As a childcare volunteer here in Kenya, you will have plenty of support from the local staff to help you settle into your week. Importantly, you can choose which age group you feel you are most suited to – just let your coordinator know, and your preferences will be accommodated.

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day to learn about your surroundings and local culture. Thereafter, your program will continue as usual from Tuesday throughout the rest of the week.

Orientation Day Schedule

• Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
• Kenyan Do’s and Don’ts, Culture introduction and country history and Swahili Language Lessons.
• Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
• Lunch
• Trip to Nakuru town where you can buy essentials if required

Weekly Schedule

Monday

• Breakfast
• Introduction
• Lunch
• Introduction
• Dinner

Tuesday to Friday

• You will spend 4-6 hours assisting school staff with lessons and activities. Once back at
  the accommodation, you will have time to prepare your lessons for the next day. The
  day could look like:
• Breakfast
• Childcare Volunteer Programme
• Lunch
• Childcare Volunteer Programme
• Preparing lesson plan

Evenings and Weekends

After a day of child care volunteering, you can choose to explore the area or head further afield on the weekends. Many of our volunteers enjoy mixing with their new volunteer friends during the week and plan their weekend adventures as they go!

Please note 

This schedule can be changed depending on weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Places to Visit

Whether you are into people and cultures, hills or wildlife, there’s something for you here! For example, you can visit the Thompson Falls in Nyahururu, go hiking in Hyrax hills, or at the famous Menengai crater. Further, there are the Equator Springs at Gwa Kungu to marvel at, or a visit Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha where you can simply enjoy taking in the beautiful Kenyan countryside.

About the Accommodation

Our accommodation is basic but comfortable, with single-gender dorms which sleep 2 – 4 people.  There is hot running water for showers, and WIFi is available in the communal areas.

All volunteers are expected to be environmentally aware and use all resources with restraint, especially electricity. Sometimes there are power cuts during the day but do not panic! This is life in the village.
Meals are provided, and rooms are cleaned on the weekends, but you will also be expected to clean up after yourself and play your part in keeping the accommodation neat and organized.

Location-wise, our centre is very close to the Greensteds International school and it’s a few minutes walk to the Lake Nakuru National park Southern gate – perfect for a wander after your day of volunteering!

Food Arrangements

Kenyan cuisine is really flavourful with many spices, and consists of vegetables, potato, eggs, bread, flatbreads (chapati), as well as fruits such as oranges, bananas and avocados.

Facilities

There are small shops and local markets nearby that sell fresh fruits and fish, but there are also supermarkets with a greater variety of foods approx 5km away. Further, ATMs are available in Nakuru town, only a short bus ride away. Public transport is cheap and frequent, allowing you to use the centre as a base for your explorations. There are local markets nearby that sell fresh fruits and fish.

Country Information
The first thing that might pop to mind when thinking of Kenya are lions, zebras and leopards. However, this vast country has much more to offer. With 40 national parks and reserves scattered around the country, Kenya features almost every landscape and activity that you can imagine and it will suit any type of traveller’s palette.
Undeniably, safaris are the core of tourism in Kenya, but you might also venture in deeper and discover the Maasai, a semi-nomadic tribe known for its color-filled adornments. Nairobi is another destination to explore, with its bustling nightlife and unique vibes. For those who love nature, a visit to the Great Rift Valley is a must. And for those who enjoy chilling at the beach, Kenya’s coastal area covers almost 80,000 square kilometers and remains sun-filled during most of the year!

Climate
Kenya is a big country and its climate varies from tropical along its coast to arid in the north and quite temperate inland. Kenya receives a large amount of sunshine year-round but generally, the hottest period is considered take place in February and March while the coldest one between July and mid August. The “long rains” season happens between March and June, while the “short rain” season is between October and December.

Culture
Over the course of history, Kenya has been the hub of migration and henceforth, the country has become one of the most diverse culture and language-wise. The country has over forty different ethnic groups, including Luo, Kamba, Maasai and more. Each speaks a variety of mother tongues, although Swahili remains the most widely spoken language. Moreover, European, Arab, Indian and Pakistani groups who came to the country in the 19th century can be added to the mix of diversity.
Even though religions such as Christianity and Islam are widely spread, many still believe in the ancestor world, where the dead have an impact on the lives of the living. Today, Kenya’s culture, including forms of dress, music and food sees its strong influences from other parts of Africa, India, Europe and the United States. However, in certain parts of the country, many communities retain their traditional lifestyle and culture and people still wear clothes, skins, jewellery as they did centuries ago. Many remote tribes remain absolutely isolated.

Gastronomy
Traditional Kenyan food are known for consisting corn, potatoes and beans. A staple dish is Ugali, a porridge made out of maize. Another typical delicacy is irio, a blend of corn, beans, potatoes and beans dipped into meat or vegetable stews.

Transportation

Plane

Kenya Airways offers daily flights between Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Kisumu and Nairobi. Likewise, another popular choice is Air Kenya, which flies regularly between Nairobi, Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Meru, Nanyuki and Samburu.

Bus
Kenya has a large bus network between many destinations, but be advised that roads are bumpy. For safety reasons, we highly advise to use long distance buses only during daytime.

Minivan
Minivans, known as “matatus” in Kenya are another way to get around for short and medium distance travels. Taking a matatu is a must to experience the real Kenya as they are often decorated in colorful and fascinating colours. You can hail a matatu on the side of the road and in this day and age, the network is easier to figure out than ever as routes and schedules are provided on Google Maps.

Train
The train in Kenya is often dubbed the “Lunatic Express”. It travels between Nairobi and Mombasa three times a week. It is undeniably a great experience to travel by train but if time is an issue, we advise you to go for another method of transportation as the train has a bad reputation for being extremely slow and often delayed.