DO YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN KENYA?

We love having volunteers to work side by side with the Kenyan GORP staff, the artisans, and the children in GORP Kids Program in Nairobi, Kenya.  We accept individual volunteers or pairs of volunteers and typically accept volunteers in the summers, but sometimes have openings at other times of the year too.  Here are some common questions people ask us:

WHAT WOULD I DO?

• Participate in devotions with the artisans
• Help artisans design and create products and train them on quality control
• Plan and teach Bible, art, reading, music, PE, theater and other lessons for our kids program
• Read with children and help with homework
• Play soccer with the teens on our soccer team and provide discipleship
• Help with home visits for GORP Kids Program
• Field trips and retreats with GORP Kids and artisans.
• Teacher and leadership training
• Teach at Grain of Rice Academy

AND...OTHER THINGS BASED ON YOUR TALENTS AND INTEREST AND OUR NEEDS!

WHO CAN COME TO KENYA?

If you are self-motivated, mature, trustworthy, energetic, and innovative, you'd be a great fit.  We hope you enjoy working with children and have a heart for serving.  You should be open to new experiences and willing to embrace all aspects of a new culture including the food, events, transportation, and more. Most importantly, volunteers are willing to be challenged and stretched and live a simplified lifestyle.

WHERE WOULD I STAY?

It depends on the size of your group.  Larger groups stay at a simple guesthouse or apartment housing near our center.  The GORP center where you'd be during the day is located in Kibera Slum and is equipped with running water, electricity, and a fridge. However, at times there can be power outages throughout Nairobi, and this neighborhood is no exception. Please understand that life in Kenya is different from life in the U.S., and volunteers will not have the same amenities that they have at home. This experience is about being flexible and adaptable to new conditions.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

GORP strives to keep costs reasonable for our volunteers. Volunteers are responsible for paying for their own plane tickets and travel insurance. We can advise you of the best place to purchase flights and insurance at reasonable rates. Check out www.volunteercard.com for options to purchase travel insurance. The below costs include housing, transportation to and from the airport, visa costs, laundry, and 3 meals per day:

$800 for 2 weeks  + airfare

A typical breakfast consists of Kenyan chai tea and bread and jam or pancakes or eggs. Cereal is also available in the local supermarkets. Lunch is typically rice, ugali, or lentils with vegetables. Dinner is usually a common Kenyan dish: rice and beans; chapati and vegetables; fish and ugali, fresh fruit, etc. Volunteers will take turns helping cook meals. Western food and snacks can be purchased on your own at nearby grocery stores. Please note that some foods may be different than what you’re accustomed to, but being flexible is important to respecting and adapting to a new culture.

OTHER COSTS:

Transportation:

• Nearby stores and restaurants are within walking distance of the workshop; however, volunteers may wish to use public transportation (which is cheaply priced, averaging $1 per trip) to get to bigger grocery stores or motor taxis. If you need to take a taxi for site seeing, the cost is similar to taking a taxi in the U.S. Volunteers will pay these costs.

Additional trips and excursions: There are many tourist attractions to see throughout the city of Nairobi and in other parts of Kenya and this is a great way to support the local economy. GORP staff can help arrange any of these trips. A day trip to the nearby national park costs approximately $150. 3-day safari trips to Masai Mara cost approximately $400 per person.

Vaccinations: All volunteers are required to consult with their healthcare professional to determine which vaccines will be needed prior to coming to Kenya. We recommend at a minimum that you be vaccinated for Typhoid Fever and Hepatitis A and B and have an updated Tetanus shot.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Below is our application, and we also require a $200 non-refundable deposit with your application (we will send you an invoice).  If you are accepted to volunteer, the deposit will be applied towards the cost of your trip.  If space is unavailable or you are not accepted, we will return your deposit.  Fill out the form below and  and we will be in touch shortly.  If you have questions before applying, feel free to reach out to us through the CONTACT page on our site.