Why did you decide to volunteer with GVI in Kenya?
Joanne: GVI offered a program that suited me best. I was travelling with a couple of friends and we all wanted different things. I wanted construction, one friend wanted wildlife and another community. So the volunteer project in Kenya suited us perfectly! It also seemed to be the most reasonably priced company, which helped with the decision considering we are all students!
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Joanne: On the first day, we spent a good 6hrs on a coach to Taveta, which wasn’t the comfiest journey to say the least! Then we travelled about another 2hrs to the village we were working in where we were met by the very friendly community. The 2nd day, we just dealt with the safety aspects of the project and settled in to the camp before starting construction on the 3rd day.
On a typical day of construction, we woke up at 7am and had breakfast (cereal, tea and banana). We walked about 10 minuets to the construction site and did work till 12pm, we had a long lunch over the hottest part of the day and returned to work at 2pm (ish) where we had a short afternoon finishing off the mornings work. In the evening we would play football with some of the children, sat round the campfire with the community or played cards with the other volunteers. For dinner we would have a meal based around rice, pasta or potatoes and vegetables and sauces would be added to it.
During the trip we had little side trips to Lake Chala, Njoro Springs and a local safari lodge. On the 10th day we departed for the safari with the other volunteers to Tsavo West National Park. We saw lots of wildlife and the big 5! It was sad to leave at the end and I would defiantly consider going back.
How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally?
Joanne: This has been the best experience of my life and I hope to do more of them in the future. I am considering going back to the village in future. It has made me realise how much I love travelling and I hope to entangle this into my career after I have finished university. I also made some great friends which I will stay in contact with for a very long time.