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Overall Description
In Gatanga, just 1.5 hours outside Nairobi, we have several programs you can choose from. In this lush and active community, we strive to be able to help in all areas possible. You will be hosted by Emmah Mburu in a modern dorm facility with all you need for a comfortable stay. We can help you choose a program or you can spend some time in multiple programs to get a very full experience.
Community Agriculture Program
Description
Agriculture is the main economic backbone of Kenya, as well as the primary source of income for basic households in many parts of the country. As many areas throughout the country are struggling with issues of food security, this is a great opportunity to try new and true methods of farming to tackle these issues. When you join this program, you will assist local farmers who are not only trying to feed their own families and make a living, but also trying to share the knowledge they have attained to keep the farming culture alive and thriving.
In this program, you will experience local Kenyan agricultural practices, assist the local farming community by providing extra hands and effort and also experience cultural immersion and engagement with the local community.
Central Kenya is a place where local villagers spend their lives harvesting fruits, vegetables, tea and coffee, as well as taking care of their livestock.
In this program, you’ll get the chance to experience the authentic countryside of Kenya by living amongst locals and helping the villagers on their farms.
Possible Tasks
- Cutting and cleaning up the grass areas around the farm
- Planting, weeding, watering, picking fruits and coffee and plucking tea
- Helping take care of the livestock
- Addressing various community needs
- Learning about the use of nutrient rich water for soilless farming (hydroponic farming)
Working up close with local farmers will not only teach you new skills, but also allow you to get authentically immersed in a new culture and lifestyle.
What do you need to know?
- You can expect to spend 3-5 hours per day on the farm, with a lunch break in between these hours.
- The tasks you will engage in depend largely upon the season and the priority needs at that time. Tasks will vary based upon your own knowledge, skills and ability to carry out tasks independently.
- Please wear modest clothing (long sleeves and long pants offer the best protection when working outdoors; at the minimum clothing should cover your knees and shoulders).
- Please bring work gloves, work shoes or boots, a water bottle, a hat and sun protection.
- You will need to have patience, be open minded and have a positive attitude.
- Bring your creativity and try as much as possible to learn and leave the place better than you found it.
What is my schedule like?
- Breakfast at the residence.
- Make your way to the farm and help with farm activities.
- Lunch at the residence.
- Afternoons can be flexible, from helping at the farm to preparing for the next day or visiting local sites.
- Dinner at the residence.
Weekly Contribution
24,000 KSH ($200USD/EU)
Community Cultural Experience Program
Quick Overview
Learn about Kenyan culture, try your hand at preparing local dishes, practice Swahili, meet village locals and discover wonderful natural surroundings!
Through visits to local attractions, interactions with the villagers and our cultural training sessions such as basic Swahili and cooking classes, you will start experiencing Kenya as it should be! This program is a great way to get acquainted with your new surroundings and gain a true appreciation for this amazing country.
Description
Our culture week offers you the chance to learn more about Kenyan culture, lifestyle and history. You’ll discover the best sites around the area as well as get to know your surroundings.
In a nutshell, it is the best way to get acquainted with the country and get ready for your stay in this untouched region of Eastern Africa. During the week, you will be introduced to the Kenyan culture firsthand through:
- Cooking and language lessons
- Sightseeing around your new home
- Visits to the Elephant Rescue Center and the Giraffe Center
- Our countless interactions with locals
In this way, you will get the opportunity to better understand Kenyan life and culture and begin to feel at home in your new surroundings.
Kindly note this is a one week program.
Aims & Objectives
- Help you get familiar with your local Kenyan surroundings
- Teach you helpful phrases in Swahili
- Broaden your knowledge of the local customs, history and culture
- Provide a full introduction, preparing you for a longer stay!
Weekly Contribution
24,000 KSH ($200USD/EU)
Schedule
Monday
- Breakfast at the residence
- Introduction of the Kenyan culture and the house rules
- Walking tour around the village
- Lunch at the accommodation
- Visit Thika Town in the afternoon (get a SIM card/change money)
- Dinner at the residence
Tuesday
- Breakfast at the residence
- Learn Swahili language
- Visit the local market and buy food stuff using the Swahili learnt
- Lunch at the residence
- Visit a local waterfall
- Join in a cooking lesson
- Dinner at the residence
Wednesday
- Breakfast at the residence
- Visit the Elephant Rescue Center and Giraffe Center
- Lunch in Nairobi
- Visit the Bomas of Kenya
- Dinner at the residence
Thursday
- Breakfast at the residence
- Enjoy hiking around the area as you visit a pig farm
- Learn about pig farming and other small livestock
- Have lunch at the residence
- Visit a local manmade dam
- Learn about tea farming in the area
- Dinner at the residence
Friday
- Breakfast at the residence
- Visit a local farm and learn about coffee picking
- Visit a coffee factory and learn about coffee processing
- Lunch at the residence
- Learn how to make a simple bracelet and mat
- Dinner at the residence
Community Kindergarten Program
Description
This opportunity of a lifetime will allow you to be fully immersed in the local Kenyan culture and share in a cultural exchange with kindergarten students (aged 4-7) and teachers in this close-knit community school. During your stay, you may be able to go over general learning concepts using songs, games, art, dance and other activities that will illuminate the world you know to children who might not otherwise get to experience these types of interactions. One thing is for sure: you will learn as much – or more – from them as you will have the opportunity to share. Schools within this program are chosen based upon need, our ability to assist, their level of community engagement, proximity and availability.
What You Need to Know
- You will need an open mind and a positive attitude. Expect that the school setting will likely be quite different from what you are used to. Bring a giving heart that is willing to show the children what life looks like where you are from. Carry any resources that might help enhance the learning experience. Some of the things you may take for granted are not standard in all classrooms globally. Most of all, bring your creativity and patience to manage the young bundles of inquisitive energy who will make this experience so worthwhile that you will hate to leave.
- School staff are very highly regarded in the community. You will need to be respectful of the culture and the example you are setting for impressionable minds. The dress code is casual but conservative. All dresses, skirts or shorts must be below the knee. Blouses or shirts must have sleeves (no tank tops). Nothing worn can be see-through, revealing, nor have any offensive writing or photos. Failure to adhere to the dress code will prevent you from participating at the school.
- You can expect your day at the school to be 3-5 hours depending on whether you help during lunch.
- This program is available based upon the school schedule. Whenever holidays or testing prevents you from being on the school premises, you can choose to join other ongoing programs like agriculture, use the downtime for lesson planning or enjoy some local sightseeing.
- When possible, it is ideal for you to join this program for a minimum of 2 weeks. That will give the teachers, children and yourself the opportunity to make a lasting connection.
What is Needed
Every student needs the basics like pencils, pens, crayons, rulers and erasers. If you can bring a few chapter books, activity workbooks or coloring books that would be a bonus! Teachers could benefit from chalk, dry erase markers, pens, dictionaries, thesauruses, charts, graphs, resources, etc. Donations are greatly appreciated! If you cannot fit these items into your luggage, feel free to purchase them upon arrival, which also supports the local economy.
What is my schedule like?
- Breakfast at the residence.
- Make your way to the school to assist staff and students as assigned.
- Join in with class activities.
- Lunch at the residence.
- Afternoons can be flexible, from helping staff during class activities to doing independent lesson planning or visiting local sites.
- Dinner at the residence.
Your tasks may include:
- Cutting and cleaning up the grass areas around the farm
- Planting, weeding, watering, picking fruits, coffee and plucking tea.
- Helping take care of the livestock
- Addressing various community needs
- Learning about the use of nutrient rich water for soil-less farming (hydroponic farming)
Weekly Contribution
24,000 KSH ($200USD/EU)
Community Medical Experience Program
Quick Overview
Enjoy a truly unique medical setting experience! Shadow and learn about healthcare service delivery as you assist local staff at a rural hospital in Kenya.
Our Medical Program is aimed at participants with a medical background. Based on your level of skill and ability, you’ll be given a variety of tasks to help out in a local Kenyan medical center or hospital, serving those with limited access to affordable quality healthcare.
Description
Our Medical Program is geared toward increasing your knowledge and experience while helping the local villagers gain access to quality, affordable healthcare.
Kenya continues to be a developing country, and its health sector remains a work in progress. Communities, especially those in rural and less developed areas, really need healthcare assistance.
In some smaller communities, there may be government-owned healthcare centers and hospitals. Unfortunately, these are often understaffed, with limited facilities and equipment.
You will be pitching in right alongside local nurses, doctors and other medical staff in either a small healthcare center or a district hospital (depending on the needs at the time). Your level of education, experience, skill and ability will determine which tasks will be given to you.
Aims & Objectives
- Add to your practical work experience
- Exchange knowledge and practices with the local nurses and doctors
- Engage with the local community through service-based interactions
What is my schedule like?
- Breakfast at the residence
- Make your way to the hospital/clinic to assist staff and patients as assigned
- Join in with the hospital/clinic routine
- Lunch at the accommodation. Afternoons can be flexible, either helping staff at the hospital, doing independent planning for the next day or going for local sightseeing
- Dinner at the residence
Weekly Contribution
25,000 KSH ($210USD/EU)
Community Teaching Experience Program
Description
Local children in Kenya, especially those in rural areas, rarely have the chance to meet and interact with foreigners. Most do not even get the chance to practice English outside of the school setting, despite the language being one of the official languages of Kenya. Even interacting and speaking English properly with them may benefit their learning and increase their confidence with the language.
This is an opportunity to both teach and learn. Thanks to participants like you, primary school students who have never had the chance to interact with foreigners before are now meeting and learning about other cultures in their own school setting. Your efforts will not only help to expand their views, it will teach you a thing or two as well!
Keep in mind that you will be in charge of preparing lessons for the class where you will assist the teacher. This may be done in an informal way, so you are free to get creative! The favorite activities amongst the youngest students include games, gardening and singing.
What do you need to know?
- You will need an open mind and a positive attitude. Expect that the school setting will likely be quite different from what you are used to. Bring a giving heart that is willing to show the children what life looks like where you are from. Carry any resources that might help enhance the learning experience. Some of the things you may take for granted are not standard in all classrooms globally. Most of all, bring your creativity and patience to manage the young bundles of inquisitive energy who will make this experience so worthwhile that you will hate to leave.
- School staff are very highly regarded in the community. You will need to be respectful of the culture and the example you are setting for impressionable minds. The dress code is casual but conservative. All dresses, skirts or shorts must be below the knee. Blouses or shirts must have sleeves (no tank tops). Nothing worn can be see-through, revealing, nor have any offensive writing or photos. Failure to adhere to the dress code will prevent you from participating at the school.
- You can expect your day at the school to be 3-5 hours depending on whether you help during lunch.
- This program is available based upon the school schedule.
- When possible, it is ideal for you to join this program for a minimum of 2 weeks. That will give the teachers, children and yourself the opportunity to make a lasting connection.
What is Needed
Every student needs the basics like pencils, pens, crayons, rulers and erasers. If you can bring a few chapter books, activity workbooks or coloring books, that would be a bonus! Teachers could benefit from chalk, dry erase markers, pens, dictionaries, thesauruses, charts, graphs, resources, etc. Donations are greatly appreciated! If you cannot fit these items into your luggage, feel free to purchase them upon arrival, which also supports the local economy.
What is my schedule like?
- Breakfast at the residence.
- Make your way to the class to assist staff and students as assigned.
- Join in with class activities.
- Lunch at the residence.
- Afternoons can be flexible, from helping staff during class activities to doing independent lesson planning or visiting local sites.
- Dinner at the residence.
Weekly Contribution
24,000 KSH ($200USD/EU)
For All Gatanga Options
Requirements
Follow the government guidelines for visas and vaccines, including the hepatitis B vaccination. Please bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
Our volunteer program entails the following:
- Airport pick up
- An orientation meeting that includes a brief introduction to the country and a Swahili language lesson
- A clean, comfortable and friendly accommodation
- A safe and secure work placement
- A suitable volunteer project with our experienced and friendly coordinators 3-5 hours a day or more if volunteers choose
- Ongoing 24/7 support from the local team
- A certificate of completion
All weekends are free for the volunteers to travel to places of interest across the country at their own cost.
If a volunteer decides to spend an extra day at our accommodation, he or she will pay 35USD/EU per day.
We do airport pick ups every other SUNDAY at 10.00 am and 2.00 pm. We are however flexible in cases of delayed flights and will wait for the volunteer. Anyone arriving outside of these times will need to arrange a custom pick up at 35 euros.
Kindly note that we do not do airport drop offs for volunteers. The volunteers pay for their own drop off to the airport. (We however assist them in planning for taxis to drop them off on time)
Is there anything else I can bring with me as a donation for the community?
- Flash cards to help with the teaching (1-3 grade English and math)
- Soccer balls
- English phonics reading books
- Jump ropes
- Bubbles
- Any of your childhood favorite games to learn
- Any creative way you want to engage (ex: nail polish and lipsticks kits to do a beauty day, music, art)
- Gently used clothing
Please contact us to build your perfect volunteer adventure. You can stay in one place or visit all 3 locations. You won’t want to miss the experience of a lifetime.
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Please be advised that we do our best to provide a clear and manageable schedule for all persons joining the DGF programs. However, sometimes unforeseen circumstances beyond our control may require certain changes. These may include, but are not limited to, weather, political events, health matters or other local conditions. If something like this occurs, we will do our best to provide as much notice as possible. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding in these situations.