Kenya Volunteer Programs from $23/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

Volunteering in Kenya was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I had the opportunity to teach English in a Maasai community and the two weeks that I spent there were absolutely amazing. The family made me feel at home since the very first day that I arrived. I learned about their culture and traditions, their language, their food and many other things. I was very lucky because in my placement I had the opportunity to begin my day teaching English to children at Olmaroroi school, and to end it by teaching adults at Ewangan (a night-school program started by former volunteers). Both, kids and adults were eager to learn. It was just the perfect combination!
The IVHQ staff were very helpful since I started planning my trip and the local staff were always making sure that we were comfortable and happy. I had the chance to travel around a bit with some other volunteers which made the experience even more complete.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. The only thing I regret is not having stayed for a longer period...

The local staff were great from the get go. I had no problems with my airport pickup.
Orientation was thorough and I met the entire team with a warm welcome.
Because of the conflict that has happened in the past and media portrayal in Nairobi Kenya, there was less and less volunteers compared to other African Countries Ive been to. But after being there and working in the Nairobi for 2 weeks I felt completely safe and would highly recommend Kenya for volunteering. The locals do really appreciate our help and there are some dire living standards right amongst the rich and classy that need attention in terms of livingstandards, medical aid and most importantly, education.
My placement was right in the biggest slum in Africa, Kibera and it was at New Beginnings Special needs school. I enjoyed every minute of it and felt I was doing my part in making the student smile and bringing a different vibe and learning experience for the students.

Wow! What a rewarding experience my volunteer work has been. I opted to volunteer in Kenya as a teacher and was placed at a primary school in a struggling Nairobi neighbourhood.

Everyone - from the local NVS staff, to the principal and teachers at the school to the adorable kids - touched my heart and soul to the core. In the process of teaching others, I came out rich with life lessons and memories that to this day puts a huge smile on my face. It has opened up my heart!

My suggestion to anyone considering to volunteer is DO IT. But come prepared. Do your research beforehand, take time to complete the IVHQ modules and read the brochure. You will by the end of it have a realistic idea of what to expect and how to go about your volunteer work the best way possible.

My volunteer work in Kenya truly triggered a passion in me. Even upon my return back home, I started a fundraising campaign to raise funds to set-up a scholarship program for my beautiful and bright students in Kenya. And with that, I have promised them to return and set everything up on the spot. And I can't wait, to see their wide smiles and joyful spirits again!

To check out my fundraising, here is the link: https://www.youcaring.com/students-at-bright-star-primary-s…

This was the best company for me. It was affordable, showed me greatly how my experience would be, the local staff is amazing (and the host mums!) and the help there was needed. Kenya is an amazing place to do your volunteering, the smiles and appreciation given from teachers, children, students and locals are overwhelming, and you feel you're time there was appreciated. The local staff will go out of their way to make it the best time for you as well!

I had an amazing experience volunteering with IVHQ. I am already looking into the next trip I'll take with them. From the second we got out of the airport to when we went back to come home the staff made me feel welcome and safe. They were excited to share their culture with us. I have learned so much! When we got settled in they told us all about the things we could do at night and on the weekends. It was really easy to sign up for safari and take visits to fun places like a giraffe centre and an elephant orphanage. I loved seeing all the animals... It's an experience I'll never forget! Also, the teachers at the school I was volunteering at were so nice and helpful. But the best part of the trip had to be the children I had the honor of working with. They were so keen to learn and to play games! Overall, this was an incredible experience and I recommended to everyone to volunteer with IVHQ! :)

The countries of Africa are very often perceived as politically unstable and unsafe for young woman travelers.The security that IVHQ offered me (and my family) during my trip was invaluable. My parents had the reassurance of a NZ contact if they could not contact me and we knew what to expect in terms of being collected at the airport and being placed in a relevant role within a reputable organisation.

The Fadhili and Marafiki community welcomed us with open arms and kicked off our orientation with a song. My friend and I were placed in the orphanage program and enjoyed every minute of it. We helped out with cooking, homework, entertainment of the children and cleaning of the house (african-mumma style!). We even had the chance to teach at the local school.

Through the partner organisation we even went on safari at a seriously discounted 'volunteer' price.

We had a private room and bathroom and had lots of opportunity for sightseeing during the day when the children where at school.

My experience with IVHQ was overall very good. They placed me at a great school in an amazing community. The price was the cheapest I could find for similar volunteer opportunities, plus we were still provided a good orientation and additional transport to our communities no matter how rural. They place you either with a local family or at a volunteer house in bigger cities.

I ended up returning to the community I taught in an additional three times, however I did this without IVHQ which saved me quite a bit of money. But, still, I would highly recommend them for your first trip since they can set you up in a program you likely wouldn't be able to be involved in if you just travelled to the country on your own for the first time.

Karibu Kenya. Welcome to Kenya. I signed up for an 8 week volunteer program and I ended up extending it to 12 and still didn't want to leave when that was over. I absolutely fell in love with the country and, as it turns out, that happens quite often. The Kenyan people are all so warm and friendly and always anxious to talk to new people. The food is simple, but hearty and all delicious. The staff at the volunteer office are all amazing and fun and offer amazing support and truly are some of the best people in the world. To do what they do, they have to be. This is one of the most popular programs in IVHQ and for them to be able to organize and coordinate with all the volunteers, all the host families, all the volunteer placements, and all the outreach projects all without missing a beat - they are amazing!

So! My typical day would start with a breakfast of toast and chai with my host family in the morning, waving goodbye to my host brother as he trotted off to school, then leaving to walk to the orphanage around 8:30. It was about a 30 minute walk. I could have taken a matatu or a bus for about 25 cents, but and I loved the walk. Always something interesting to see along the way and I met some great people along that route. I would get to my work placement at the orphanage and would usually be greeted by one of the girls who were too young to go to school and then we would hang out with the ladies either chopping vegetables or sorting rice. Most of the girls who lived there were usually off at school when I was there, but there was a primary school on the property so I would get to hang out with the kids during break time. So! I would chat with the ladies, help with the food prep, and listen for the littlest baby to let us know if she needed anything (they don't have baby monitors, they have open windows). As soon as I would hear that baby cry I would race upstairs and get my baby-time. She was 2-weeks old when I got there. The most precious thing you can imagine. Once she was settled, I would go back and help until lunch time. I would have lunch there (with this program, all meals were included if you were at home or work) and then depending on the day I would hang out with the kids for a little while longer or get a head start with the food prep for the next day or sometimes I would just head out from there.

After work my options were endless and I made so many local friends who were so happy to show me around and there were always volunteers either at my house or at other home-stays nearby who would be up for hanging out too. I always tried to stay aware and assess the situation whenever I was being taken somewhere I hadn't been before and I never felt unsafe. Sometimes I would take the bus into Nairobi town centre and meet up with a friend for a drink, or I would wander around the local markets and do some window shopping, or there was a local pub that I would go to with one of my boys to play pool. There were internet cafes all over the place, but for internet I would usually go to the big mall that was about a 10-minute matatu ride away. I ended up becoming friends with a couple of the guys at the Wine Bar and the Nairobi Java House there so it was a combined social visit/wifi stop for me. I would usually make my way home when it started getting dark which was when dinner would be ready. I would eat with my host family and the other volunteers and usually catch up on whatever soap opera series was on tv.

The weekends never allowed for a dull moment either. Between Safari and Outreach (a weekend where we visited 3 slums, doing a feeding program for 2 of them, and rode bicycles through a national park where zebras and water buffalo and gazelles would just stare at you as you rode by) where you will really get to know the volunteer staff and your fellow volunteers. I did Outreach twice, it was so incredible. The whole experience of being in Kenya will change your life, but Outreach is where it's most intense. Driving up to these slums and playing with these kids, you really have to fight back tears sometimes, but it's so eye-opening and really puts things in perspective.

On the flip-side of that, there are endless travel opportunities to any number of the diverse locations in East Africa and all of these trips can be done on your own, but the volunteer staff is always happy to help you make arrangements or even chauffeur, depending on where it is that you want to go. If you find yourself in Nairobi for the weekend, get ready! The Nairobi nightlife is so much fun! It starts late and ends late so make sure you are well rested or just have a red bull or something. If you're going out in a big group it's worth it to arrange for a driver for the night, but! Make sure that all of the volunteers and the driver are on the same page at the beginning of the night about payment. There is always room for negotiation, but that should always be done before you are taken anywhere. Also, keep in mind that yes, things are cheaper in Kenya than in western countries, but they are not free! Gas is expensive, cars are expensive to buy and maintain, not to mention the time that the driver is sacrificing for you. Most of the volunteers were cool when it came to this, but it was SO frustrating for everyone else when at the end of the night one person would throw a drunken fit because he felt like he was being ripped off by 2 dollars! I will step down from my soapbox now.

Anyway, this is an amazing program with tons of support locally and through IVHQ. All of the volunteers I met loved their host families and their placements. On the rare occasion that they didn't love them, they were quickly moved to a place that was better suited to them and then everyone was happy. Endless opportunities to help and do good and every effort that you make is so greatly appreciated. And the people. If you let yourself be open to it, the connections you will make will be with you for life.