Touch Africa Network offers relevant, constructive and fulfilling volunteer placement in our affiliate community projects both in urban and rural areas of Kenya. Touch Africa Network is also in the process of creating a data base of outstanding community projects doing wonders at the grassroots level and yet remain little known, with little or no support and exposing them to the international community through our website. We also seek to create an interactive forum that would open up channels of communication between communities at the grassroots level with university student’s studying social sciences or humanity studies through a dynamic blog on our website. The blog will be an avenue to get direct, insightful, fresh information from the grassroots community.

Below are some of the volunteer projects where we are posting international volunteers and additional information to help volunteers make informed choices.

TEACHING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

TAN Partner Schools: - Illasit Primary School

Mathiwa Primary school

St. Lillian Primary school

Candle light Primary school

1.) About Illasit Primary School: Illasit primary school is a public primary school. Its an 8 hour drive form Nairobi, near the border with Tanzania and close to Mt Kilimanjaro. It is located in Illasit location, Kajiado district, rift valley province, in Kenya. The school has a student population of about 2000 students and 35 teachers. The school also hosts Touch Africa Network international volunteer work camps in the month of February and September. The surrounding community is made up largely by the Maasai tribe and a small number from the Kikuyu tribe.

Volunteer opportunities at Illasit primary: The school is open for long term (4weeks - 1year) volunteers willing to teach English and any other subject that they are comfortable with at the school. The only qualification is that one be an English speaker as a first language or be fluent in English. One need not have training as a teacher. Volunteers are requested to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Volunteers can also help in the school feeding program (Lunch) by helping in the preparation and serving of the meals to the students. Volunteers will be free to join the students in games, school plays through the drama club, motivational talks etc. the volunteer can join the school in as many activities as he/she wishes.

Volunteer accommodation: Volunteers at the school are accommodated by a host family (one of the teachers at the school) and the host family also provides both dinner and breakfast for the volunteer, lunch is provided at the school or one can choose to have lunch outside the school at their own expense. The volunteers are accommodated in a walking distance home so there are no transport expenses.

Places of interest: Illasit is centrally placed to offer easy access to various attractions, this include, Africa’s tallest mountain Mt. Kilimanjaro, Amboseli National park, Tsavo East and Tsavo West National park, Lake Chale etc.

Participation Fee: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 18 000 (140 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the host family housing the volunteers for the volunteers up keep while Ksh 9 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.

2.) About Mathiwa Primary School: Mathiwa primary school is a public primary school. It’s a 9 hour drive form Nairobi, near Lake Victoria. It is located in Ukwala location, Siaya district, Nyanza province, in Western Kenya. The school has a student population of about 1500 students and 25 teachers. The school also hosts Touch Africa Network international volunteer work camps in the month of October. The surrounding community is made up of the Luo tribe as is the wider Nyanza province. The Luo tribe is the same tribe that Barrack Obama(US Democratic presidential candidate) father belongs to.

Volunteer opportunities at Mathiwa primary: The school is open for long term (4weeks - 1year) volunteers willing to teach English and any other subject that they are comfortable with at the school. The only qualification is that one be an English speaker as a first language or be fluent in English. One need not have training as a teacher. Volunteers are requested to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Volunteers will be free to join the students in games, school plays through the drama club, motivational talks etc. the volunteer can join the school in as many activities as they wish.

Volunteer accommodation: Volunteers at the school are accommodated by a host family (one of the teachers at the school) and the host family also provides both dinner and breakfast for the volunteer, lunch is provided at the school or one can choose to have lunch outside the school at their own expense. The volunteers are accommodated in a walking distance home so there are no transport expenses.

Places of interest: Volunteers can have nature walks in the school vicinity during there stay at the school, they can also make visits to Kisumu city (Kenya’s third largest city, 1 hour drive) and also be able to access Lake Victoria on such visits. If one is interested they can make Visits to Barrack Obama ancestral home. One can also make arrangements to visits to Kakamega rain forest which is home to butterfly farms.

Participation Fee: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 18 000 (140 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the host family housing the volunteers for the volunteers up keep while Ksh 9 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.

3.) About St. Lillian Primary School: St. Lillian primary school is a private primary school. It’s a 45 Minutes drive form Nairobi. It is located on the outskirts of Nairobi, in Kitengela location, Kajiado district, rift valley province, in Kenya. The school has a student population of about 900 students and 15 teachers. The surrounding community is made up largely by the Maasai tribe and a significant number from the Kikuyu tribe.

Volunteer opportunities at Illasit primary: The school is open for long term (4weeks - 1year) volunteers willing to teach English or any other subject that they are comfortable with at the school. The only qualification is that one be an English speaker as a first language or be fluent in English. One need not have training as a teacher. Volunteers are requested to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Volunteers can also help in the school feeding program (Lunch) by helping in the preparation and serving of the meals to the students. Volunteers will be free to join the students in games, school plays through the drama club, motivational talks etc. the volunteer can join the school in as many activities as he/she wishes.

Volunteer accommodation: Volunteer at the school are accommodated by a host family (one of the teachers at the school) and the host family also provides both dinner and breakfast for the volunteer, lunch is provided at the school or one can choose to have lunch outside the school at their own expense. The volunteers are accommodated in a walking distance home so there are no transport expenses.

Places of interest: The school being in the out skirts of Nairobi one can enjoy all that the proximity to the capital city provides. The city center which is about 45 minutes from Kitengela has a vibrant night life. During weekends one can access the National museums, the Nairobi national park, art galleries plus many restaurants with local and international cuisines. From Nairobi one can arrange to venture into any part of Kenya.

Participation Fee: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 15 000 (120 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the host family housing the volunteers for the volunteer up keep while Ksh 6 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.

4.) About Candle Light Primary School: Candle Light primary school is a private primary school. It’s a 30 Minutes drive form Nairobi. It is located within Nairobi, in Embakasi constituency, Nairobi Province, in Kenya. The school has a student population of about 500 students and 10 teachers. The City of Nairobi is cosmopolitan and therefore the school caters for students from all tribes, religion and creed.

Volunteer opportunities at Candle Light primary: The school is open for long term (4weeks - 1year) volunteers willing to teach English or any other subject that they are comfortable with at the school. The only qualification is that one be an English speaker as a first language or be fluent in English. One need not have training as a teacher. Volunteers are requested to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Volunteers will be free to join the students in games, school plays through the drama club, motivational talks etc. the volunteer can join the school in as many activities as he/she wishes.

Volunteer accommodation: Volunteer working at Candle Light Primary School are accommodated at TAN central hostel in Buru Buru estate in Nairobi about 30 minutes drive to the school. The Nairobi hostel provides the volunteers with both dinner and breakfast.

Places of interest: The school being within Nairobi one can enjoy all that the capital city has to provide. The city center which is about 20 minutes from Buru Buru has a vibrant night life. During weekends one can access the National museums, the Nairobi national park, art galleries plus many restaurants with local and international cuisines. From Nairobi one can arrange to venture into any part of Kenya.

Participation Fee: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 15 000 (120 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the hostel housing the volunteers for the volunteer up keep while Ksh 6 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.

ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN

TAN Partner Orphan Homes: - Imani Children Homes (Nairobi)

Imani Children’s Home (Malindi, coast province)

Shepherds Children’s Home

About Imani Children’s Homes: Imani children homes are established as non-governmental, non profit organization. They take up orphaned and abandoned children from Kayole area and its environs. Imani A and B are located within Nairobi in an area called Kayole, northern parts of Nairobi. The third Imani is situated in Malindi, in the coastal province of Kenya (North coast). Imani A has a child population of about 30 orphans. It is designated for infants and toddlers below 4 years old. At this age (4years) they are transferred to Imani B (1 kilometer away) which caters for older children and has a population of about 40 orphans. Imani children’s home in Malindi has no age specification for the children; it has a population of about 25 orphans.

Volunteer opportunities at Imani Children’s Home: all three Imani homes are open for long term volunteers (4weeks - 1year). One need not have any special skills to volunteer in the homes. Its best if one is good with children and has a special love for the innocence only found in children, the children are used to having foreign volunteers working with them and there is always a volunteer or two with them all year round. So volunteers working at the home will also have a chance to work with other foreign volunteers from other countries. Work at the homes range form playing with the children, looking after the toddlers and even feeding them, helping in preparation of their meals and at Imani B one has a chance to work in the homes animal farm. Imani B has an animal farm with a few cows, goats, rabbits, fowls etc. Volunteers are requested to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Volunteers can join the children in as many activities as they wish.

Volunteer accommodation: Volunteers working at Imani children homes in Nairobi are accommodated at TAN central hostel in Buru Buru estate in Nairobi about 30 minutes drive to the home. Those working in the Malindi home will be hosted by a host family. The host family and the Nairobi hostel provides the volunteers with both dinner and breakfast.

Places of interest: Nairobi being the capital city of Kenya obviously has many places to see and hang out. The city center which is about 20 minutes from Buru Buru has a vibrant night life. During weekends one can access the National museums, the Nairobi national park, art galleries plus many restaurants with local and international cuisines. From Nairobi one can arrange to venture into any part of Kenya. Malindi is a major tourist destination and offers a myriad of options, from white sandy beaches to scuba diving and a sampling of the coastal culture.

Participation Fee for Imani A and B in Nairobi: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 15 000 (120 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the Nairobi hostel housing the volunteers for the volunteer upkeep while Ksh 6 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.
Participation Fee for Imani home in Malindi: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 18 000 (140 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the hostel or host family housing the volunteers for the volunteer upkeep while Ksh 9 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.

2.) About Shepherds Children’s Homes: Shepherds children homes is established as non-governmental, non profit organization. The home takes up orphaned and abandoned children from Kayole area and its environs. Shepherds children home is located within Nairobi in an area called Kayole, northern parts of Nairobi. Shepherds home has a child population of about 45 orphans. The home has no age specification for the children so the children at the home range form toddlers to 14 years of age.

Volunteer opportunities at Imani Children’s Home: Shepherds children’s home is open for long term volunteers (4weeks - 1year). One need not have any special skills to volunteer in the home. Its best if one is good with children and has a special love for the innocence only found in children, the children are used to having foreign volunteers working with them and there is always a volunteer or two with them all year round. So volunteers working at the home will also have a chance to work with other foreign volunteers from other countries. Work at the homes range form playing with the children, looking after the toddlers and even feeding them, helping in preparation of their meals. Shepherds has a large contrast compared to Imani in that it is not as developed as Imani. The home is in dire need of volunteers who can also undertake networking and fundraising initiatives to help the home access development partners as well as donor funding. Volunteers are requested to volunteer at least 20 hours a week. Volunteers can join the children in as many activities as they wish.

Volunteer accommodation: Volunteers working at Shepherds children’s home are accommodated at TAN central hostel in Buru Buru estate in Nairobi about 30 minutes drive to the home. The Nairobi hostel provides the volunteers with both dinner and breakfast.

Places of interest: Nairobi being the capital city of Kenya, obviously has many places to see and hang out. The city center which is about 20 minutes from Buru Buru has a vibrant night life. During weekends one can access the National museums, the Nairobi national park, art galleries plus many restaurants with local and international cuisines. From Nairobi one can arrange to venture into any part of Kenya.

Participation Fee: Volunteers pay a participation fee of Kenya shillings 15 000 (120 British pounds) per person per project monthly. Ksh 9 000 goes directly to the hostel or host family housing the volunteers for the volunteer upkeep while Ksh 6 000 goes to TAN to cover operational costs.