. You may also find yourself reading to the children and engaging them in recreational activities and sports. Finally, you will also assist with some of the administration of the school such as documenting case histories.

Age Range: 18 and over

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

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Resume

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994