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GYC2974 - Children's homes Country: Kenya Cost: £2625.00 Please note: No extra cost Cost Includes: The price includes flight, accommodation, food and pickup from airport but does not include insurance, kit or visas      Duration: 3 months (3 - 6 months available) Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7521 or

 

	This placement would suit... Caring, flexible volunteers who are ready to work hard to improve the lives of these children. Where are the placements ? The Changing Worlds Kenya placements are all in south west of the country - some three to four hours’ drive from the capital city of Nairobi in the rural towns of Naivasha and Nakuru. You will be working with poor and orphaned children in institutions in and around these towns. Many children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Many have become street children living a hand to mouth existence. It is only out of the goodness of people’s hearts that these children can now enjoy a roof over their heads and a full and proper diet. Changing Worlds can offer you a choice of placements although we are determined by the needs of the various establishments at any given time. We ask all volunteers to be flexible - after all this is Africa! What will I do ? You will work as a carer in the children’s home; that means you can expect to turn your hand to all aspects of life in the institution. The hosts like to have volunteers because they feel it improves the general level of spoken English for the children. In some placements there is some formal teaching but generally it is teaching through play. Re-learn your nursery rhymes before you depart! In the past, volunteers have found themselves fulfilling all kinds of duties from getting the children up every morning to helping feed them to organising events to helping the staff in the office. Each institution has its own unique method of deploying volunteers. We need people who can be flexible. In all cases you are working side by side with local colleagues. We are anxious that volunteers are not replacing local staff by rotating our support around different institutions. Where will I live ? You will live with a local family near the children’s homes where you are working. You can either walk to the children’s home or you might invest in a cheap bicycle to give you greater flexibility to get out and about. Accommodation is basic but safe. You can expect to share a room with at least one other Changing Worlds volunteer. There will be access to toilet and shower. All food and drinking water is provided. Your host family will supply breakfast and an evening meal. The school will provide lunch when you are at work. What support do I get ? Changing Worlds will brief you in the UK before you depart. We introduce you to the sensitive issues of culture, safety and health. You will be met on arrival to Nairobi. We organise a few days relaxing in the city. Karanja the Changing Worlds representative will introduce himself and tell you more about what lies ahead. Karanja will have organised your transport to the placement. Karanja will keep in regular contact with you and your hosts throughout your placement period to see that all is well. If you have a work-related problem then your first contact will be the head teacher of the school. What do I need ? You will require a six-month tourist visa for Kenya (cost £60). Changing Worlds will brief you on how to obtain the visa. You will need to gain adequate travel insurance for your entire time overseas. Am I eligible ? Yes, as long as you love children and are prepared to work long hours. What do I do in my free time ? You can expect to work during the week (about a two thirds timetable) so the weekends will be your chance to explore the local markets, shops and nightlife. There is so much to explore in Kenya you will simply be spoilt for choice - Nakuru National Park is less than one hour away. The park is home to millions of pink flamingos, giraffes and rhinos and this is on your doorstep! For those based in Naivasha the nearby freshwater lake is the home to many hippos and is teeming with birdlife! Further a field there is the Masai Mara game reserve with the greatest concentration of animals anywhere on the planet! 0845 344 7521 Changing Worlds: Up for a real adventure? Want to be fully immersed in to a new culture whilst making new friends? ….... Changing Worlds organises exciting, worthwhile and challenging paid and voluntary work placements worldwide. Opportunities last from three to six months and departures take place all year round.