Affordable Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
Africa, Latin America, Asia

Due to the current travel advisory issued by the state department, all projects in Kenya have been temporarily suspended until July '08 or until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Health education is vital to the well being of the African continent. In the area that you will be working in, Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are widespread and prenatal and childbirth care are virtually nonexistent. Given these circumstances, it is vital that people know how to recognize signs of this disease, how to prevent disease, and when to seek medical help.

To help improve the health of families in our community, the local organization in Takaungu provides health education classes as an off-shoot of our adult-education program. They also have a wealth of health information available in our library which is open to the community, 5-days a week. Our classes and literature cover topics including maternal and child health, nutrition, malaria prevention and HIV/AIDS.

Minimum Program Length: 2 weeks
Start Date: Every Monday
Arrival Date: 2 days prior to your Start Date (Saturday)
Minimum Age: 18 years old
Volunteer Gender: Male and Female

Accommodation:
During their stay, all volunteers are housed with host families in the community they will be based. They will be provided with their own room which will have a bed with pillow and wardrobe with dresser. Since we started hosting volunteers, no volunteer has reported any problems with personal safety (or any other major issue). Also, our volunteer houses always have security at night.

Food:
You will be provided with three meals each day. The food is local and nutritious. Vegetarians are also catered for. Takaungu and the surrounding areas are very safe.

Pick-up Info:
A Volunteer Visions representative will be at the airport in Mombasa (or Malindi) to pick you up and will return you to the airport upon the completion of your volunteer experience.

Project Schedule:
Volunteers will participate in their program 4-6 hours from Monday to Friday. During the weekends, volunteers are free to travel to explore local communities or engage in activities with their homestay family.

Suggested Donations:
Donations of books, pens, notebooks, basic medical supplies, clothes, blankets, hygienic items, games etc. are welcomed. For large sum donations, please contact the Volunteer Visions office.

Volunteers are needed in order to empower the people of the Takaungu area wit the knowledge to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and to offer treatment when possible, particularly among mothers in the community we serve. Thousands of children are orphaned every year in Africa due to HIVE/AIDS. Without parents to care for them, they often face severe hardship, and are more likely themselves to be the victims of rape, abuse, hunger and disease. By education HIVE/AIDS infected mothers families can be kept intact longer and children will have an opportunity for a better life.

By helping out in the health education program you will partake in the following activities:

• Providing a library at the Center offering extensive general health information.


• Offering weekly public health lectures focusing on a variety of topics but including a significant HIV/AIDS component.


• Developing an education program for youth on HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, violence and family planning


• Creating drama productions with local youth, which address various health topics.

Suggested Skills and Interests

Most importantly the volunteers need to be open-minded, show initiative, have patience and ability to think creatively to overcome challenges. Self-motivation is very important as well. Volunteers should respect the culture, dress codes, and traditions very closely. They need to be flexible with local foods, accommodations and systems of living. Specific skills or trades that have been found in previous volunteers include, but are not limited to: teachers, health care professionals, social workers, community developers, construction workers, business professionals.

The village of Takaungu is a warm and welcoming traditional rural community located on the coast. Its red dirt roads lined with palm trees, white sandy beaches, and idyllic society make it the ideal place to get a taste of the African experience.

The Takaungu sub-location has a total population of approximately 10,000 people. Takaungu is the largest village in the Takaungu sub-location with a population of about 5,000. The other villages included in this sub-location include Vuma, Vijiweni, Kayanda, Kanyumbuni, Mavueni, and Mkwajuni.

Takaungu village is a short journey from Mombasa, a bustling port city alive with Swahili, Kenyan and Indian culture. Takaungu has all of the charm of a rural village, while still being within reach of many of the exciting aspects of Kenya's incredible environmental and cultural tourist destinations. Although some aspects of modern life are lacking in Takaungu (internet cafes, banks and modern grocery stores), all necessities are just a short journey away, located in nearby Kilifi town. There are landline and mobile phone services available in the village, as well as the popular boda-boda (bicycle taxi) transport. Volunteers in Takaungu never complain about the small inconveniences, as they are usually too busy making friends with the local residents, marveling at the beaches, or attending social events to even notice the lack of western luxuries.

There are only two seasons of mention on Kenya's coast. The cooler rainy season begins in April and lasts through to September. The warmer dry season reigns from October to March. "Dry" merely refers to the near-total absence of rain. March is the hottest month. May to August are the cool months. June is the coolest. As far as agriculture is concerned, planting is done in early May. Harvest is August and September.

Local Activities and Excursions

The local beach is called "Kitangani." It's a postcard and located less than 1 mile from Takaungu village. Kivukoni is the local name for what might otherwise be called the "Takaungu Creek." In actuality it's a salt-water inlet with no connection to any fresh water source. When the water "is full" (high tide), it's the best place to swim, next to mangroves and sometimes you can see monkeys in the trees.

In addition to weekends, volunteers are welcome to take 5 travel/vacation days off during their stay.

Here is a list of near by destinations you may be interested in: Mombasa - many sites to see in this old and historic coastal city; Lamu - magical island at the northern end of the Kenyan coast, Lamu seems to be the richest Kenyan preserve of Swahili culture; Malindi, Watamu and South Coast Mombasa are great locations for snorkeling and relaxing on pristine beaches. Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks - both great places to go on safari to see lions, zebras, elephants and other animals that make East Africa famous for it's wildlife.

Just outside Kenya there are other popular places to visit such as Zanzibar Island; The Great Serengeti in Tanzania; Trekking on Mt. Kilimanjaro; Kampala - Uganda's capital city located on Lake Victoria; white water rafting in Jinja - located at the mouth of the Nile - the longest river in the world.

Eco Safari Tour Our uniquely designed 2-week eco-cultural safaris enable you to travel to some of the most beautiful and exotic locations in Africa. You will experience local cultures, while volunteering part of your time assisting communities and/or conserving the environment. The program starts with a 1-week stay in Takaungu village on the coast of Kenya. You will spend one day in a highly informative orientation on the local culture, language, history etc. You will then have the opportunity to assist with one or more development related projects undertaken by a local grassroots development organization, the East African Center. In addition to assisting with development project(s), you will have the opportunity to experience/observe the following :

• :: Traditional palm wine and coconut oil manufacturing
• :: Village nature walks
• :: Traditional rope making
• :: Visit to the local schools
• Preparation and eating of local cuisine
• Henna / hair braiding
• Traditional singing and dancing
• Swimming at the local picturesque beach

On your second week you will take a 5-day tour of the countryside. The tour will include the following

• A visit to the marine park where you may be able to do some snorkeling (between October -March)
• A day tour of Mombasa including visits to Old Town, Fort Jesus, the market and shopping for souvenirs
• A two night stay at an exclusive 5 star beach resort
• An overnight stay at the shimba rainforest
• Two day safari to Tsavo National Park where you will have a chance to see literally hundreds of wild animals
• An overnight stay at the exclusive Voi Safari lodge within Tsavo National Park

The cost of the Eco-cultural safari is $1,500 USD. The fee covers food, accommodation, sightseeing and all your transportation during your stay. The eco -cultural safaris begin on the 5th of each month. A portion of the fe goes towards supporting local the local organization that you will be working with. If you are interested in joining the eco-cultural safari, please mention it in our questions and comments section of our application form.