Volunteer Teaching Program in Kenya - Nairobi

Overview

Volunteers joining the Teaching Volunteer Program in Kenya assist with the teaching of different subjects in Kenyan elementary and high schools. Volunteer teachers can assist with subjects such as mathematics, science, geography, social studies, history, business education, English, art, and music.

Please note that Kenyan school holidays occur in April, August, and from late November to the end of December. No teaching will be available during these times. Instead, volunteers will be placed in childcare and youth programs.

In this program, volunteers teach the classes on their own or assist the current staff and teachers.Volunteering in the Teaching program would give the volunteers an invaluable work experience of working overseas on a Teaching placement.

A majority of our volunteers work in primary school placements in the suburban areas of the capital city of Nairobi.

Sample Placement Profile - Kanjeru Primary
Kanjeru Primary School is a public school which is located in Kabete constituency of Kiambu County in suburban Nairobi. It was started in 1954 as a community informal school with mud structures and grew to a fully registered school in 1962. It occupies 9 acres of land and has 16 permanent classrooms, ablution, block, a hall and an administrative block.

The current enrolment of the school is more than 850 pupils which consist of around 790 pupils in primary, 56 in special education and 79 in early childhood development education.

The school has classes from pre primary to grade 9.The school follows the approved curriculum by the Ministry of Education and all the teaching staff in the primary school are qualified and are employed by the Teachers Service Commission.

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteering Solutions provide accommodation in Nairobi at a volunteer house. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;

Sunday - Arrival at the program destination
Monday - Orientation + introduction to the placement (commute + local staff + kids +places to eat etc.). An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Kenya
Tuesday to Fri - Volunteer work
Breakfast - 07:30 am onwards (self made by volunteers at the accommodation)
Leave for the project - 08:00 am
Working hours at the placement - 09:00 to 03:00 pm
Lunch - 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm (volunteers need to manage lunch on their own. Timings can vary depending on school timetable)
Dinner - 07:30 pm onwards (provided at the accommodation)

The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards

Weekends - Free to explore the city, and do activities such as;

Visit the elephant orphanage, giraffe center, Mamba village
Visit the local markets and buy souvenirs
Go for a safari
Spend time at Karura forest in the city

For those inclined to travel further away for fun activities, one can go biking to Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha (1.5 hours from the accommodation), climb Mt. Longonot (1.5 hours from the accommodation), or visit Thompson Falls (3 hours from the accommodation).One could also go to Mombasa and experience sandy beaches on the weekends.

Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer teachers are a precious resource and always welcome. Usually volunteers work alongside the staff English teachers, or even lead the classes in improving the pronunciation and conversational skills. Volunteers are welcome to bring in their own ideas to the classroom as well to make it more engaging and fun to study. A typical list of tasks of volunteer working for the Teaching program in Kenya includes;

Preparing lesson plans (if possible)
Assisting teachers in conducting classes for children
Helping with general work which comes up (Reception, translations)
Preparing tests
Helping in improving the vocabulary of the students
Implementation of new ideas and teaching methods (if possible)

Volunteers can also get involved in teaching other activities such as art, music or physical education depending on the participants interest and skill level. After consultation with the school management, you can impart valuable life skills such as first aid training to the students as well.

Project Requirement

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.

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Living

Just pack your bags and land in Nairobi and get working at your volunteering placement. The rest is for us to handle, from your airport transfers, your stay, food and weekend tours, we manage and facilitate everything for you.

Airport Transfer

You will be met by our representative at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi from where you are transferred to the accommodations in Nairobi itself. Volunteers who will be already in Kenya or arriving overland would need to give us their contact details so that the pickup can be arranged from a specific location.

Accommodation

Volunteer Accommodations is provided in a volunteer house or in a homestay. The volunteer house is taken care of by localhost and has all the modern amenities available to ensure a comfortable stay for the volunteers. Some of the facilities available are showers, microwave, and refrigerator in the kitchen and a lounge area for the volunteers. Rooms in the volunteer house are typical dorm style rooms with 4-8 participants of the same gender sharing a room.

Orientation

A half day orientation will be provided by our staff in Nairobi. Areas like culture, safety, locations, transportation are covered in the Orientation. After your orientation is over, you will be introduced to your project.

Meals

Volunteers are provided with 2 meals(Breakfast and Dinner) on weekdays and three meals during the weekends. Typical meals include Ugali, Chapatti, Chai (Tea), Bread and rice with vegetables and fruits. Volunteers also purchase supplies from the supermarkets and take with them packed food cooked on own to the project.

During your Free Time

Majority of the volunteers go on safari trips on the weekends. Volunteers usually take the two days or the extended three-day safari. While in Nairobi you can explore the different places of interest in the city.

Dates

January

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

Available

Filling Fast

Booked Out

Costs

Duration	Program Fee	Choose your currency
1 Week	$350
2 Weeks	$480
3 Weeks	$610
4 Weeks	$740
5 Weeks	$870
6 Weeks	$1000
7 Weeks	$1130
8 Weeks	$1260
Extra Week	$150

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you Paying For?

24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
Airport Pickup
Orientation
Food - 2 meals a day
Accommodation
Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)

What's NOT Included?

Airfare
Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at an extra cost)
Local Transportation
Visas
Vaccinations

FAQ's

Health and Safety

Do I need to buy health insurance?: Yes, for all volunteers it is mandatory to have a travel medical insurance. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
How safe is Kenya and Nairobi in particular?: Kenya is one of the most popular destinations of the world visited by many tourists and nature enthusiasts. The Kenyan people are very warm and friendly towards foreigners.

Volunteers are informed about the necessary safety precautions during the Orientation session as well as in the pre-departure information guide. You will have the assistance and support of the in-country coordinator in Kenya. It is strongly recommended to follow the safety rules and regulations provided by the in-country coordinator.
What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?: Participants are recommended to consult their travel doctor before their arrival in Kenya.

All travelers are required to carry an International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card) to show proof of yellow fever immunization.

The recommended vaccinations are as follows:

Yellow Fever

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid

Application and Program Details

Can I volunteer as part of a group?: We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.

In our experience of more than 12+ years we have enabled and facilitated volunteer program placements for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.

Kenya is one of our popular destination among student groups and is highly recommended for family volunteering as well.
What is the best time to apply for volunteer programs in Kenya?: VolSol recommends all its volunteers to apply well in advance. Our major booking seasons are from January to July and September to December.

As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is strongly recommended to apply for the program and reserve your spot in the program well in advance. You can book your spot in the program by filling an online form and pay the application fee.

Once you complete your application, your individual 'My Account' will be active in which you will receive your placement confirmation after which you can pay the program fees. You can pay the program fees later as well in installments, but 45 days before the program starts.
Can I know more about the Program Location in Kenya?: Volunteering Solutions offers programs in Nairobi and its suburbs such as Kikuyu, Riruta, Zambezi and Kawangware. Popularly known as ‘Green City in the Sun’, Nairobi is the capital of Kenya and is the largest city in the country.
How long does it take to process my application? Will my application be accepted?: After you complete your application, your personalized ‘My Account’ will be active.You will need to upload your CV/Resume along with your photo in the same. Our backend team and the placement site takes around 10-12 days to review your application. After we review your CV and documents, your booking is confirmed and booking confirmation is updated in your ‘My Account’. Some projects need a mandatory criminal background check and the same is mentioned in the project info of your program. Approval of your application depends on your qualification and eligibility criteria for each project.
When do I need to arrive in Kenya for my program? What will happen once I arrive in Kenya?: All volunteers need to arrive on the mentioned program arrival dates.

Volunteers are picked up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, by the in-country coordinator or representative and will be transferred to the accommodation. Those who are arriving overland or are already in Kenya? will be picked up at a meeting point decided beforehand.
Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the Kenya volunteer programs?: Yes, the program requirements are as follows:

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the program.

Need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Keep your expectations real and humble.

The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.

Participants must be in good health.

For Medical /Healthcare Program, participants must be at least 18 yrs old and be a Pre-Medical, Medical, Nursing Students or Medical Professional. Participants possessing other qualifications such as CNA, midwives are also welcome to join the program. All medical program participants need to provide a copy of their certifications/ credentials along with their passport copies.

Flights and Visa

What are the recommended airlines to fly to Kenya?: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is the busiest airport in East Africa and serves as the hub for international flights in that region. It is well connected with flights from major European, Middle Eastern and Asian cities.

Some of the major airlines operating in Kenya are:

Kenya Airways

British Airways

Turkish Airlines

KLM Dutch Airlines

Swiss Air

Emirates

Etihad Airways

Egypt Air
Do I need to take a Visa to go to Kenya?: Participants can attain the Visa on arrival at Nairobi airport or can apply for Kenyan Visa beforehand at the nearby embassy. Citizens of most of the countries can get Visa on arrival at the airport in Nairobi. Further details will be provided in the Pre-departure booklet for the participants.

Accommodation and Living

Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?: The accommodations are provided in a volunteer home in Nairobi. The volunteer’s home is well equipped with all the modern amenities to ensure a comfortable stay for the volunteers. In certain cases, volunteers are also accommodated in the orphanage project premises itself.

Volunteers are provided two meals a day. Breakfast usually comprises of toast, tea, fruits, ?and eggs. Dinner usually comprises traditional Kenyan or Western foods.
Are there more expenses once I arrive in Kenya?: Your program fee covers your food, accommodation, airport pick-up, orientation, pre-departure information and in-country staff support. You will need to cover yourself for your personal expenses, such as traveling, airport drop, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing etc. Traveling to Kenya is cheap; however, you should carry around $50 - $75 per week for your basic personal expenses, such as water, local transport, phone etc. The cost for return airport transfer is around $50.

For organizing weekend excursions, the in-country coordinator will help you to book the same at the best prices.
Can vegetarians be accommodated?: Yes - please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can help ensure you are able to order the best food! Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
For how many hours will I volunteer every day?: Volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours a day, for 5 days a week depending on their program. You will have weekends free to explore in and around the city. However, volunteers need to be flexible, open minded and understand that work requirements can change as well on certain occasions.
Would I have free time during my program ? Can I do sightseeing during my program?: Volunteers work for 5-6 hours in a day for 5 days a week depending on the program requirements. You will have the evenings and weekends free for you to explore in and around the city. During the weekends, you can take a safari to Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru National Park or the Nairobi National Park. You can also go on a short excursion and interact with the locals, learn about their cuisines and customs. In Nairobi, volunteers can visit Masai market, Bomas of Kenya, Giraffe center and Carnivore Restaurant.

We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the ‘Add-on Tours’ section in your ‘My Account’. You in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in the country.
Where can I change my money in Kenya? Are there ATMs in Kenya?: You can change money at any bank or at the airport by showing your passport. Volunteers can exchange money at the currency exchange counters located at the airport. There are ATMs located all around the capital city, Nairobi.The major banks in Kenya are Barclays, Equity Bank, NIC Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank.
How do I get to the program location?: After providing the Orientation about city, placement, project and culture, your in-country coordinator will take you to your project placement on the first day and introduce you to everyone. You will be given the directions to reach the project location from your accommodation and briefed about the mode of transport to be used.
What clothing is appropriate? Any cultural restrictions?: We recommend comfortable, casual and semi-casual clothing: sweat shirts, shorts, jeans, skirts and any other daily wear. It is recommended to include warm clothing for nights, especially if you are volunteering in July and August. Avoid flashy and expensive items such as jewelry etc.

While traveling, it is recommended to follow local etiquette and customs. Female volunteers need to wear pants and/or long skirts. Dressing in Nairobi is quite liberal. However, approach it with cultural sensitivity in mind. You will be provided with a kit list in your pre-departure? booklet. As for footwear, hiking boots, old sports shoes or open-toed sandals are recommended.

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past and current volunteers of Kenya?: We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering">https://www.facebook.com/VolunteeringSolutions/">Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook">https://www.facebook.com/groups/volunteeringsolutions/">Facebook Group to connect with other participants and our team.

To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit ?the Meet">https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/meet-a-volunteer">Meet a Volunteer section on our website.