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What does this
community project do?
This project encompasses a number of projects that aim to
alleviate some of the difficult circumstances facing many young
people living in Mombasa today. There are opportunities to work
with children who have been abandoned; orphaned as a result of
HIV/AIDS; or whose families may be entrenched in poverty and
unable to take care of them. Many of these children are street
kids who receive care and education at rescue centres and
children's homes. These projects exist to rescue, rehabilitate,
educate and relocate children who have suffered great hardships
as a result of poverty and difficult family backgrounds.
Why does this
project need volunteers?
By 2001 an estimated 890,000 children in Kenya had been orphaned
by the HIV/AIDS virus, and with 15% of the population between 15
and 49 believed to be carrying the virus, there is an increasing
number of children caught up in the wake of the epidemic. The
overall result has been a dramatic increase in the number of
children, from toddlers to teens, who are living on the streets.
Without the means to make any kind of living, they are subject
to severe poverty, abuse, drugs and worse. While some children
do have surviving relatives to take them in, often the families
cannot fully support them, and are able to provide little more
than a roof and the occasional meal.
The projects that i-to-i
work with in Mombasa endeavour to offer support and advice to
young people affected by homelessness, poverty and/or the
HIV/AIDS epidemic. Volunteers are desperately needed to support
the staff running the centres, and to provide some basic skills
and companionship. As English is a national language in Kenya,
English teachers are a permanent necessity and by helping in
these areas you can bring an invaluable skill to the young
people you work with.
Your role as a
volunteer:
Due to the nature of the projects, your time as a volunteer will
be full and varied. Work with children will involve an element
of teaching, which will usually be English, but also Maths,
Health Education and any other areas you feel comfortable
helping out with. For the older children, you can help out with
developing vocational skills, such as craft work, sports and
growing vegetables. You can also expect to assist with the
day-to-day running of the projects, including cooking, preparing
meals, cleaning and care work.
The skills you
need:
You will need to be flexible, and have initiative and enthusiasm
to face the many hurdles and challenges that you will inevitably
encounter within your role. To ensure that you get the most out
of and contribute fully to your project, a pro-active attitude
is essential. Any skills that you have in sports, music, drama,
art or fundraising will be more than welcome.
Above all, you must have
a love of children and commitment to the project. Volunteers
with experience in physical education may be able to get
involved with strenuous physical activities as part of
detoxification and rehabilitation programmes for children coming
off drugs. Volunteers may wish to educate themselves on HIV/AIDS
and other health issues facing young people.
Accommodation
included
You'll be staying in a shared volunteer house or homestay
according to availability. The accommodation will be basic but
clean. Transport to your project will be by matatu (multi-people
taxi) and will take about an hour.
Project
resources and advice:
The projects will have resources that they us on a daily basis
but these are likely to be minimal. You may need to bring or
purchase sports equipment, crafts or stationery, this can be
bought in Mombasa but please budget for this.
Local
facilities:
Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya and is also the
largest coastal port in East Africa. It has good transport
connections and is well linked to the rest of the country.
Facilities are good, with several banks, including Barclays,
internet cafes, tour operators and most of the other main
amenities you would expect from a city.
Food included
You will be provided with breakfast and dinner each day, which
will be made from locally sourced produce such as meat with
rice, ugali, chapattis or macaroni.
Things that you
will need to organize yourself:
Flights to Kenya: i-to-i can secure preferential rates, please
ask us
Travel insurance: i-to-i can secure preferential rates, please
ask us
Visa
In-country transport (except your airport pickup on arrival
date)
Tours, trips and add-ons: i-to-i can secure preferential
rates, please ask us
Extra equipment such as stationery, craft items, sports gear,
etc
Extra food
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