Volunteering in Kenya

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	“In the village there was no electricity outside of solar panels, which they were few and far between. At night, oil lamps are most often used, which give off just enough light to talk and eat the night away. The villagers really enjoy relaxing and enjoying each other's company, especially with a fresh cup of tea.” Zach Withers ~ 2009
	“I made many new Kenyan friends, some of whom were like brothers and sisters to me by the end of the three weeks. I chat with some of them every day even after returning home. Some of them staggered me with their brilliance and their potential. I befriended a 24-year old named John who could name at least a dozen U.S. Senators, more than any average American would ever know, and asked myself, how well would he do if he simply had the right opportunities? He had never been to college. He suffered from chronic ulcers. He loved to read, but in that part of the world, quality books are hard to come by. I bought him a copy of Obama's book The Audacity of Hope and he almost cried. These are the kinds of things I saw -- uneducated kids full of potential, crippled by health problems, hungry, many of them without parents who died of HIV/AIDS or some other disease that could have been treated. It's hard to think straight amidst such pain. It's hard to have any real or meaningful discussion of world poverty without making some sacrifices ourselves, without witnessing that suffering with our own eyes. Will I go back? In a heartbeat. In fact, I am already planning another trip to Kenya next year with friends.” Hannah Jones ~ 2009
	Volunteers at Sanne Landing Children Home ~ Nyanza - Bondo. Lindsay Coyler / Kenya ~ 2008
	Volunteers Dig a Trench in Kenya Clayton Stuka / Kenya ~ 2008
	"Despite being from different countries, it seemed like we all saw each other as just fellow volunteers and I didn't see conflicts or prejudices. Our relationships felt comfortable and family-like. The cooperation in activities of daily living was also amazing." Susan Petti / Kenya ~ 2007
	Volunteers teach local women the Macarana Sonya Nasta / Kenya ~ 2006
	Volunteers in a Teaching Project. Azusa Miyazaki / Kenya ~ 2005
	Making bricks to build a classroom. Azusa Miyazaki / Kenya ~ 2005
	Making bricks the old fashioned way. "We would usually be working up until 1:00 or 2:00pm when lunch was served. I was quite impressed with the meals consisting of meat, steamed vegetables, bread, and tea or coffee. Some people had a hard time adjusting to the meals, but I think that happens in any country. I didn't understand how some could travel if they were lactose intolerant, wheat intolerant, and never ate vegetables or meat when they traveled. I suddenly was reminded of the saying, "When in Rome, do what the Romans do." Sonia Nasta / Kenya ~ 2005
	General Assembly of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service, the umbrella group which helps coordinate over the exchange of over 100,000 volunteers each year. Ron Ashley / Kenya ~ 2004
	Children at a local school where volunteers helped to teach English. Keri Jacox / Kenya ~ 2004
	Kitchen duty - separating grains, Turkana, Kenya. Tom & Stacy McHugh / Kenya ~ 1999

“There were 20 volunteers. 11 which were Kenyan the other 9 were internationals from Canada, UK, USA, Germany and Japan. In the evenings we had cultural nights where we shared artifacts, songs, dances, games and information from our own homeland. We all got along extremely well and I met some people that I know will be life long friends. One girl from Kenya is hoping to even come and stay with me and volunteer in Canada for the summer! It was a great experience, and I would recommended VFP and KVDA to anyone. Thank you!” Ashton Pettigrew ~ 2009

“This summer I finally did what I’ve always wanted to do. I had an opportunity to volunteer abroad, and went to Kenya for three weeks. This was the best adventure of my life. Now I think that joining a work camp is the only way to travel and explore other countries.” Liubov Torres ~ 2009

“we managed to mold 3000+ bricks, plant 150 trees, and even held a discussion on FGM (the Women’s Group advocates against it). I’m proud of our contribution and I hope that future foreign aid seeks to support, and not modernize, the rural Kenyan lifestyle.” Malcolm Piper ~ 2009

“My trip at Emukhuya was enriching on a personal, social and physical level. I made many friends with whom I will maintain contact.” Pauline Cheung / Kenya ~ 2008 

“Meeting and exchanging our cultural backgrounds with the community was probably the most rewarding experience during my three weeks in this village.”  Lindsay Colyer / Kenay ~ 2008 KenKvda07F-08

“I worked for the Kebirigo Community Resource Center (KCRC) under the coordinator Robert Obanyi. The goals of KCRC are broad in scope and luckily I was able to contribute to some of its missions—with the intent of continued support. Our primary goal there was to establish ourselves with as many of the hundreds of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the Nyamira District as we were able to. The ultimate intention is to have a complete network at our disposal so we can find ways to connect groups together and find larger sources of help for groups with similar purposes (e.g. find donors in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment foundation for the many groups who want to spread such help through their communities). The network was extremely limited when I got there, and so most of my work consisted of arranging appointments with our groups and trying to attract new groups. I would go to visit the CBOs with Robert and/or another helper we had, viz. Aloys Mecha, who helped me communicate with the CBOs who had English difficulties. We interviewed them, tried to find the problems they were having, and offered any advice we could. After each group I transcribed data from the meeting onto a database for future reference. I could talk for days about the myriad groups and their aspirations, but for the sake of brevity I’ll just mention what we hope to do for them in the near future. Many are interested in keeping zero grazing animals and in beekeeping, so we want to hold information seminars on those things. I compiled lists of interested groups and Robert is on the process of organizing those seminars. I’m also starting the process of creating a website where we can feature our groups—which now number over 120—and allow them to edit their own information.  I was engaged in other volunteer activities while I was there, and I’ll try to include most of them, even if I don’t give them as much attention as the CBOs. I helped organize books donated to us by various organizations and incorporate them into our small but growing library, which I then created a simple digital catalogue for. I educated a Form 4 graduate how to use a computer, and in return he would keep our physical premises open while I was busy with other things. I went to two schools and gave talks on KCRC, HIV/AIDS, Alcohol Abuse (which is a rampant problem among Kisii men), and on how to study in the United States. Obviously the students took most interest in the latter topic, and I did a lot of research on international applicants and financial aid—luckily I was able to do so because I made friends with the local cyber café owner by helping him improve his business. I also began relationships between several local banks and KCRC so they might be able to more easily give micro loans to our CBOs. In the future I hope to be able to develop a successful website for KCRC and our groups, find donors and interested organizations who might help us, and ship children’s clothes to some of our groups who are trying to care for orphans. I hope to constantly find new ways that I can lend my support whenever I’m able to.” Bryan Schofield / Kenya ~ 2008

“My first couple days at Kyale Small Home were spent in a daze, adjusting to the environment around me: using a tiny hole in the ground as my toilet, bathing with rain water, sleeping on a stone floor, and doing all this while accompanied by the constant stare of hundreds of little children. Yet, much to my amazement, it took only a few days to completely accept this as my new home. And I realized, it was not because my mind had tricked itself into forgetting the warm showers and fast food of my life in America, but because I had a connection with the people. I played and sang with the kids and at night got to know (probably too much) about the other volunteers I was staying with. I woke up every day and cut down some trees, or dug some holes, or built a swing for the kids. Suddenly, before I had a moment to catch up, I was part of a community. There were always the language barriers, the stereotypes, and the misunderstandings of cultures conflicting. But there was also the mutual understanding that none of that mattered. We were an open door, allowing each other to enter whenever we wanted.  And as with my time in Haiti, it wasn’t until I returned that I realized the impact of my journey. It was subtle, but I was a different person. It was the ghosts of all those people who had passed through my door that had left a permanent, indefinable imprint on me. And to me, this was always the point of traveling. To slowly, slowly change yourself. So that one day you wake up and realize you are not a citizen of America, or Haiti, or Kenya, but a citizen of the human race.” Brian Dunlap / Kenya ~ 2008 KenCivs09

“The women of the Itiithini Women's group were more than hospitable and kind. This was the first workcamp in their village, and they were thrilled to have us. A lot of villagers did not know what to make of us, or why we were there, but when they found out, they were nothing but gracious and grateful. The chief of the village was very welcoming, as well. Our accommodations were simple, but it was all we needed.  All of the volunteers at this workcamp became very close, and learned a lot from each other. We had campfires every night, and after working hard we had time to relax and have fun. The surrounding area was beautiful, and we had time one weekend to hike up a mountain and get a great view of the area. I would not trade this experience for anything in the whole world.

When I returned to the city, I worked at a project attachment at Imani Children's Home. Imani in Swahili means "hope", and that is exactly what the Home gives these children. The children were well taken care of, and were loved very much by their Kenyan caretakers, as well as all of us. I worked in the baby unit, caring for the infants that were of the ages from 1 day to 6 months. These were the most darling sweet babies I have ever seen. There were fifteen in my unit, and the day I left I could not stop crying because I fell so far in love with all of my babies. It is nearly six months later and I still can remember all fifteen of their names and faces perfectly.

There is no better feeling than being able to provide a child with love. Our capacity to love is endless. When a child is deprived of something so simple, yet so crucial to his or her development, it simply breaks your heart into a thousand pieces. But when you are able to provide that love to a child, it not only mends your heart back but makes it stronger and able to love even more. Now, multiply that times fifteen, and that will give you an idea of how incredible my summer was.” Ruth Nelson / Kenya ~ 2008

“The school children were obviously the best part of the program. From the first day they saw us, their stares were also a sign of apprehension. But that soon passed and their wonder and amazement towards us was refreshing. They were so full of life and spirit amidst some of their situations. Seeing them every single day made me feel as if they were a part of my family. They even bestowed upon me a nickname, “Black America.” For them is was so hard to believe that Black people, like myself, existed outside of Africa.” Romaine Charles / Kenya – 2007

"I participated in a ‘Volunteers for Peace' work-camp during March 2006 and had a fantastic experience. The 3-week long camp was organized through a Kenyan organization called the Centre for International Voluntary Services. The twelve participants in the camp came from around the world - Australia, Germany, Japan, Kenya, and myself from Canada. Together we worked with various groups in a small community that was five hours north of Nairobi (and had a breath-taking view of Mount Kenya!). We worked with several women's groups, assisting them with farming tasks such as planting passion fruit trees, harvesting corn, spraying pesticides on coffee plants, and feeding animals. In addition, we worked with three elementary schools, teaching and helping students. The camp also offered an excellent opportunity to learn about Kenyan culture, by allowing us to freely interact with local community members on a daily basis.

The leader of the camp was very open-minded and flexible, and allowed and even encouraged us to contribute ideas and opinions. We had the opportunity to assist in the preparation of the camp's daily work schedule, and to plan weekend activities together.

Our accommodation was clean and comfortable, and I felt safe and secure at all times. All participants contributed to the preparation of meals, which allowed us to learn about Kenyan cuisine (which is delicious!). My experience with Volunteers for Peace and the Centre for International Voluntary Services was unforgettable and humbling!" Laura Swift / Kenya - 2006

"I wanted to express my gratitude for your organization and helping me accomplish this amazing dream. I could not have asked for a better workcamp experience, it was all I wanted and more. I know 3 weeks is a short time but it truely changed my life. It was very hard work, but working along side widows, other volunteers and other Kenyans to build an orphanage gave me the best feeling I have ever had…..I had the time of my life and will forever be a better person because of it. Now that I have been to Kenya and seen how generous and amazing the people are there I can never turn my back on them and it will forever be in my heart."

You don't need to be rich to be generous, gracious and inspiring I learnt that happiness comes not from money but from within your Heart. Simplicity contains the most beauty in life and life isn't about possessions, but about possession and distributing love and togetherness. Even if two people do not speak the same language they can always express love and thanks. One vision is enough to bring 2 worlds together as one. Two hands, 3 hands always make work lighter and people rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. Children are impressionable, but they are also the most resilient creatures on earth, Children don't need fancy toys or even shoes to have fun but give them a ball and some string and they will laugh for hours.I learnt that mountains might not meet but people do and it takes more than a mountain or an ocean to wash away your love.Superiority fosters fear and hate but interaction leads to communication and intertwined. It is possible to live a life genuinely helping the lives of those in need.No one is useless in this world that lightens the burden of another.And the most important thing I learnt from Africa was to lend a hand and show your care, if you make even the slightest impression on one person's life is to make all the difference in the world and much more!! Amanda Donnell / Kenya - 2005

"I wouldn't change my experience in Kenya for the world. To construct a school literally from the ground up is a rewarding challenge for a most just cause. It is important for the people in Kenya to recognize the needs of future generations. Through our hard work we showed the people of the community what it means to work together and go forward. To leave this camp again was very sentimental knowing that all these people will remember the people that helped build their school. As it was many people there had remembered the last volunteers from 1992. More and more I realize that surely I can not change the world alone, but together we can make an impact. I would leave here asking God to look after all of the friends I had made there." Kirk Chauncey / Kenya - 2005

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