Volunteer in East Africa. Millions of children have been orphaned due to AIDS or civil war. Food and shelter are the most important needs; however, without education, the population will remain poverty stricken.
Volunteer packages, including accommodations, all meals, and donations - prices start at $250 US per week. See below for projects and your costs.
Doing philanthropic work will get you involved with the local people in a way that nothing else can. Anyone can become a volunteer, even children. From painting schools to organizing art projects, every little bit of effort helps and the smiles of gratitude will be imbedded in your memory forever. You will have an unforgettable experience and everyone wins. Below are some of the projects we are supporting.
VOLUNTEER PROJECTS IN UGANDA, KENYA AND TANZANIA
UGANDA
Jinja and area
Accommodations range from homestays to 4 star hotels.
Painting or building schools - Help build or refurbish classroom blocks at rural primary schools. Many of the existing government schools have classrooms that have been condemned. Most volunteers here spend their time painting inside or outside the new rooms or assisting with a range of building activities.
Teaching - In the Jinja area, there are 2 preschools for orphans where you can assist the teachers with the children. A brand new Education Centre with a science lab and 2 computers has been built so that all children in the area can visit at least once to look through a microscope. There are a number of opportunities to help with literacy training, sewing lessons or computer skills training.
Counseling and outreach - Network for Family Health and Advocacy cares for HIV/AIDS orphans, desperately poor and vulnerable children where regular visits by volunteers are paid to the children at their homes or school, and reports are kept on their progress. Another program offers outreach health education and counseling.
Other areas in Uganda
Mbale - St. Kizito Babies' Home - 1 year ago they had 22 orphaned and abandoned babies. They now have 41 babies left in the care of Sister Syphrose. Cooking is done in an old and very hot kitchen. They need food, a nursery school, clothing, toys, books, teachers, and people who love to care for babies. Accommodations can be on-site or in hotels in the area.
Murchison Falls– This site is suited to large groups. School and conservation projects are upcoming in the Murchison Falls National Park area. Builders, painters, teachers, skill sharers and funding are required. Groups are welcome to participate on the Murchison projects. Volunteers will be working in conjunction with The Uganda Wildlife Association inside the park or at schools helping with refurbishment. Accommodations are very basic and dorm style.
KENYA
Kendu Bay
MORCAO project – Over 4400 orphans and vulnerable children are living with guardians who are often not able to provide adequate food or medical care. Many grandmothers are the caregivers, and are often too old or sick to work in order to feed their grandchildren. Needs are teachers, agriculture workers, caregivers, medical workers, people who want to share a skill and funding. Accommodations will be basic homestay.
Nairobi – The Flomina Hope Foundation. On the edge of Kenya’s largest slum, lives a woman who is trying to care for 217 orphans on her own. They have only 1 small dorm, made of metal, to house 30 boys in 10 beds. Each night Florence takes 34 girls home with her, to keep them safe. All the rest of the orphans and vulnerable children are sent out to the community to sleep in the slum homes of desperately poor but caring people. The orphanage needs proper housing. This place is desperate but as their name says, they have "hope". They need dorms, beds, bedding, classrooms, school supplies, teachers, builders, cleaners, people who can share any skill, and people who just love children. Accommodations range from homestay to 5 star hotels in Nairobi.
Mombasa – The Calvary Zion Children's Home in Kiembeni District houses 35 orphaned or abandoned children, providing meals, shelter and education. Calvary Zion has 4 paid employees and rely on volunteers and sponsorship. A previous volunteer has set up a British charity as a way af making donations to this orphanage. Check it out at http://www.czchildrenshometrust.org/. Accommodations range from homestay to 5 star hotels.
TANZANIA
Moshi
Msamaria – The Msamaria Center for Street Children is providing care and support to street children, families and the local community. This is a new center accommodating up to 50 boys aged 7 to 16. The boys live and attend school here and will hopefully be able to return to their homes eventually. Accommodations range from homestay to 3 star hotels.
TCC – Tanzanian Children’s Concern is a school for orphans and children with HIV. Currently there are 110 children attending the school. They also have an outreach program and are hoping to be able to build a dorm for about 300 children on some newly purchased land. Accommodations range from homestay to 3 star hotels.
