Volunteer in Kenya FAQ
Travel Logistics
Health and Safety
Accommodations and Meals
Technology
Cultural Concerns
Miscellaneous
» I have more
questions.
How
long can I volunteer?
The recommended minimum time to volunteer is 2 or 3 weeks,
depending on your specific village placement. The recommended
maximum time to volunteer is 12 weeks.
What is the
best time to volunteer in Kenya?
Kenya has plenty of sunshine all year round with two rainy
seasons: one starting in late March and the other in October.
The hottest months in Kenya are December, January and February,
while the coolest are June, July and August. In general, although
it is hot, it is not humid, and is therefore very tolerable.
I would like
to volunteer in a school. What are the school terms, so I can
avoid volunteering during the breaks?
1st quarter (Term 1): early January to mid-April
2nd quarter (Term 2): early May to mid-August
3rd quarter (Term 3): early September to late November
Please keep in mind that this is only an approximate schedule. The exact dates may vary, depending on your village placement. Be sure to confirm the exact school session dates prior to purchasing your airfare.
Do
I need a visa for Kenya?
Yes. You must have a visa to enter Kenya. You can obtain
a visa application via the Kenya embassy or consulate office
in your home country. For US citizens, visa applications are
available via the Embassy
of Kenya website.
Prior to submitting your application, it is strongly advised
that you contact the embassy or consulate office to confirm
the current application processing times so you can determine
whether you need to use an expedite service.
Where can
I find the information I will need to complete my visa
application?
We provide two documents that will help you complete your visa application:
Travel Considerations and Kenya Contact Information.
To access these documents, please login to My Village. Scroll
to the Travel Preparation section of the My Village main page, and select Kenya.
The Travel Considerations and Kenya Contact Information documents
are both located in the "Before you leave..." section.
Please note that you will not have access to any of these documents until you have
submitted your Volunteer Program deposit.
Can you
recommend a service that can expedite my passport or visa?
In the US, expedited passport and visa services are provided
by A Briggs
and PassportsandVisas.com.
Can
you recommend a travel agent?
For low cost airfare, we recommend the following sites:
Expedia.com
Kayak.com
Orbitz.com
SideStep.com
Which aiport
should I fly to and depart from?
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi
Will
there be someone to meet me at the airport?
Yes. Upon your arrival to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
in Nairobi, you will be met by Wendy Gaya, the Village Volunteers
In-Country Coordinator, who will be holding a "Village
Volunteers" sign.
The Coordinator will assist you in getting acclimated - exchanging
money, checking email, renting a cell phone (optional), etc.
- and will host you for your first night in Nairobi. The following
morning, travel arrangements will be made for your first destination
(e.g., purchasing your bus ticket). Then you will be escorted
to your bus stop.
What
are the in-country transportation costs?
Your transportation
to and from the airport and to and from one village program
are included in your program fee. There will be an added expense
for those who plan to volunteer in more than one village program
due to the additional transportation costs.
Also, volunteers who chose to depart a village program for
independent travel or personal reasons, should be prepared
to be responsible for the cost.
Is it possible
to visit multiple villages?
Yes. However, please be aware that traveling to multiple
villages will increase the cost of your visit, due to in-country
travel expenses. We also ask that you keep in mind that adjustment
takes time, and we highly recommend a minimum stay of at least
two or three weeks in one location.
Will there
be time to see the sights of Kenya?
Yes, however, we recommend that you travel during the weekends.
You may arrange your own tourist activities, or excursions
can be coordinated through Village Volunteers. Please see
Safari in Kenya for more
information.
What safety
precautions should I take when traveling in Kenya?
The villages are generally very safe and hospitable for volunteers;
however, travel to larger cities should be treated with more
caution. In the cities, belongings such as passport, plane
tickets, credit cards, and money should be kept in a secure
place on your person (money belt, neck pouch under your clothes,
etc.) and completely out of sight. Do not draw attention to
yourself either through your actions or dress. Your safety
is of great importance to us. Nevertheless, be aware of the
hazards of international travel.
Will I need any immunizations
or medications?
Yes. Be sure
to consult a travel physician at least two months prior to
your departure from your home country. You may also want to
consult the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional
information.
What
are the accommodations like in Kenya?
The accommocations in each village vary greatly. All have
modest accommodations, consisting of western-style beds and
mosquito nets. The bathroom facilities range from pit latrines
to rudimentary flush toilets. Bathing may consist of either
a bucket of water, or a solar heated shower, in a "bathing
room". Due to the lack of available water, volunteers
are asked to severely restrict their water use.
To learn more about the accommodations, click on the volunteer
placements below:
» Common
Ground Program
» Dago
Dala Hera Orphanage
» Ecogarden
» ELAND
Maasai Project
» Mama
na Dada Africa
» Namunyak
Maasai Welfare
» Sister
Freda's Foundation
What are some
of the common foods and drinks in Kenya?
Kenyan villages rely on a simple, largely vegetarian diet.
A staple in almost every meal is the national dish called
Ugali, which is cornmeal cooked with water to a consistency
like thick mashed potatos. Beans, rice, potatoes, and green
vegetables (e.g., sukuma wiki) are also important
to the African diet. Sometimes, meat from goats, chicken,
or cows are included. You may find fish near Lake Victoria.
Fresh fruit (e.g., banana, watermelon, pineapple, mango --
depending on the season) are abundant as well.
Kenya is a major producer of tea. Therefore, chai,
tea mixed with milk and (optionally) sugar, is served throughout
the day. Be careful that the water you drink was boiled and/or
filtered properly. In the cities, you can also order bottled
fruit juices and soda.
What
if I am a vegetarian or have food allergies?
When you complete our volunteer application, you will have
an opportunity to let us know of your specific dietary needs.
This information will be forwarded to our partners overseas
so they can prepare your meals accordingly.
Will I have
email access while in Kenya?
Email access is not available in the villages; however, you
will be able to find an internet cafe in most nearby towns.
Depending on the village you are volunteering in, you may
need to travel up to 3 1/2 hours to reach one.
Will I be
able to use my cell phone in Kenya?
We recommend that volunteers leave personal cell phones at home.
If you would like to access a phone during your time in Kenya, you may rent a cell phone from the In-Country Coordinator,
or use the cell phones available through your village placement. Please note that
in both cases, you will need to purchase your own phone minutes (phone credits).
Below are details to keep in mind if you rent a cell phone from the In-Country Coordinator:
- There is a flat charge of $25 USD for renting a phone.
- You would purchase your own minutes as you use them.
- You are not charged to receive text messages or calls from home. The caller pays those charges.
- You can use the phone to send text messages home.
Prices are subject to change.
Will I be able
to charge my digital camera and batteries in Kenya?
Electricity or solar energy, for charging digital cameras
and batteries, is available at Common Ground Program, Dago
Dala Hera Orphanage, Ecogarden, Mama na Dada Africa, and Sister
Freda's Foundation.
Will
I need an adapter or converter in Kenya?
Depending on your home country, you may need both an adapter
and a power converter. Voltage in Kenya is 240V, and outlets
are shaped like the image below:
If you need to purchase a converter and adapter, you may
want to consider buying an adapter/converter set with multiple
adapter plugs. You can typically find such a set at an electronics
store or a store which carries luggage accessories. Before
buying a set, have an idea of the types of appliances you
will want to plug in, so you can make sure the power converter
will meet your needs.
Do the villagers
in Kenya speak English?
English is considered the official language, while Kiswahili
is the national language. In addition, there are over 42 ethnic
languages also spoken in Kenya. Although local schools are
taught in English, you will find that the villagers will mainly
speak their native languages, such as Duoluo, Luhya, or Maa.
Volunteers give villagers and opportunity to practice their
English while at the same time they will likely want to teach
you their language.
Although it is not essential to learn the native languages,
it is extremely useful and appreciated if you make an effort
to learn the basics. Village Volunteers offers basic Kiswahili,
Duoluo, and Maa Language Guides in the online orientation
materials (which volunteers can access after they have applied,
been accepted, and submitted a program deposit).
What are
some basic customs I should be aware of?
| » |
When greeting a Kenyan,
one is expected to say “hello” or "Jambo"
and shake hands. |
| » |
Respect is a very
important aspect of the African culture. The idea of respect
for one's elders is limitless. One shows respect by supporting
the right forearm with the left hand while shaking hands
with an elder. To casually touch an elder, however, is
considered improper. |
| » |
When pointing to someone
or something, it is polite to use all fingers of the hand. |
| » |
Pants are only worn
by women living in urban areas but volunteers can wear
comfortable loose fitting pants. Conservative skirt hemlines
are appreciated. |
| » |
It is discouraged
to photograph and film local people without their consent. |
I have
more questions.
More in-depth
orientation materials are made available to volunteers after
the application process has been completed. For assistance,
email our team at info@villagevolunteers.org.
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