Volunteer Opportunities

We offer exciting short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities in Kenya, East Africa. Our volunteer placements are open to people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of nationality or qualifications. Volunteers certainly gain an amazing life experience from their participation in our placement program. The unique thing.........., we allow volunteers to 'sample' all the tasks being offered, and we recruit new volunteers all the year round.

The Kenyan Experience

As a volunteer, you will experience traditional Kenyan life and participate in daily activities, such as cooking over an open fire, collecting water from a well, playing with children, teaching children, assisting in the vegetable garden as well as outreach programs.

Placement Work

Prior to your placement, we encourage you let us know what your interests are and your level of experience in that field. This will enable us to plan your placement and make any necessary arrangements for the work.
Your placement work will begin after the orientation. The type of work you are involved with will be dependent on your interests, abilities, level of experience as well as your comfort levels.
One of the advantages of the African Orphanage program is that you are not limited to one job role and will have the opportunity to ‘sample’ other roles during your placement. To become involved in another project simply inform a member of staff who will happily make any necessary arrangements.

Work Schedule

Working hours are normally 6-8 hours a day. Time away from work e.g. for traveling to other parts of Africa can be arranged through informing the orphanage manager. The minimum stay at this reserve is one week.
Upon arrival, there is an orientation session for new volunteers to become acquainted with the local culture, language and the project work. Further training and supervision may be provided to new volunteers who are interested in tasks for which they lack adequate experience. More experienced volunteers are given direction, but work under minimal supervision.

Accommodation

While working at the orphanage or surrounding community, volunteers will sleep in shared rooms with other volunteers, and we endeavor to keep the rooms single gender. We also accommodate couples as well.
Although we provide sheets and blankets and mosquito nets, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own sheets or sleeping bags

Food and Water

All meals are provided by the organization as part of the program fee. The main staples of the diet are rice, beans, ugali (corn meal), potatoes, cabbage and bread (chapati). Fresh fruit and vegetables are readily available and are inexpensive to purchase.
The orphanage is vegetarian as a result of the cost of meat. Volunteers are encouraged to cook and to introduce different meals, for instance past volunteers have introduced pasta and French toast. There are always restaurants available in Thika for meat–based or western-style meals (such as French fries/hot chips).
The water used by the orphanage is from a well and is very clean and safe to consume. Bottled water is also available from Mithini and Thika.

Clothing

With regards to clothing, keep in mind that the local area is very dusty and is often hot and dry, even in rainy season. Volunteers should anticipate that clothes and footwear will become dirty quickly so we suggest durable outdoors clothes that will last your visit. Of course there are facilities to wash clothes and shoes as regularly as you wish.
Some suggested hints for clothes are:
- As the orphanage is in a conservative area, all volunteers should bring at least one pair of long pants or skirt as well as a shirt that covers your shoulders otherwise acceptable clothing includes singlet and knee-length skirts/shorts. Volunteers should understand that very short skirts and skimpy clothing will attract attention and we particularly advise that women volunteers limit the wear of bikini tops, halter necks, midriff tops and short skirts. However we also advice that male volunteers wear a shirt/singlet (i.e. not topless) and wear knee length shorts.
- At least two pair of shoes, including one pair of comfortable covered shoes or trainers and one pair of sandals or flip-flops.
- Sunhat to prevent sunburn (particularly for volunteers unused to strong sunlight).
- During rainy season, the nights and mornings can get cool. We suggest that volunteers bring light jumpers or pullovers to layer clothing (rather than thick jumpers etc).

Health, Insurance and Vaccination

It is recommended you have travellers’ health insurance when you leave your country. We suggest purchasing on-line www.TripTithe.com
On the orphanage compound, we have a well where we get our drinking and bathing water which is clean and free of diseases, so it is safe for all to drink. Most of our food is vegetarian, cooked with the produce we grow on our own land. No volunteer has gotten ill from eating or drinking any of the compound’s supplies.

However, in case of illness or any emergency, we have a contact of local doctor who has a clinic at mithini.
Medicines are readily available at pharmacies in Thika however it is advisable that volunteers bring their own first aid kit.

Medicines are readily available at pharmacies in Thika however it is advisable that volunteers bring their own first aid kit, and any prescribed medication. Basic medication such as paracetamol and for upset stomachs is available, as are basics such as bandaids, cotton buds and wipes.

With regard to vaccinations, volunteers require the following prior to travel to Kenya:
• Yellow Fever
• Diphtheria
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis
A listing of recommended vaccines can be located on the website www. kenya.gov
Volunteers will also require anti-malaria medication. Although there are few mosquitoes in the mithini area, in many other parts of Kenya (including Nairobi), they can be a nuisance. Volunteers are welcome to bring their own mosquito nets.
Please speak to your doctor regarding the most suitable medication for you.

What Volunteers Can Expect

Prior to your Arrival

Prior to departing your home country, representatives of African Orphanage will be available on email and via phone (if you prefer) to discuss your placement at the orphanage.
Once you have been selected to join African Orphanage community, you are sent an official acceptance letter, which gives you a go-ahead to book your flight that brings you to this part of Africa!

During your Stay

There are staff members at the orphanage to support and assist you. They assist with caring for the children, administration and managing the day to day activities of the orphanage. They are available to answer questions, act as a local guide and ensure that you settle into the orphanage and way of life.
Volunteers can also expect a weekly visit from a representative of AO. This representative will be able to bring any supplies you require, provide information, support and assistant if you require. Also to resolve any issues that may occur. This representative will be available via phone and email at any time during your stay.
We will provide you with work that is suitable for your level of ability, experience and meets your interests. Should you have any requests, queries or issues regarding your workload please let us know.

What We Expect of Volunteers

Your Role as a Volunteer

As a volunteer, we encourage you to actively participate in the daily activities of the orphanage such as caring for children, cleaning, teaching, cooking, washing clothes/bedding, fieldwork, construction, watering the vegetable garden, collecting firewood, hauling water, feeding animals’ preparing food, etc. We also encourage you to utilise the skills you have to assist in improving the lives of the children and staff. For instance, volunteers good at sport are encouraged to work with the children at orphanage and those in the community on sports.

Attitude

It is important for volunteers to understand that the culture in Kenya may be quite different to what they may be accustomed to. Volunteers should bring with them an easy-going, open-minded and relaxed attitude. Kenyan people are very friendly and social people. While we will endeavour to maintain a daily routine, volunteers should understand that things move slowly in Africa (and indeed even at the orphanage). Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember that life here is not as organized and predictable as life in developed countries. Although work can be very busy and active, at other times work is determined by number of factors including weather, availability of resources, whether a relevant contact has turned up, cultural activities etc.

Responsibilities

African Orphanage expects the following of volunteers:
• To keep your room tidy (setting a good example for the children)
• To keep your valuables safe – if required, we are able to provide a secure place for items such as passports.
• To wash your own clothes and bedding – staff are able to assist if required
• To dress appropriately, even outside the orphanage grounds.
• To display appropriate behaviour. The area is quite conservative and behaviour such as public displays of affection and swearing will attract attention. Remember you are representing both your country and African Orphanage.

After Your Stay

African Orphanage like to remain in contact with all past volunteers and we expect you to spread news about us to your community. We often send updates from the orphanage and the progress of children to past volunteers. Often, we receive volunteers recommended by our former volunteers with some even making return visits.

What To Bring

Below is a list of recommended supplies to have with you during your experience with African Orphanage, as suggested by past volunteers. Of course, this is not a comprehensive list but rather should give you an idea of some of the essentials as well as items that will make your stay more comfortable.
Also note that most of these items can be purchased with ease in the local town as required.

For Yourself

- First aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Camera batteries (rechargeable)
- Flashlight/torch (rechargeable)
- Bed-sheets & washing towel
- International adaptor
- Umbrella /poncho / raincoat (dependent on when you are visiting)
- Durable Water Bottle (such as a Nalgene bottle)

With regards to mosquito nets, the orphanage does provide good quality nets however most volunteers do not require the use of one as there are very few mosquitoes in the area. For volunteers intending to travel to other parts of Kenya, we advise them to bring their own net.

For the Orphanage

If possible, we would love for you to bring some supplies for the kids! Anything that you can bring would be greatly appreciated but below is a guide! Many of these items are cheap to purchase and would be loved by the children.

• Clothing, mixed dresses, shirts, shorts for boys & girls, sweaters ages 4 – 14 years)
• School children backpacks
• Black shoes for school (boys & girls, ages 4 – 14 years)
• Toothpastes & toothbrushes
• Medical supplies (common ailment)
• Stationeries & school supplies

If you are interested in bringing some of the above would like specific items that are current required, we are able to send you a list with more detailed and up-to-date information about the children (number, gender, age, etc).
Also, if you are interested in bring items for the orphanage to use (such as laptop computer, camera, cell phone) please let us know. We are reliant on donations for many of these items that often have a short lifespan and would be grateful if you could assist.

For volunteer application please email info@volunteerafricanorphanage.org
We hope to hear from you soon.