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Reforesting Volunteer Program in Kenya

Sadhana Forest
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Sadhana Forest
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Sadhana Forest Kenya
Tent and Volunteer at Sadhana Forest Kenya
Nursery at Sadhana Forest Kenya
Free Tree Planting Training by Sadhana Forest Kenya
Sadhana Forest Kenya - Happy Samburu Boy

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About

Sadhana Forest Kenya is an International NGO working to establish food security through indigenous food forestry and water conservation with the Samburu people. We train local people in tree planting and tree care and plant indigenous food producing trees with them around their homes. Sadhana Forest Kenya established a training and demonstration center in Samburu county in north Kenya where we also host the volunteers.

Sadhana Forest Kenya started its operations in 2012 and is a very long-term sustainable development project. We are not involved in any short-term relief work or providing immediate aid.

Highlights
  • Reforestation
  • Supporting Longterm Food Security
  • Working with the Samburu Tribe
  • Sustainable Living
  • Veganism

Impact

In addition to planting/monitoring trees and water conservation works, Sadhana Forest Kenya has projects within their campus such as a goshala (cow sanctuary), cob construction, permaculture-designed demonstration plots, and developing appropriate technologies. Also, we have daily support tasks such as cooking, cleaning, compost toilet maintenance, and general upkeep of our campus.

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Questions & Answers

Reviews

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Showing 1 - 5 of 5
Bitmoji
Mark
41
Male
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Love and Life

Nov 12, 2018

It's a awesome vegan community, there is not just a sense of doing good by planting trees but a sense of togetherness and of community.

The food is Vegan the lifestyle is simple and lovely.

The 2 sevas a day along with the community sevas help the functioning of the community. Seva a selfless act in essence is the spirit of the community. We all pitch in to help the community run smoothly.

If it is serving lunch or being a runner to bring plates to everyone before meals the community sevas show the togetherness of all.

The water conservation techniques used are beautiful and the forest itself is filled with trees and life.

Volunteering at Sadhana Forest has enriched me as a human being as I grew with the trees.

I wish everyone could experience what I did.

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Mike
Mike
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Hands-On Eco-Friendly Living

Oct 11, 2018

I came to Sadhana Forest Kenya after having spent a good amount of time at Sadhana Forest India. At this outpost about three hundred kilometers from Nairboi, (and about fifty kilometers from the nearest paved road or electrical grid), the spirit of service and eco-friendly living are every bit as alive and inspiring as in India.

Sadhana Forest Kenya is a volunteer community whose main goal is to establish food and water security in the Samburu region through planting local, indigenous, drought-resistant, food producing trees. Locals can come here for traning, and Sadhana Forest staff and volunteers also pay visits to homes, schools, churches, and so on in order to plant the trees raised in the nursery here.

Every aspect of life in Sadhana Forest Kenya is meant to compliment and contribute to the work - thus the solar and wind power, vegan kitchen, compost toilets, low-flow handwash stations, simple accommodation. If you have ever considered steering your life in a more eco-friendly direction, this is the place to see and feel these values in action.

Sadhana Forest Kenya also provides drinkable water and solar charging power for locals, which is crucial in an area with no electrical grid and frequently low water reserves.

Sadhana Forest Kenya also provides an opportunity to meet and work alongisde Samburu people; to live simply and close to nature; to create solid bonds with other volunteers; to enjoy top-quality sunrises and sunsets every day; and to see the stars and milky way at night.

Please visit, or even better, come stay! It's an amazing project, staffed by truly dedicated people, doing important work. My month here has been beautiful and I'm sure I'll be back again.

What would you improve about this program?
More Volunteers!
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Read my full story
Alex
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Genuine conservation in an amazing location

Oct 11, 2018

Sadhana Forest surprised me in many ways, I did not expect to develop such a deep connection with the land and with myself. The conservation work Sadhana Forest does is long term and sustainable and the local community really understands the benefits and gets on board wholly.

I particularly learned a lot about self reliance, I enjoyed learning how to fix a a 4x4 van, and to upgrade a solar electrical system. Also about living simply, there is free time to read, talk or to improve a skill, away from all the stresses of modern, connected life.

The food is amazing, vegan, whole foods were not the main factor for me coming to Sadhana Forest but after eating like this for a few weeks I feel I have so much energy, not to mention every meal is delicious, particularly the chocolate mouse.

All in all I would really recommend Sadhana Forest, for growing yourself there is no better way to spend a few months.

Also you get a great tan!

What would you improve about this program?
More people need to know about this fantastic project.
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Aiko
Aiko
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Sadhana Forest Kenya is made for you :)

Oct 10, 2018

If you are looking for an authentic and once-in-a-lifetime experience, wish to connect with the wonderful people of the Samburu tribe, want to try the most compassionate diet and eat whole food vegan meals, would like to live without creating any waste, are ready to live within nature and in the most eco-friendly way possible AND wish to plant indigenous drought-resistant food producing trees for the people who need it the most, Sadhana Forest Kenya is made for you :)

What would you improve about this program?
This program can only be improved by more volunteers joining the project! Spread the word :)
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Sadhana Forest Kenya - Planting
Sadhana Forest Kenya - Team
Sadhana Forest Kenya - Volunteers
Aurelien
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Connecting with nature

Aug 16, 2018

If you are looking for a place where you really want to connect deeply with the nature and with an old samburu culture, Sadhana Forest is really amazing.
I learnt to plant food trees in hard condition climates, I found answers to climate change, sustainible nutrition and the most important in human unity.
Samburu people are welcoming you so friendly and the market every saturday is a nice opportunity to feel the nomad spirit, full of life and colors.
Thanks for Sadhana Forest Kenya to be.

What would you improve about this program?
Volunteers and donations.
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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Mike Roy

Program
Reforesting Volunteer Program in Kenya
Mike Roy

Why did you choose this program?

I had already spent a good amount of time at Sadhana Forest India and think of it as my second - or maybe first - home. I was really interested to see how the organization worked in another, very different part of the world. While the India project works mostly with replanting the forest indigenous on publicly protected lands, the Kenya project works primarily on planting drought-resistant, food-producing trees on privately held land such as homes, schools and churches. I thought it would be a great way to support local people while traveling.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I didn't have any sort of program provider. Some friends and I were already at Sadhana Forest India and contacted Sadhana Forest Kenya directly. We organized our own flights. Since we were traveling in a large group, the staff at Sadhana Forest Kenya helped us to organize transportation from Nairobi to the site. On the way back, I organized the transportation on my own. It was affordable and not particularly difficult.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Be ready for a new experience! Sadhana Forest is in a pretty remote part of Kenya. The landscapes are beautiful, wide-open semi deserts spotted with loads of zebras and gazelles, plus occasional hyenas, elephants and lions. There are NONE of the usual shopping or entertainment facilities that you are probably used to, so volunteers need to be relatively self-sufficient. Bring some books, an instrument, a journal, a camera, a meditative practice, or something else to do in your down time. The campus does have wifi access and plenty of charging power.

Also, be aware that this and other Sadhana Forest projects are places to do service. The focus is on using our time and energy to bring benefits to the local environment and population. The experience of living simply and focusing primarily on giving is one great gift that Sadhana Forest can offer to volunteers.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

All the exact details are available on the website and in the welcoming email that Sadhana Forest Kenya will send you once you've contacted them.

Volunteers wake before or around 6:00AM and generally do some work on the land (tree planting, watering, tree care) in the early morning. Then breakfast, then another work session, then lunch, then a break, then some more work before dinner. Volunteers can expect to be working at least six hours per day (which is great, because there's not much else to do there aside from admiring the scenery).

Sadhana Forest Kenya also makes regular trips to nearby homes, schools, churches, hospitals, villages, etc., to plant trees. Generally these trips require two visits - one before lunch to make mounds and prepare for planting, and then one before dinner to actually plant the trees.

Volunteers also participate in cooking meals, cleaning the kitchen, dealing with the food and human waste compost, and other routine maintenance tasks.

There is a weekly Samburu market every Saturday where you can go to buy clothing, produce, simple snacks and souvenirs.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I did not have any particular fears concerning my trip to Sadhana Forest Kenya. I have known the organization for a long time and was confident that I would encounter a truly eco-friendly campus and participate in work that was really serving local needs.

I must admit I was a little apprehensive about Kenya in general; much of what I had read made me a little anxious about the risks of petty theft. I was a little more careful than usual and had no problems at Nairobi or on the way to or from Sadhana Forest Kenya. At Sadhana Forest Kenya itself, I felt 100% comfortable.

What is it like to live a really eco-frienldy lifestyle?

It's awesome! Sadhana Forest serves fresh, local vegan food; composts all food and human waste; uses biodegradable toiletries and cleaning agents; runs on solar and wind power; draws water up from its own bore well; provides free water and charging power to locals; AND actively improves the environment by planting food-producing trees with local people.

Sadhana Forest is a fantastic place to live a life of consciousness, compassion and service. It's also a great way to experience a remote part of Kenya and to get to know local people.

About Sadhana Forest

Sadhana Forest is an international vegan organization working on water conservation, indigenous reforestation and food security in India, Haiti and Kenya.

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