Description

* Orphanage Support and Education
At this project volunteers support a growing orphanage in the farming town Maragwa located in the Central Highlands of Kenya. The orphanage is home to almost 70 children. Most of these children are rescued from the streets of Nairobi, or have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. The children are provided a comfortable home, food and education by the orphanage director and his staff.

The orphanage is a simple 3-4 building structure located in an agricultural area surrounded by green fertile land. Meals are provided by a local cook. The children are provided education and also taught how to farm; there are acres of banana, avocado, mango, and coffee trees. The orphanage provides housing for our volunteers; dormitory setting. The orphanage recently has received electricity and a new water pump, so there is access to fresh water and for bathing. Toilet facilities are detached and enclosed outside. As a volunteer, you will primarily assist with the daily care of the kids; including feeding and clothing, teaching basic English. You can play games, arrange activities, create arts & crafts projects and share your time and caring with these wonderful children. Prior experience not necessary, volunteers should have a lot of patience, an open mind and a sense of adventure.

* HIV / Aids - Heath Care programs
Kenya has been hit hard by the HIV epidemic with approximately 1.8 million adults and over 400,000 children infected. By 2010, it is estimated that up to 30 million children will lose one or both parents to the disease. Volunteers with medical experience (medical/nursing students and professionals) will support the local Makuyu clinic which is located about 20 minutes walk from the orphanage.

For those without medical experience (pre-med/nursing students, public health) you can help promote HIV/Aids education and information with the goal of preventing transmission of the disease.

Some of the activities for volunteers include: Promoting safer sex through education, assisting with home-based care for victims with HIV/Aids, and most especially rural outreach programs to those in need with food distribution, assistance with activities of daily living and providing words of encouragement. Volunteers with a strong interest in making a difference are welcome. To work in this rural clinic you must be a 3rd or 4th year medical student or trained professional. There is very limited equipment and staff and volunteers must be able to provide hands on assistance to the staff. (This is not a program for observation).

* Sustainable Agriculture Program
Recognizing the long-term physical, emotional, social and economic effects of malnutrition, hunger and poverty, we offer projects that place great emphasis on teaching older children how to grow vegetables and staple food crops. The children learn sustainable techniques to produce basic grains such as maize, beans, rice and peas, and learn how to organically produce garden vegetables and fruits. The farm animals provide the malnourished orphans with protein in the form of meat, eggs and milk. They are also taught to use manure as fertilizer. The children learn how to feed, breed, manage disease and record keep in all areas of animal production. The children will learn how to build and tend fishponds, milk dairy goats, and bee keep. Volunteers with farming experience or a desire to contribute to physical labor projects are needed.

* Youth Sports Program
The goal of this program is to identify and develop the rare talents of these special kids. Exercise of the body is also extremely important for growth development. A coach will be responsible for developing and implementing a physical fitness program for the children as it pertains to the creation of boys and girls soccer teams, netball, volleyball and basketball teams. Coaching or sports experience preferred, but not required. A desire to share your time and spirit with children is necessary.

Program Includes:

Accommodations on-site at the Makuyu orphanage center. Dormitory style bedding, with electricity, access to fresh water and basic outhouse toilet/bathing facilities. Internet access is 20 bus ride away in Thika. Three meals a day are included and on-site housing staff. Airport transfers on arrival and departure in Nairobi, including first night hotel accommodations on arrival.

Location: Makuyu Village

Our local Project Coordinator will provide orientation tour on arrival, project briefing, an introduction to work placement.

Highlights

Volunteer Abroad in Makuyu Kenya: Our volunteer placements are primarily based in a rural town called Makuyu, about 30 miles north of Nairobi. In Makuyu, you will truly experience African life, cultural and language. The closest urban area to Makuyu is Thika, about 20 minutes away by bus. Volunteers work alongside a local grassroots organization assisting needy children in the surrounding rural community. HIV/ AIDS has swept through rural areas, targeting adults ages 30-40 years old. Cultural and social conditions have created an environment where this disease has spread at an uncontrollable rate. This result is the elimination of the parent age of the core society. Parentless children and aging grandparents now compose many communities, unbalancing the socio-economic structure of the region.

We offer the following programs in Makuyu Village:

* Important: At this location we can only offer placements from 1 to 8 weeks
* Program Date: Flexible Start and End Date
* Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day
* Accommodations: On-site dormitory setting
* Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
* Requirements: 17 years +, acceptance of basic living conditions

Note: You must bring your own mosquito net or buy it at the local store.

* To be successful volunteering with a local NGO you need to be able to motivate yourself. Regardless of the country and program, to get the most out of your time abroad you need to quickly get to know the placement.

Find out where you can be of the most help and jump right in. Sometimes you might be the only person working on your particular project. You will have to decide what to do and how to do it. While our ABV Directors and local staff are a great resource for getting ideas and talking about your plans, you shouldn't be surprised when they leave the big decisions up to you. Successful ABV Volunteers all have one thing in common: they take advantage of this freedom to design really excellent projects or manage existing ones and are capable of working hard without a great deal of supervision.

Qualifications

- Proactive: Jump in and maintain a positive attitude.
- Patient: Life in your host country moves slower than one might be used to. Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember, not everything is as organized and predictable as life in the US or UK.
- Flexible: Plans change, roads get flooded, and electricity goes out. Realize that not everything goes as planned, but good intention is always there.
- Considerate: Respect those around you and be a reliable worker at the program site. Tell your host family if you will be late. Advise the Project Coordinator if you are sick and can not work.
- Respectful: Remember that the local people you are working with, side by side, do so with little or no salary. They do this work because they believe in it. There are times when you may not agree with or understand the organizations decisions or direction. Although your suggestions are always welcome, your faith, respect and consideration for their long term work and commitment is appreciated.
- Friendly: In order to truly help someone you must get to know them. Do not be afraid to make friends with the local people. Smile, wave and see how fast you are welcomed into the community.
- Tolerant: The food, the culture, the smells and the sounds will be unfamiliar to you at first. We recommend that you dive in and experience life head-on. You will be surprised at how quickly you will adapt.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

795 - Check Our Website for updates

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

- Pre-departure Orientation Guide. Includes detailed travel, safety and cultural information and many tips that will make your trip planning easier.
- Detailed Fundraising Guide that will help you raise the funds needed to travel, as well as provide donations to the project. Ask us about a Widget
- Accommodations: Home stay, shared volunteer residence, guesthouses. Safe, clean, comfortable local housing, inspected by our local coordinators.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Special meals at request.
- Airport meet and greet by our ABV project coordinator (At any time, any day!)
- First night hotel accommodation *some programs
- Guidance and support of a local project coordinator, 24/7 in case of emergency
- Orientation/city briefing on arrival by our ABV project coordinator.
- Placement in a quality project, allowing you to maximize your time and efforts in a good cause.
- Transportation to project site with our ABV project coordinator. Includes introduction to local staff and community members with whom you will be working with.
- Volunteer Program: Half day (4 hours only) Spanish refresher Lesson. Part of volunteer orientation on arrival. (*Some countries)
- Departure transfer by our ABV project coordinator.
- A Feedback page on our ABV website with pictures of your trip.
- The Presidents Volunteer Service Award lapel pin (Bronze, Silver or Gold)
- Personalized Presidents Volunteer Service Award certificate of achievement.
- Letter of completion from A Broader View Volunteers Corp
- By request, A Letter of Recommendation provided by the local organization detailing the activities developed by the volunteer during his or her stay.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18 to 65

This Program is open to

American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of varies check website

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hours

A Broader View Volunteers Corp's Mission Statement

Decided to create an affordable, safe and worthy program so that anyone who wished to travel and volunteer - could easily afford to do so.

Year Founded

2007