Volunteer in Childcare in Kenya

My time volunteering in Kenya through IVHQ was an unforgettable and truly meaningful experience. From the moment I arrived, everything was well organised and I felt safe and supported by the local team. Working in childcare was incredibly rewarding, as I was able to connect with the children, support their learning, and be part of their daily lives. Even though it was nerve racking at first being in a completely new environment, I quickly adjusted thanks to the welcoming community and other volunteers. The experience opened my eyes to a different culture and way of life, and it helped me grow in confidence and independence. Overall, it was a lifechanging journey that I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to make a positive impact while also learning so much about themselves and the world.

All my journey in Kenya was Safe and secure. I made a real impact from day one. Local team was helpful and always available. Teachers at school were clear in their expectations of volunteers, flexible and open to new ideas. Host mom was welcoming, open minded and easy to speak with I highly recommend it!

This was an emotional and eye opening experience. I am very glad I done this even for a short time. The lo oka team made me feel so safe and went above and beyond to cater to our needs . Our home stay was so welcoming .

I gained more insight into the lives of others and strengthened my appreciation on the simple things I have in life. Just do it, don’t be afraid, be brave. You will meet new people and gain new friendships.

Showing up to school each morning and being greeted by 32 smiling fifth graders were my favorite moments from the volunteer experience in Kenya! The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was seeing how valued education was by these children compared to schools where I'm from. Their level of passion and enthusiasm is unmatched. I admit I was hesitant for my 8 week program, however, this soon changed on my very first day being surrounded by the kindergarteners!

I feel as though I have gained a new sense of myself and I have learned so much more of what I am capable of doing. When I initially had the idea I was very hesitant and scared but I am so happy that I did it, it was the best experience of my life and I would totally recommend for people to step out of their comfort zones and go on this journey to make a difference.

From my experience, I gained invaluable insights, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of different cultures. The hands-on work and interactions with the local community broadened my perspective and enriched my life in many ways. For anyone hesitant about joining this program, I would advise you to embrace the opportunity. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be challenging, but the rewards are immense. You'll gain unique experiences, develop new skills, and make meaningful connections that will stay with you for a lifetime.

I’ve always wanted to travel to different countries, help people and learn about different cultures. Growing up I was always a super anxious person and struggled to do things by myself. When booking my trip with IVHQ I realised this wasn’t something my friends or family wanted to do, instead it was something I’d have to do by myself. The whole process of booking, travelling and meeting new people completely pushed me out of my comfort zone. It taught me to be confident in myself. I learnt so many things about Kenya, and its people. But I also learnt that I’m so incredibly capable of doing big things alone. It’s something you’ll always remember, and something you’ll want to do again.

100% make the decision to go. I was skeptical at first going over to a country where I may not feel safe and a huge cultural difference however it was extremely safe, people were so friendly and it really did change my outlook on life.

Go for it! Step outside your comfort zone, you will meet like minded people and grow in confidence along the way. This was the best experience and has changed my whole outlook on life. It was an amazing experience from start to finish, I cannot wait to do it all again.

Interacting with the children and living with local residents were my favourite moments of the volunteer experience. Seeing the world from a different perspective had the biggest impact on my trip and it has inspired my career plan to work in Kenya in the future. To anyone hesitant about volunteering abroad, I would say to them take the time, take risks, and take it serious as the adventure may change your life!

If someone is still hesitant I would say do it, you won’t regret the great people you will meet and the experiences you can have if you grab the opportunity with both hands. Playing with the kids in the school and going on a Safari was a favourite of mine while there.

IVHQ did an amazing job keeping me up to date and inquiring as I got closer to my departure date. I felt like the preparation guide was fantastic and well organized. When I arrived to Kenya I was met by an individual who called my driver. I did not wait long at all, the only issue was I was unaware that my driver was a little unsure of where my housing would be and had to call somebody for that information(mind you I arrived in Kenya at 3am) I arrived safely at my accommodation. I was unaware that the Accomodation I arrived at would be temporary, and I would be going to a new house after orientation but that went smooth. I was very comfortable with my host family and I was with 6 other volunteers. I felt comfortable at my Accomodation and was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming everybody was. I would recommend IVHQ with anybody looking to travel and make an impact. My local team was always available if I needed something and I felt heard if I had an issue and they worked to fix it. Because of this experience I will be going on another in January and was actually able to get a friend to join me in the next trip

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It was an eye opening experience, i would recommend it to everyone, if they are looking for self growth and want to see how the people on the other side of the world live. I was scared at first because it was my first time travelling solo but the whole team helped a lot and I felt safe every second I was there.

I would say I gained a better idea and understanding of a new culture. I am extremely grateful for the experiences I had during my trip and believe that I am a better, more experienced individual. If somebody wanted to do this program but was hesitant I would tell them to go for it. The world is always changing and evolving and if you continuously wait for the “perfect” time to do something like this, the time will never come. It was definitely a challenge but it was eye opening and changed how I view my daily life.

I made the decision to volunteer very impulsively and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I was really nervous going into it that I would feel alone but I met the most amazing group of volunteers. I am counting down the days until I can go back. Seriously the best experience.

This experience was life changing and I realized that there are bigger things in the world to worry about. I have already spoken to a number of people re the volunteer work and how amazing the company is. It definitely won't be my last time, it is only the beginning. And I really want to do more. Especially in my own country.

It has been the best experience of my life. The Kenya Childcare program allowed me to help lots of children in the school and to receive all their love in return. I will never forget their smiles and their gratitude.

I received very good guidance and preparation resources from IVHQ - my Program Manager was good at keeping in contact and answering any questions! My overall experience volunteering in Kenya was absolutely amazing, I gained some lifelong friends and memories I’ll never forget. I’m so grateful to have met the children at school, the teachers and my host family. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a person and it’s even made me think about a future career with children in Africa. My host family, Rose, Cleo, Jesse, Joel and Jed were amazing, they looked after my sister and I for 3 months and we had so much fun with them. They are such a beautiful family. We have kept in contact since leaving and hope to see them again! The school had a great atmosphere, the children were funny, kind and hard working. In terms of the actual volunteering I did, it was exactly as I had expected and I got to do all the things I had hoped to. I have already encouraged a few of my friends to look into volunteering and to anyone who is hesitant about joining, I would definitely say to do it! You will meet so many people and experience so many amazing things. This was hands down the best thing I’ve ever done!

I gained insight on how other people live and provide for themselves, showing how fortunate some people are and how unfortunate others are. I’d give the advice to go in with an open mind and a big heart.