Volunteer in Kenya - Lowest Fees & Trusted Since 2003

I spent one week volunteering at the Agape Mitaboni Academy in Mitaboni, Machakos County outside of Nairobi. I could not say enough about how well put together the program and entire school is run. Barnabas was my volunteer coordinator who took absolute care of me from start to finish. Between airport pickups, getting to the Agape Academy, and hosting me at his house in Machakos which was conveniently located right down the road.

As for the actual volunteer work, it was simply amazing to meet everyone at the school. The Headmaster Ben is a very impactful leader who runs a very good program at the school. The teachers are extremely professional and I was beyond impressed by how well the students were. Every time you walked into a classroom they would stand up and wait for you to have them sit. That's just the start.

I happened to volunteer at the end of Agape's school year. I helped with grading exams, teaching English lessons, and speaking about the school system in America. I also had the opportunity with some more hands-on work, including helping to feed the students and also help with renovations in some of the classrooms. Everyone at the school made sure I had something to do every day and it was an extremely good mix to keep things interesting but also to learn as much as possible about their way of life.

I would highly recommend that anyone give this a try. The mutual impact made upon the students and myself is priceless. Please reach out to me at josh.yearian@gmail.com if anyone is interested in learning more. I am more than happy to talk about my experience and what you can expect. I will keep this experience with me forever.

As a 19 year old American, I was looking for an opportunity to make an impact in another country while exploring a new place. Global crossroads was able to provide me with that. I wasn’t sure what to expect upon arriving in Nairobi, all I knew is I would have the chance to help children less fortunate than me, which is what I aimed to do. Global crossroads connected me to the country coordinator for Kenya, Barnabas. Any questions I had prior to coming he was able to answer. When I arrived I was brought to Barnabas’ home where his family warmly welcomed me. I felt very comfortable staying with them and felt secure in the area they live in. They were very accommodating to my needs and wants, making my stay very comfortable. By the end of my five weeks, I felt like I was apart of their family. Barnabas walked me to my project everyday. I had no clue what to expect on my first day in the school. As he brought me through the slum Kibera, where the school is located, I felt very safe. It was hard to see the conditions that the people of Kibera live in, but not once did I ever hear any Kenyan complain. When approaching the school, all I could hear is loud singing and laughing bursting from the classrooms. Although the children were a little hesitant to talk or interact with me on the first day, by the end of the second day they would not leave me alone, in the best way! I felt so welcomed by the Mother of the school and rescue center, along with all of the teachers and staff. Everyday in the school went by very fast since I was busy coloring with the students, teaching lessons, or singing. On the weekends I was able to do a lot of exploring throughout Kenya. The country coordinator, Barnabas, had many suggestions lined up for me that fit my price range and interest. I visited the National museum, the giraffe center, Momba village, and many more places. I also had the opportunity to go on a weekend safari in Massai Mara. Everyone I met in Kenya was so warm and welcoming, making it very hard to leave. I plan on fundraising for the school and rescue center when I return to America because I am so passionate about the work they do. I am planning to come back in the future and see the progress the school has made.

Our month teaching in Agape Mitaboni Academy, an impoverished rural school about two hours from Nairobi, was challenging, fulfilling and rewarding. We arrived with a suitcase (and more) of teaching materials, curriculum aids, sports equipment, stickers, educational posters, packages of pencil crayons, and even additional textbooks which we purchased in Nairobi, all of which were desperately needed and greatly appreciated. The needs are great: the school has pit latrines, inadequate blackboards, rough walls and (mostly) nonexistent window panes, and it lacks running water or refrigeration. In spite of all of that, the staff seem to genuinely care about their students and their instruction, the one (overworked) older cook manages to create two meals a day for 150 people over a smoky woodfire, the Administration is welcoming, and we were soon given the opportunity to focus on the Standard (or Grade) Sevens and Eights (as well as cover various other classes as the needs arose). What was amazing was the genuinely caring spirit which we observed among staff, students and parents; we didn't even see any evidence of bullying in the schoolyard. And the kids LOVED the volleyball net and balls which we were able to bring, thanks to British Airways' generous baggage allowance.

On our weekends, we took advantage of much that Nairobi and outskirts had to offer: the Railway Museum, Karen Blixen's home (of "Out of Africa" fame), the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (where we adopted a baby elephant), the Giraffe Centre, the Bomas Centre, Kenya's National Museum, AND, of course, a four-day safari conducted by our new Kenyan friend Jackson: we revelled in exploring the National Park, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Naivasha, where we saw four of the Big Five animals, to a total of more than FORTY species of animals and birds, many of which surprisingly up close.

As a high-school student it was difficult to find qualitative medical programs accepting students of this age. My experience volunteering at the clinic for 2 weeks and rotating through each of the departments, hence spending a full day or more in each department, was simply incredible. From true hands on experience in terms of administrating injections or running lab tests, after initial instructions from staff, direct patient interactions and direct exposure to questions of medical ethics and conducts, this program was a very well rounded experience for those planing on a medical career. Outside of the clinical experience, there was sufficient time to explore the city of Nairobi, shaving with the local culture and customs. I enjoyed my time very much and would recommend it highly!

I am a junior premed neuroscience student from US and visited Kenya for first time for 16 day stay. I volunteered in free clinic in kenya and stayed in Barnabas house with his family. The clinic was very good experience , I did rotation in all stations of clinic and learned a lot from Biochem lab where they did lot of tests in patients coming into this clinic. I ran several fundraises and donated medicines to clinic to help poor people from Kibera slums who cannot afford health care. I also visited few local places in Kenya like Bomas and giraffe feeding centers. Barnabas family were good hosts and gave us support and help with any questions we asked. I will come back in future to help and volunteer here in kenya as there is a lot of need of healthcare here.

My family visited Kenya for first time with my older son volunteering in med clinic and rest of us at Orphanage. The host family Barnabas and his wife and kids were very warm and hospitable.
They make sure you feel at home and we ate together as families during stay. it helped us learn about kenya culture staying with them. Thank you Barnabas, his wife Mila, his son Joseph, daughter Dina. Thanks to driver Evans and Joshua who drove us to different places. There was National museum visit and snake park, giraffe feeding attraction, elephant orphanages that we visited during the stay also. There is masai market to buy handmade masai products for gifts back home. we also went to Bomas cultural heritage show for Africans, and it was good show. overall we saw a lot of attraction and did a lot of volunteering.

I arrived in Nairobi Kenya a week ago for a medical volunteer opportunity. I am a 4th year nursing student with a passion for global health and thought this would be a meaningful and exciting opportunity to both help and learn. Global Crossroads was extremely helpful in expediting my application and offering support in the process, answering all my questions very well. They connected me with the Kenyan country coordinator, Barnabas, who immediately touched base to begin the preparations to come to Kenya. He offered support and answered all my questions in a very timely manner!

Arriving in Nairobi was a smooth process due to good communication. Barnabas and Chris arranged to pick me up and Chris was waiting at the airport. They replied right away to my messages. I had a very warm welcome from Barnabas and his family at their home, and they made sure to answer all my questions and orientate me to the house. Throughout the week they have become like family, cooking delicious Kenyan meals and ensuring my needs are met. Their kids are adorable! I had the opportunity to go their church with them as well on Sunday.

Barnabas has always been caring, he makes sure to check in with me, give me directions, and makes sure I am safe. His team orientated me to the route to the clinic and made sure I am safe getting there. The clinic is located in Kibera; I was very concerned about safety before visiting Kibera but I found it is fine and the route is direct to the clinic. As long as I do not loiter on the path, I have never felt unsafe. Barnabas and his team have also have helped me buy a SIM card, load it multiple times, plan a safari, taken me on day tours, and helped me plan a weekend trip to Mombasa.

The clinic is in a church compound and has a doctor, a lab technician, a receptionist, and a dentist. They are such an awesome team. They were kind and supportive in orientating me to the Kenyan healthcare system, teaching me about medicines and diseases specific to this part of the world, and giving me opportunities to practice. Most people speak at least some English, though it helps to learn some words in Swahili. Be prepared to think outside the box and learn to do procedures etc. with fewer supplies than you may be used to.

The biggest concern I faced when deciding to come to Kenya was the safety. I had heard so many stories about how unsafe Kenya is. However, I find that as long as you are careful (as you should be in most places when travelling), take safety advice from the local team, and ensure Barnabas knows where you are, you will be fine. It has been such an amazing experience, and I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants an adventure and a great learning opportunity. I have not felt unsafe the entire time I have been here, and I walk to and from the clinic alone each day and have gone on a safari and other day tours.

Advice if you decide to come: Come with an open mind. Learn as much as you can. Be ready for water shortages if there is no rain (dry season). Be excited, because you are going to have such a great time!

It was an incredible experience in Kenya, it is hard to describe in words. From the moment I arrived I felt at home and very welcome in the centre. I volunteered to teach English & Math to during my 2 weeks stay at the centre & I was given the teaching aids that were necessary for classes. If I had problems or needed assistance other teachers were always there to help me. Barnabas was a fantastic source of information and advice during my stay. I found the students to be very eager to learn and very courteous in class. It was just such a pity to find them with only one book to work from for the whole class. Nonetheless, the teachers manage with what little resources they have & they are a great inspiration for the children. I extended my stay there by another week but that was still far too little time to be spending with such great children. I will definitely go back as soon as I can organize for it.

I was welcomed into the host family as their own. It really felt like home. My host sacrificed her own time at weekends to bring me to the Giraffe Centre & the Bomas of Kenya. She also helped me to buy provisions for the orphanage – taking another whole day of her personal time. In terms of the livings conditions I found the house to be most comfortable and the quality of the meals I received was excellent.

On the last week of my stay in Kenya I did the Safari as well. It was absolutely fantastic. The driver, Sammy, was very competent – I felt very safe in the vehicle on such rocky roads! He was also very knowledgeable with respect to the wildlife – in terms of both identification and giving us information about specific animals. The campsite was well run – it was clean & even had hot showers on our second day! The food was also very good.