What our customers say about Kenya

Here are some comments from customers who have already been to Kenya with i-to-i:

Mombasa, Kenya - Community Development

"Overall it was an amazing experience. I think everyone should do this at least once as it's a real eye-opener. And coming back you really appreciate the small things in life. Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend. "
Danielle Thompson, Community work with AIDS orphans in Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa, Kenya - Community Development

"Just to let you know im having an amazing time in mombasa and yes i really do feel like a local now. the project i am on is amazing and i love working with the kids. Everybody here is real friendly and helpful. Some matatus still try to charge us extra but know we know how much they actually are so they cant fool us."
Stacey Rainbow, Community work with children in Mombasa, Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya - Community Development

"The family I stayed with were so great! Joy Divine Children's Center was amazing and the directors Mary and Fred were so nice to me. If I would have known how much this trip would have affected me, I would have initially signed up for a longer stay."
Matthew Bauer, HIV / AIDS Community work in and around Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya - Community Development

"I am having a brilliant time thanks, I do feel like a local and I definately have lots of things to tell my friends when I get home."
Rachel Smith, Community work with children in and around Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya - Community Development

"First of all, the experience is amazing. No matter what you're doing or where you're going, when you come back you will feel very special. I feel different just knowing I've been "exposed" to Kenya, while most people I meet have never seen anything outside the first world. In the month I worked with these children I saw improvements and progressions, so even though it sometimes feels like there's nothing you can do to change the world, I actually felt useful through my work.

While I was in Nakuru there were three different orphanages hosting volunteers: Philadelphia, London and SCAN. They are all very different and I'd encourage you to spend at least a day at each one to understand the different ways of doing things and the different progressions of charity work. At Philadelphia the kids were on vacation from school so it was sometimes difficult to get a sense of accomplishment through the day. I spent a lot of time cuddling with the kids, playing tag, making crafts, skipping rope and letting them teach me how to cook, clean or play sports.

My role here was basically to empower the children, to assure them that they are important, unique and intelligent. I didn't get to visit SCAN but lived with volunteers who worked there. They had similar troubles at first because the boys were on vacation, but eventually they got to teach classes everything from poetry and math to the 18-year-olds to play-dough and colouring with the pre-schoolers. I spent most of my time at London, the youngest of the orphanages (only 7 months old) where I taught conversational English to 8-12 year olds. They were extremely eager to learn and we had a lot of fun together. At all three orphanages there was always friendly help from the staff available if you needed it, but there was also a lot of freedom to teach whatever I wanted.

I stayed with Veronica Waranjou (I think that's how you spell it) and there were no complaints. She has two apartments in a small apartment building and the volunteers have all the freedom they could ask for. It was almost a hostel situation because at one point there were 8 volunteers, and we barely saw anything of Veronica or her daughter (20 year old Lydia). But there's also a good dose of Kenyan culture because the housekeeper, Monica, cooked us great Kenyan food and you're in the heart of Nakuru instead of off in some protected villa. I thought it was a perfect balance between the freedom and opportunity to meet people that you would get at a hostel, and the culture and intimacy you would get at a homestay. There were always old volunteers ending their placements and new ones coming in, and the volunteers worked at a variety of different projects so there was a nice atmosphere.

As for malaria, once you get to Kenya you start to hear lots of different stories about people who slept under mosquito nets and took daily pills but still got sick. Every volunteer gets sick while in Kenya, whether it's from mosquitos, the food, the water, or the kids (I was bit by a dog!) but i-to-i takes very good care of you if you're sick, and there's a fairly good clinic right across the street from where I stayed (the floors are clean, the staff is kind and responsible and the doctor left me feeling pretty confidant). Testing for malaria is a quick and easy blood test that's fairly routine at any hospital, so if you feel feverish there's no doubt that you'll get the proper treatment.

I brought along toys and books from Canada to give from my community to the children and this worked really well. There's not much in any of the orphanages and they're always appreciative of anything from pens and paper to balls, skipping ropes and sweets. Most stuff you can buy at one of the three supermarkets in Nakuru, and this can work well if you're not sure what the kids will need.

However sometimes quality and price will be better in your hometown, so it's up to you what you do. And the kids are more than happy just to have your company, so don't feel pressured to bring more.

I don't know that there's anything I really wish I new or wish I'd done differently. If you keep an open mind, have a willingness to try new things and stay relaxed you should have an awesome time. I wish I could be coming with you! "
Amy Attas, Community work with children in Nakuru, Kenya