What inspired you to work for Because ALL Children Matter?
I have always dreamed of working in International Development in some form or another, but when I really started to make steps toward this was after I volunteered in Nepal for three months, in 2014. It was an incredible experience, I fell in love with the people, the language, the culture, and I knew I wanted to carry on helping people wherever, whenever I could.
Distributing sanitary products to girls at a special needs boarding school
Describe a typical day at work.
It is always different working for Because ALL Children Matter. It involves a lot of networking, grants research, fundraising, research and administration, but it is always interesting and most of all fulfilling! This is just part of it though. On the ground it is different. When I went to Kenya to see how our organisation runs on a daily basis, I realised I just can't always predict what the day will bring. It does involve spending lots of time with children, though, supporting them and their families, and of course having fun with them!
Why do you do what you do?
Because I love volunteering and trying to make a difference, no matter how small. I think every child deserves a happy life, and I want to contribute to making that happen.
What is your favorite part of your job?
It's difficult to choose just one thing! Spending time with the people we support, communicating with the other board members and fundraising is really enjoyable because I love getting the wider public involved with our work.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I have gained many useful skills from my Master's in Peace and Development, such as how to write effective funding or grants applications and how to manage projects in the development sector. The degree also gave me a great basis for networking as many of my tutors work for international NGOs. This has helped me ways I would never have imagined. My volunteering experiences abroad have also taught me valuable lessons about respecting different cultures, something crucial to international work.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Online crowd-funding projects: The Street is NO Place for a Child. This project will build a rehabilitation centre for children that live on the streets of Nairobi. We are also working on a project to help girls who lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene. I am also currently starting to put together an idea for a fundraising event in the near future for our street children project.
Me at orientation with the Kenyan Occupational Therapist volunteers
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Get all required vaccinations. Try not to have overly fixed expectations. Kenya is a beautiful and unpredictable place with many contrasts, so be open-minded. Also, bring an open heart because the children will definitely fill it!
What makes Because ALL Children Matter special?
Because it protects the most vulnerable high risk children and their families, giving you the opportunity to really make a difference. It is also run by a diversely skilled team of Kenyan and international volunteers, which makes the experience that more interesting and unique!
Why should someone choose Because ALL Children Matter over competitors?
Because at the core of it is a true passion to help children and their families. Deanne Berarcducci (CEO and heart of the organisation) set this up simply because she cannot see children mistreated, and she chose the board staff based on the organisations and her own values.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
To keep growing, which it will, and to build a rehabilitation centre for street children, which it will. I also have high hopes for attracting many interested and passionate volunteers.
What makes Because ALL Children Matter easy to market to potential participants?
It is not as expensive as many other volunteer placements and we also have a wide range of different volunteer programs, giving people a great choice of how they wish to help.
Outside with our UK Volunteer and the children at Kimuchu special needs unit.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
To install love and integrity into vulnerable children and their families lives, to bring hope and happiness to those that often get forgotten or left behind. We work towards this by empowering communities which we do as a team, building new projects and making partnerships with other organisations to do so.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
The knowledge that they have truly helped people, made an impact and made friends. But most of all, I would love people to take away with them the memories of having fun along the way!
How do you help support participants?
By making sure they are always safe and that we are always there if they need any guidance, help, or support. We have an excellent and fast-response communication system because volunteers and their happiness are a huge priority.
If you could participate in one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
Human Trafficking Counselling program. This is such an amazing opportunity to help girls that have been through so much. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness about human trafficking, which helps toward the goal of eradicating it, something so crucial in our world.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Because not only are you learning about beautiful cultures and different ways of life, you are learning about people, and they are learning about you. It is a learning and sharing experience which I believe is vital for us all to do. Amazing friendships can also be made beyond borders.
Playing outside with the children and our UK volunteer at Kimuchu Special Needs Unit.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
I think it is a great way to show how much you want to communicate with people, which creates more trust, more affiliation and more detail. I don't think people need to learn a language fluently, but learning some words is great for communication.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Learn some words or important phrases in the prospective language as best you can, keep an open mind, do your research regarding customs and potential risks, and try to make connections with people before you go.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means making connections with those around you as best you can and respecting the differences. The world is full of contrasts which is what makes it so beautiful, embracing that can make a travel experience something that will change you for life. If we are mindful of the challenges and the differences, travel can better us, make us more whole, which ultimately has a knock on effect on other people. It also gives hope to those you are helping because they will see that kindness can be anywhere.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope that education becomes mandatory and free across the globe. I also hope that international education gives local people more work opportunities in teaching and that those teachers are treated with respect and importance. Educators are so important, so if they are shown their worth through fair pay and respect, more people might want to become teachers.
