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Kenya - Community Building and Teaching

Challenge:: Building and Teaching
Destination:: *Kenya, Africa Combos
Departure Dates From:: 15/01/2011

Overview

Madventurer community projects in Kenya are located deep in the Rift Valley near both Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha with spectacular panoramas and breathtaking escarpments. Kenya is also a land where most of the population of rural village's lives in abject poverty and where the cherished grasslands and lush forests are under threat from the dramatic onset of desertification. Yet despite its troubles, you will be warmly greeted by the people of the rural areas.

Trip Details

Group size: Minimum of 4 and maximum of 16

Project: Combination of Building and Teaching

Accommodation: Living in a rural house in the village

Age: Minimum of 17 years old and upwards

Airport: arrival Nairobi airport

Full Trip Notes: Included on the link below

Departure Dates & Prices: Included at the bottom

Building

The type of building project we get involved in varies and depends on volunteer numbers. In the past we have helped to build sanitation blocks, water storage tanks, school classrooms, clinics, community halls and basic housing. The key to any project is the partnership between our team and the local community. As well as bringing essential funding to the project, the presence of a team of Volunteers in the village community can be a great motivator to local people. No previous building experience necessary, we hire local tradesmen or craftsmen to do the specialised parts.

Teaching

At what level, and to what extent, teachers get involved is up to each individual. During the first week of the project, the Madventurer Crew Leader will introduce Volunteers who want to teach to the Principal of the local school to discuss the Volunteers interests and skill areas, and how these fit in with the school's needs. Most volunteers teach English.

School Term

The term times in Kenya differ somewhat to our own in that the start of the school year is in January. There is then half term during Easter (around 3 weeks off), and after taking all of August off, the second term starts in September through to November. Please be aware of this when planning for your trip - if your trip does coincide with a holiday, it is possible to arrange some extra curricular activities with the children if you wish.

Pre-departure links

The following links will take you to our pre-departure information for the Kenya Community Projects. You can access the "Full Project Trip Notes for 2010" departures. The trip notes will give you all the info you need to get organised including itinerary, what to pack, arrivals & departures, accommodation, visas, safety, security, cultural sensitivity plus lots more.

Pre-Departure Links

Volunteers Feedback and Quotes

Mad Tribe Blog

Mad Crew Blog from Jan 2010 project
Jan/Feb Kenya project volunteers photos
Mad volunteer Blog from March 2010 project
March 2010 Kenya project volunteers photos
July 2010 Kenya project volunteers photos
Mad in Kenya Blogs
Mad Tribe Blog in Kenya 2009
Project Photos from 2009 volunteers
Mad Videos

More Useful Links

If you have any questions on our Kenya projects then just get in touch on 0845 121 1996 or drop Elaine an email on elainel@madventurer.com

Volunteers Feedback

Volunteer Matthew Easton Kenya project July/Aug 6 weeks:

Overall Experience - "The experience has been so life enhancing and has given me memories that will stick with me for a lifetime. I have made a lot of great friends this summer with whom I intend to stay in touch with for years to come".

Day in the life of a Kenya volunteer - "Wake up early to the sound of a cockerill screeching and find that you have your face stuck in a mosquito net. A plentiful breakfast of fruit and bread before jumping into your muddy wet boots and embarking on a long walk to the project site. Speak to the siteforeman first thing to see where he needs you to work that day then grab a shovel and get stuck in. The morning session is always a good one as the temperature has not quite reached max yet and you have chai time to motivate you. Rose and Anne would turn up at 11 with chapattis and tea to give you an enery boost and chance to rest. Most days you would have at least one or two lessons of teaching before lunch. After lunch finding the motivation to get off the sofa and drag yourself back to the project site was always testing but became part of the daily routine. In the afternoon you would have to cope with the scorching heat and falling energy levels but the prospect of a tusker at the holiday inn bar after work would always keep me going. When it was four o'clock we would down tools for the day and clean up. Several times a week we would gather a team of madventurers to take on the schools football team in a very competitive clash between Kenyans and Mzungu. Then we would no doubt end up in the holiday inn to drown our sorrows after yet another defeat. The evenings often involved a bit of washing, a bucket shower and lots of card games. Dinner would be served around seven and then depending on the day of the week we may or may not have organised a night entertainment at the house or venture out to one of the bars in nearby Gilgil. At the end of the day you feel shattered but satisfied after an honest days labour and the thin mattress on the floor looks like the most comfortable bed you have ever seen".