African Adventures: Volunteering in Kenya

African Adventures run an incredible project which is accessible and truly truly life changing for anybody who wants to experience a new culture or feel like they’re making a different to the world we live in. I have recently signed up for my fifth annual trip (starting in 2016) with African Adventures to volunteer at their project in Kenya and I can honestly say with all of my heart that from the moment you go, your whole world will change.

Volunteering in Africa naturally doesn’t come without its challenges, sometimes the food is delayed or the weather doesn’t behave the way you’d prefer it to. Sometimes the tools we have to work with are arguably not up to our western standard and you’ve gotta be on it with your improvisation skills. But any tiny problem that comes up whilst you volunteer with this company is very shortly made better by two things. Firstly, you cannot fault the African adventures team, both in England and Kenya. Every single member of staff for African Adventures believes in making a positive change and wants every volunteer to have the time of their life and it really really shows. I couldn’t fault a single member of staff. A lot of this comes down to the fact that Dan the director, is so passionate about the work they do and truly believes in their vision and if you ever have the honour of meeting Dan, it’s very very difficult not to have the exact same reaction to this project. All the staff who work at African adventures do an incredible job and truly inspire a lot of people they meet. This includes the Kenyan staff, a couple that cannot go without mention here are Alex and Patricia, pastors who went up the school that this project works with in Kenya and a genuinely inspiring and humble couple who deserve nothing but respect and love. As well as Fred, the in country co-ordination, who changes your life from the second you meet him. I could talk about the staff for hours so I will stop here but honestly there are no words to describe the effort and passion these guys have. The other thing that stops the small inconveniences from being big problems is the children you will work with if you choose to go on this trip. You cannot be miserable or feel as if you aren’t getting the most out of this trip when you meet those children - they are by far the happiest and most grateful children you will ever meet. Genuinely, they’re just happy you’re there and it’s hard to feel upset about anything with the infectious smiles on their faces.

A big concern for a lot of people when thinking about doing this sort of trip is the safety of the situation, naturally it’s easy to feel like it can be a risky situation to enter with the economical and political climate that is portrayed to us through the media. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I have never once felt unsafe in Kenya or with any of the in-country staff that are there to assist you whenever you leave the hotel. The Kenyan staff are very capable, and much like the staff I mentioned earlier will go out of their way to ensure that you have the best time you possibly can have. Nakuru especially which is one of the places you are likely to be if you sign up to this project, is much like any other big town in any other country. There are parts that are unsafe and parts that are perfectly safe, but you will never be left in an unsafe area. You are completely safe the entire time.
As for the value and fun aspect of any trip, I don’t think it’s possible to beat this kind of experience. Firstly, every single day you are there, you are experience first hand the situations these people live in and the difficulties they face on a daily basis but parallel to this, you see the change you’re making and the effect you’re having on these peoples lives. It is hard work, and it can be emotionally and physically exhausting at times. But the output is so very much worth the input. Although you spend the majority of your time working on project, that doesn’t stop it from being an amazingly fun trip. With added bonuses that you can experience such as a safari in Lake Nakuru, or Menegai Crater - an incredibly impressive volcanic crater. There are many different options where you can spend your weekends doing touristy bits.

Of course, I have only spoken about the Kenya trip here because from personal experience I can vouch for the African Adventures team. I have 100% faith and trust in that the other opportunities they offer are just as life changing and exciting.
The only warning I have for anybody considering going on one of these incredible trips with African Adventures is that it is so very infectious. The more you work with them, the more you want to do and the more you truly understand the vision behind African adventures. A truly inspiring project which greatly impacts and values the life of so many incredible people. Sign up for a trip with these guys and you will never regret it.

This is my third visit with African Adventures & Derby County Community Trust. I have been every year for the last three years. I am married and have three children and these trips are up there as the greatest experiences of my life.

Instead of a review, which I have previously done, I will write about the progress of Nakuru, the children and me as a person.

On my return to Nakuru, I can see the improvement that the city has done, with newly built buildings and pathways. People are looking to do something to make work for themselves. To make a better life for them. It's a great thing to see first-hand.

My day-to-day working life at home is sitting at desk from 8.30-5, I'm not a builder, a labourer or enjoy D.I.Y. Over the last three visits, I have loved building the classrooms. I have done since my first visit in 2014. I love mixing cement, carrying large boulders, building walls, everything! But I know that I couldn't do it for a living, so why do I enjoy it Nakuru? I suppose I know it's for something important, a purpose! Something for children and future generations. We are changing lives doing what we are doing.

One thing that I have learnt from my past three visits to Kenya, is how great it is working with the Kenyan builders. Although most cannot speak English and I cannot speak Swahili, we communicate using signals and actions. It shows that you don't always need words to get a message across.

On this visit (2016), one afternoon, I decided to visit a classroom and noticed that no teacher was present, so I took it upon myself to take the class! Something that I have never done before. I didn't like the idea of children sitting there at a school not learning. I was unprepared and nervous. After teaching multiplication and English, I found myself really enjoying it and more importantly so did the children. Something that I did again a couple of days later.

I fully support and admire African Adventures on what they have achieved and what they will continue to achieve in the years ahead. I will always communicate their message and recommend them to anyone.

As mentioned previously, Nakuru is now like my second home and I can't wait to return and continue the work in May 2017 and this time with my eldest son.

There’s nothing that comes close to the emotions of Kenya. I’m not even sure ‘emotions’ or ‘feelings’ are words I could use to describe them.
Strolling through the centre of Nakuru at midday, eyes ahead and worries behind, greeted by smiles and waves and hearts and happiness.
Crouching in the red hot dust of the Mama Kerry School playground, clinging to a toddler who is taking a well needed nap, she is comfortable and content…that’s all that matters.
Driving through the stars along the East African Rift Valley, on the other side of sundown, thinking about everything and nothing, in conversation with God and in battle with the future.
Coming from a country where everyone lives their own life and focuses on where they are going and how they are getting there, it was a bit of a culture shock to suddenly be so intertwined with the children of Africa.
It was amazing to be sitting in a classroom so different to our own and witness the eagerness to learn, education was a life or death essential to them.
It inspired me to work harder, to use the resources and opportunities that are so readily available in Northern Ireland in order to gain skills and intelligence that I could someday bring back to Kenya, to pass on to the children that sat around me.
As a team we'd taught lessons, helped with construction of a classroom and did house visits to deliver food parcels but I can whole heartedly say that we didn’t come remotely close to giving those children anywhere near as much as they gave us.
While we gave them material goods and education, which don’t get me wrong are so desperately needed, they gave us love, perspective and life lessons that will forever be priceless to me.
They taught me how to be grateful, how to have a childlike heart, how to love God more.
They taught me the value of a smile.
The kids I met in the dump were truly amazing, filled with joy they taught me how to dance and rejoice.
I got to spend about 45 minutes playing with them and getting to know them, and honestly that short period of time made me happier than I ever knew possible.
Leaving those kids was hard, I knew they didn't go to school and maybe would never get out of living in the dump, unlike the kids at Mama Kerry who had slightly better opportunities.
I pray that someday they will get a better standard of living, whether God willing I'm a part of that or not, I'm going to try everyday to live my life with the same heart they have.
The atmosphere among the group was one of sympathy and thankfulness.
We spent the remainder of our trip exploring Kenya and getting to experience the culture. On Saturday an early rise let us go on a game drive safari through Lake Nakuru National Park.
I had never done something like a safari, I'd never even been to a National Park so I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy it, but boy was I wrong to doubt!
I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure day, mainly because it was a great chance to spend time with the group and make unforgettable memories with amazing people in such an incredible country.
Settling in when we arrived home again was and still is also very hard.
The only way to describe the sensation is being homesick.
Homesick for Kenya, homesick for the kids, homesick for the culture, homesick for the love.I look forward to returning to Kenya someday, hopefully in the near future, but until then I am holding tight to everything Kenya taught me, holding tight to the memories, holding tight to the moments shared with my Mama Kerry children and kids I met in the dump...holding tight to the emotions of Kenya.
I am so grateful for the opportunity African Adventures provided me and will always be thankful for them. The staff were all amazing and the opportunities were varied and wonderful.
My African adventure may have come to an conclusion, but my new found adventure of life has just begun...

African adventures came to Richard Tauntons Sixth Form College, looking for a handful of volunteers to venture to the Town of Nukuru, Kenya. Multiple presentations and meetings later, the company had found themselves far more than just a handful, walking away with twenty one of us intact.
Truth be told the sum looked large, yet the fundraising behind it was all part of the fun. In fact we had nothing to be worried about. In October 2013 we started our savings, ready for our deadline in May 2014. From cake sales in the staff room, to an ‘all night sponsored sport’ event, we reached our set target, and gathered the money. We raised the majority as a team. This in fact acted as our ice breaker, getting to know each individual who set out to share the same adventure.
So the day came. June 19th. Ready for our ten day adventure. We had our plenaries and information packs. Our factor fifty, hats and rucksacks. But nothing can really prepare you for such a beautiful experience.
As a team we set off from London, Heathrow heading to Kenya. With a short stop on the way, we managed to have a quick nosey around the wealth of Qatar Airport. It was something else. I’d never seen such squeaky clean floors. Soon we hit the skies again and landed in a place considerably different.
Dampened dirty walls surrounded us, as we stood in the passport control queue. To our left we saw a Kenyan woman amazingly balancing her suitcase upon her head. No worries. No cares. Just peacefully stood.
And, we made it. We ventured on our rattling shuttle bus for a grand total of six hours (a trip that would have taken no longer than ninety minutes in the UK.) With a family of baboons on our left, and a zebra stood proud to our right, we were surrounded by the beauties of Kenya’s wilderness. Stopping off at Lake Nakuru, we showed off our true inner Brit and took some snaps of the stunning view.
A short nap later and we arrived at our resort, Kivu. Ready to meet the local schools and children of which we came to help.
The first day gave us the opportunity to take a look around three different schools, all withholding very excitable little children waiting to see us ‘mzungu’s.’
I had the privilege of working with Love For All, a local school and orphanage. With ages ranging from as little as two to a mature teenager aged seventeen. Their location was small, with very little light due to their need for shade. Using the very last bit of graphite from a pencil, writing onto a scrap of paper, the children would sit there politely listening to the older orphans whom were their teachers.
I’ll never forget the excited little voices and screams as our bus pulled up day in day out. Singing their trademark song ‘Welcome.’
From the very beginning I had young smiley children following me around, giggling and asking ‘How are you?’ over and over. Fascinated by my long blonde hair, I would have two or three children hanging from my arms, or sat in my lap, plaiting my hair. It was always the little things that would keep the children amused for hours. It’s surprising how long a bottle of bubbles lasts between over aWithin my team of seven we would each alternate our roles within the school. Whether it was teaching, building, playing, cooking, each of us loved it all. Together over a course of five days we dug out, built and opened a toilet block, made with six cubicles. Pamela, the owner of ‘Love For All’ stood ecstatic with our achievements, and was able to tick toilets off of her 2014 wish list.
In addition to my time spent with ‘Love For All’ as a college team we visited Nakuru’s dump site. The stench of refuse and animal faeces could be smelt from inside our bus as we edged closer to the site. Yet once taking a step out of the vehicle the smell seemed to vanish as the view became so much more. For, what seemed like miles and miles, were hills of rubbish, excreting fumes into the atmosphere. The air seemed thick and polluted. Certainly not safe for a child. Nevertheless, curled up in the equivalent to a tesco’s plastic bag were babies sleeping in this corruption. At this point all we had to offer were a sprinkle of stickers, and a purse-full of Kenyan shillings, all of which we gave out willingly.
Saying goodbye to the friends made in Nakuru and ‘Love For All’ was very emotional, and extremely difficult. Children gripped to our legs firmly, giving us our farewell cuddles. We gave out individual gifts to the children, things as small as a hair band. And they were ever so grateful, their smiles were beaming. They all waited by the gate, climbing upon one another, all tying to be the last one to say goodbye. And that was it. Our time with our projects had come to an end. But our African Adventure didn’t stop here.
As our final couple of days were among us, we ventured out to the wild. We jumped into a safari jeep and drove around the land of Nakuru, searching for the big five. We saw orphaned baby elephants at the elephant sanctuary. Travelled to the equator. And shared a kiss with a giraffe. All moments of which felt so surreal.
Home time. Our adventure was now complete. Dusty roads turned back into motorways. And zebras changed to horses. Sunlight turned to rain. We landed back in the UK on July 1st. All changed. All emotional. All excited to share our experience.
If my experience interests you please get involved!
BY MEGAN FORD

Its difficult to sum up the experiences and impact that my 4 trips to Kenya with African Adventures without sounding like a million clichés. Quite simply, apart from being a Dad to my two wonderful sons, this is the best thing in my life and what I am most proud of. I have led 4 trips with AA and we go again in May '16. We have taken 150+ volunteers and seeing the development of our three partners schools and the wonderful children and amazing staff is both humbling and inspiring. I would not either want to, nor be able to do it without AA and their staff, some of which I now consider friends. They are supportive, knowledgeable, friendly and encouraging. One day, I shall take my two sons and complete the circle of the two best things in my life.

At the start of the summer 2015 we went on a charitable trip to Nakuru, Kenya, where we had the opportunity to teach in some of Africa’s most impoverished schools. After a long plane ride and a six hour coach journey along some rather bendy and badly paved roads, the group arrived in Nakuru, where they spent the rest of the day getting settled in and enjoying fresh Kenyan food. The highlight of the drive was arguably the chance to look out over the picturesque Rift Valley at a rest stop and take some incredible photographs.

The next morning Mr Alderton and the boys, who were accompanied by a driver stopped into the primary school where they were welcomed by the young pupils (aged 3-7) with an extraordinary song and dance. The school sang praises and thanks to group for coming to help out in their school. The boys continued to help at the primary school for the remainder of the morning where they taught a few classes, helped cook a meal and washed dishes in the kitchen. In the afternoon the Harrow students were taken up to the secondary school where they spent most of the subsequent days teaching classes of students ranging in ages from 10 to 18. The Kenyan children were incredibly appreciative of the help they received from the boys and were very receptive to their conducting of the different classes. As well teaching, the boys took turns in helping to construct new toilet facilities for the school. Before the project, the school had only two very basic toilets for the 70 pupils, and Harrow’s help in building the new bathrooms ensured that the school would not be shut down because of poor facilities. During the lunch hour, the Harrow boys often got to play football with the students. Although the Kenyans had an advantage, as they were very apt to playing on dusty and uneven ground, the Harrow boys still managed to beat their team on a fairly regular basis.

On the weekend the group had the pleasure of visiting the Masai Mara and Serengeti game parks. It was a seven hour drive from Nakuru, though the boys all agreed it was a very worthwhile excursion, as a wide variety of wildlife was seen. Just over the course of two days four of the big five game animals were spotted out on the plains, as well crocodiles, hippos and monkeys near the rivers. At night, the Harrow students stayed in a deluxe encampment and were fed deliciously fresh meals. The boys also had the joy of meeting Masai warriors in their village. While there, they were shown around the native houses and were then allowed to join in the native Masai war dance. Finally, the group was given the chance to purchase some of the handmade jewellery and trinkets made by the men and women from the settlement, before heading back to Nakuru.

In all, the trip was incredibly educational and eye-opening for all the boys who took part. There was a definitive sense of friendship and understanding between the students of both countries. Despite the fact that the Kenyan pupils were often rather impoverished and underprivileged, they were incredibly happy with the little they had, and they enjoyed nothing more than learning in their school. Perhaps their attitude can be a valuable lesson for us all.

I have been to St. Trizah's School in Nakuru, Kenya twice with African Adventures and Derby County Community Trust in 2014 and 2015. I am married and have three children and these trips are up there as the greatest experiences of my life.

My first paragraph from my blog(www.facebook.com/LNEEEAA/) reads "At first I was apprehensive about what to do when the children approached me, this is a new experience for me, at home there are restrictions and limitations on what you can do and rightly so. But in Kenya, they are so happy to see you, they want to feel wanted and loved. So, I cuddled them back, held there hands, gave them high fives, it's what they want, seeing their huge smiles just from that, gives you a warm feeling inside". This sums up my two trips perfectly.

During my time, I have assisted with teaching, help to develop teaching styles and curriculum, help with the feeding programme at the school and constructing new classrooms at the new site of the school ready for their move.

One of my favourite moments is going back for the second time and seeing a boy called James that I met the previous year. Like in a clip from a movie, both of us saw each other and ran at the same time, I picked him up and swung him round, giving him a massive cuddle. He said that he was scared that I wouldn't remember him. I reassured him that I have never or would ever forget him.

I also can not express how much I admire African Adventures on what they have achieved and what they will continue to achieve in the years ahead. If it wasn't for the distance to their headquarters, I would like to work for them full-time. That's how much I believe in African Adventures.

Nakuru is now like my second home and I can't wait to return and continue the work in May 2016.

I have had the privilege of leading 2 school trips enabling nearly 100 pupils and staff to make a big difference to 5 schools in Nakuru, Kenya. The whole project is a journey of enterprise and brilliant new experiences that begin when pupils begin fund raising. However don't take my word for it, here are some testimonies from pupils and parents:
'....there are key moments which shape who we are and the way we think. From listening to... and sharing her incredible experience in Kenya I know this is one of hers. It will not necessarily be evident today or possibly even this year but hearing about the way the team pulled together, shared a common goal and touched lives of those less fortunate than themselves will shape and guide decisions and choices in her future years'.
'I will remember this for the rest of my life; beautiful memories that I can keep and look back on forever'.
'I would like to thank all of the teachers and African Adventures staff for this fantastic trip! It was the best thing I have ever done and I loved every minute of it!'
We keep in touch with the schools and because African Adventures have many people on the ground in Nakuru and know first hand what is happening this reassures and inspires all stakeholders.
We will be going back to support the schools, again and again and again. This is sustainable advocacy that bridges the gap between our two countries and gives out staff and pupils a real global perspective.