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Volunteer with Children in Kenya | Non-Profit

Volunteer with Children in Kenya | Non-Profit

Better Me Logo. A Better World starts with a Better Me.
Better Me
4.85 · 41 reviews
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Better Me

 4.85 · 41 reviews
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Location
  • Kenya
    • Kisumu
Length
1 to 42 weeks
Project Types
Arts Drama Music Childcare Street Children Community Development Family Social Services Sports Youth Education Teaching Computer Literacy Health Education +4

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
15
Age Max
55
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Solo Women

Pricing

$290
Price Details
Volunteer fees vary depending on length of stay. We are a non-profit. All proceeds are used to support our Education Fund.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals SIM cards Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Apr 07, 2026
Sep 30, 2025
Wish List
4 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer with children in Kenya, teaching English, Creative Arts, Music, Swimming, Life Skills, or Sports.

In Kisumu, many children face limited access to quality education. Poverty and a lack of resources hinder potential. Better Me, a registered non-profit, supports local programs, like the Korando Educational Center, Kisumu Children Remand Home and Nyalenda Youngstars football club in the slums to change their story.

As a Better Me volunteer, you’ll directly impact these communities. You'll teach English to children, lead Creative Arts, Music, Swimming, Life Skills, and Physical Education activities. Your efforts will nurture abilities and confidence that last a lifetime.

You’ll work with different age groups while collaborating with local educators in Kisumu to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Our programs prioritize community engagement and local support.

Join the Better Me family and make a real difference in Kenya.

A Better World starts with a Better Me.

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Program Highlights

  • We’re local: Our team lives and works in Kisumu. It’s their home and this work is close to their heart. Every volunteer fee and donation directly supports local people, schools, and community projects.
  • We’re ethical: No orphanage tourism. No staged photo ops. Just real, human connection and community-driven development.
  • We’re experienced: Since 2015, we’ve welcomed volunteers from 34 countries and built long-lasting partnerships with schools, organizations, government departments and local leaders.
  • We’re sustainable: Our programs continue with or without volunteers, ensuring lasting impact that’s rooted in the community, not in dependency.
  • We’re transformational: Our approach combines personal growth with real-world impact, because we believe a better world starts with a Better Me.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how Better Me is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Volunteer with a disadvantaged child in Kenya
Volunteer with school kids
Yellow Volunteer Dome House
Team and volunteers in the dome kitchen
Swimming class
Volunteers and students
Volunteer holding a child at Korando
Kids laughing
Volunteer playing
Volunteers on a mission (lunch break)
Volunteer skipping rope
Volunteer in her wooden bunk bed
Volunteers jumping
Volunteer Dome House Communal Space

View All Photos

Impact 🌎

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Better Me. Our programs are community-owned and Kenyan-led, built to flourish whether volunteers are present or not. This means projects don’t pause when a volunteer leaves—they continue to grow, guided by local expertise and long-term vision.
Every contribution—time, skills, or funds—feeds directly into lasting systems of education, empowerment, and opportunity. Rather than creating dependency, we strengthen schools, families, and community initiatives so that they remain resilient and self-sufficient for years to come.
We invest in local leadership and capacity building, ensuring that knowledge, skills, and decision-making stay where they belong: in the community. By combining personal transformation with responsible development, Better Me creates impact that endures—an approach where growth today becomes strength for tomorrow.
Learn More
At Better Me we believe that true change begins within and grows outward. As a registered nonprofit rooted in Kisumu, Kenya, our work is led by local hearts and minds and shaped by the community we serve. Every volunteer experience and every euro of support flows directly into schools, families, and grassroots initiatives that make a lasting difference.
Our approach is built on respect and authenticity. We reject quick fixes, orphanage tourism, and staged photo opportunities. Instead, we cultivate real relationships and projects that continue to thrive whether volunteers are present or not. This ensures that the impact remains sustainable and never dependent on outside help.
Since 2015, people from more than thirty countries have joined us and discovered that volunteering can be both deeply personal and profoundly communal. They come to share skills and curiosity, and leave transformed—more connected, more aware, and more empowered to shape a better world.
Better Me isn’t about “fixing” Kenya. It’s about walking alongside the people who call it home, learning from their wisdom, and growing together. Through this exchange of hearts, cultures, and ideas, we create change that is ethical, enduring, and alive with possibility.
Learn More

Program Impact

At Better Me, we believe that true change starts within—and grows outward into the community. By volunteering with us, you’ll help children and youth in Kisumu gain confidence, creativity, and essential life skills that open doors to a brighter future.

Our programs are designed to last: they continue with or without volunteers, ensuring sustainable impact rooted in the community. Every moment you spend—whether teaching English, leading arts and sports, or simply offering encouragement—contributes to long-term growth, both for the children and for yourself.

Together, we’re not just creating opportunities for today—we’re shaping a ripple effect of positive change that reaches far into the future.

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Program Reviews

4.85 Rating
based on 41 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 85.37%
  • 4 rating 14.63%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.8
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.65
  • Safety 4.85
Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Adventure travelers
Showing 41 - 41 of 41 reviews
Tiziana
42
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best experience of my life

Aug 28, 2025

I have volunteered at Better Me in 2017 and 2019 coming all the way from the South Pacific. I was teaching geography and yoga to the beautiful children of the Korando family that is now my family too. I also had the chance to visit the slums and reading books. I have created a beautiful bond with the children and all the wonderful people working at the charity. It was truly the experience of a life time. I cant wait to go back in the future and see how the children have grown since the last time I was in Korando.

36 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Ruth Obilo

Program
Volunteer with Children in Kenya | Non-Profit
Job Title
Deputy Volunteer Coordinator
Ruth Obilo is a passionate community development enthusiast and Deputy Volunteer Coordinator at Better Me Kenya Network, dedicated to empowering youth and adolescent girls through community-driven projects, mentorship, and strategic collaborations. With a background in Community Resource Management, she is also passionate about driving change and fostering inclusive growth at the grassroots level and the world at large.
Ruth and two volunteers together smiling big for a photo

Staff Spotlight: Ruth

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory has been accompanying volunteers on cultural experiences across Kenya. I love the look of wonder on their faces as they discover local foods, traditions, and ways of life. Travel is therapeutic for me, and being part of these journeys makes every trip a learning moment. What stands out most is not just the destinations but the conversations and laughter shared along the way. These moments remind me that when people open themselves to new experiences, they grow. For me, every travel memory connects back to our motto, “A better world starts with a Better Me,” because personal reflection and transformation often begin the moment we step into a new environment.
 

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since joining Better Me in 2022, I have experienced remarkable growth in many areas of my life. Working as a deputy Volunteer Coordinator has given me the chance to interact with people from different cultures, and through this I have learnt tolerance, patience, and open-mindedness. I have developed stronger communication and leadership skills, especially in listening to others and appreciating their unique perspectives. Before this role, I often hesitated to contribute new ideas, but Better Me has created a space where creativity is encouraged and valued. This environment has made me bolder and more confident in sharing my thoughts and taking initiative. Another area of growth has been adaptability. Learning that every person and situation is different and requires flexibility. Above all, I have come to embrace our guiding motto, “A better world starts with a Better Me.” I now understand that by working on myself whether through confidence, empathy, or new skills I am better equipped to contribute meaningfully to my team and community. My growth is not just personal; it ripples outward to those I work with every day.
 

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the most inspiring stories I’ve heard came from a volunteer who once struggled deeply with self-confidence. When she first arrived at Better Me, she could hardly speak in front of a group. She doubted her ability to lead or even to be heard. But over time, with encouragement and opportunities, she started gaining courage. She practiced, tried again, and slowly grew into someone who could stand before children and volunteers to deliver meaningful sessions. When she later returned, she shared how the experience had transformed her completely. Today she speaks at events, leads presentations, and inspires others through her journey. Her story reminded me that real change begins within.
 

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

If I could go on any program that Better Me offers, I would choose the youth mentorship program. I find mentorship to be one of the most powerful tools for change, especially when working with young people. There is something magical about guiding youth to discover who they are, what they are capable of, and how they can grow into the best versions of themselves. Mentorship provides a safe space where children and young people can ask questions, share dreams, make mistakes, and still feel supported. For me, this aligns perfectly with my personal passion for working with youth and children. Watching a young person gain confidence, discover their talents, or realize their potential is one of the most fulfilling experiences. When young people learn to better themselves, they not only improve their own lives but also become role models and agents of change in their communities. Joining this program would be an opportunity to pour into others while also growing myself. Mentorship is transformation at its most practical and heartfelt level, and that’s why I would choose it.
 

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What makes Better Me unique is the freedom it gives everyone; staff, volunteers, and any youth to express creativity and contribute fresh ideas. We are not just an organization but a community that values collaboration. I was especially proud of our team during the 10th anniversary celebration earlier this year. Looking back on the networks we built, the lives we impacted, and the global connections we created, I felt humbled to be part of such a dedicated team. The celebration was proof that our motto, “A better world starts with a Better Me,” is alive in the stories of transformation we witness every day.
 

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The biggest factor in being a successful company is empowering individuals to grow on a personal level. A company is only as strong as the people who make it up, and unless each person is supported, encouraged, and motivated to improve, the larger mission cannot succeed. Success also depends on fostering an environment of trust and innovation where people feel safe to contribute new ideas and know they are valued. For Better Me, success is not just about numbers or achievements but about stories of transformation. When I see someone who once struggled step up and thrive because of the opportunities we create, I know that we are on the right path. Better Me is a home away from home for any individual from any part of the world, and that sense of belonging is what ensures long-term success.
 

About Better Me

Better Me is a non-profit transforming children’s lives in Kenya by providing education, training and life-skills to co-create a better world. We are on a mission to provide community-inspired, volunteer-powered long-lasting positive change that unleashes the potential of Kenya’s children to thrive and realize their dreams.

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