Volunteers

Change requires action!

Would you like to join the Hope Home family? Children's Hope Home was founded and is run by past volunteers. We are always looking forward to meeting new people and welcoming them in our family. Our program Volunteers Voice offers a hands-on, meaningful way for you to get involved and directly help the kids in Children's Hope Home and the most part, you will be helping add positivity and fun into their difficult daily lives.
We organize volunteer placements on regular basis, making arrangements for an orientation course, accommodation, ground transport and other activities. We offer exciting short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities. Our volunteer placements are open to people of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of nationality or qualifications.
We offer various volunteer opportunities even within the nearby community projects throughout the year.
If you would like to apply to become a part of our volunteer program, please read the terms & conditions, fill out our volunteer application form and submit it online.
We are happy to discuss any questions you may have before you submit your application. Please email mary@volunteers-voice.org.

For more information please see our FAQ section below.

Quick facts about Volunteers Voice

• Age Limit: 18 and over; under 18 if accompanied by guardian
• Volunteer transportation: Airport pick-up on arrival and drop off on departure
• Airport Arrival Time: preferably before 10pm
• Accommodation & Meals: simple, clean and neat bedrooms, three kenyan meals provided per day
• Transport to Project: projects within walking distance, else bus fare will not exceed 1 USD per day
• Schedule: Mondays to Fridays. 6 hours daily
• Program Costs: Volunteers Voice program fees available here
• Language Requirements: basic swahili strongly encouraged but not required; working knowledge of english required. If you are interested in learning more swahili and more about your stay, we offer orientation course material prior to project placement.
• Length of Program: at least 2 weeks

More about volunteering

What will I be doing?

Volunteers are an important part of our work, and we appreciate those who give their time and talent to our mission. We also welcome groups interested in volunteer opportunities. There is always a shortage of staff in the children's homes so it's very difficult for them to attend to all of the children. Therefore, they focus primarily on the most essential needs of the children. Your job as a volunteer is to provide academic and emotional support to the children, assisting the staff by their daily chores meal preparations, cleaning, laundry etc. as well as developing activities in which the children can participate. The young children who do not yet attend school are especially enthusiastic about acquiring English vocabulary, so that they may learn how to speak to volunteers. Volunteers may develop games based on English vocabulary, or other recreational activities that the children can learn and enjoy. Volunteers on this project need to be creative and self-motivating, and also enjoy working with children. The children benefit from volunteers who model proper behavior, and provide kind words of encouragement.

Where will I be volunteering?

Just twenty minutes drive from Nairobi metropolis, lies the little village of Gathiga, surrounded by banana trees and coffee plantations, at the end of the bus line, where the locals greet each other by name and where there’s always time to share a fresh cup of chai. Apart from beautiful landscape and central location, Gathiga offers a number of shops from groceries to cyber cafes, a dispensary, two schools, different kindergartens and churches. Gathiga people are genuinely welcoming to all travelers and are eager to make new friends and make everyone feel welcome.

What will my schedule be like?

We believe that volunteers should have a well balanced work and leisure schedule. This means you will only be required to work 5 days per week (Monday to Friday) for a maximum of 6 hours per day. For the remaining time, you will be free to enjoy the vacationing aspects of your trip. You can visit the local markets and nearby mall centers or simply do your laundry.

Challenges?

The staff will do their best to inform you on what’s going on and what is expected of you; however there will be times when you have to use your own initiative to organize activities and locate resources or information. Things may be organized differently from back home and things might not always make sense. You should be open-minded, patient, willing to accept new things and be prepared to get stuck in. You will need to be able to work well within a team and be adaptable to working and living in a group.

Will I be able to communicate with family and friends?

There are many cyber cafes around where you can use the internet and make international phone calls. But most of our volunteers are able to use their own mobile phones. Otherwise you can buy and activate a mobile phone for 40-100 USD from one of the local shops. If you’re bringing your laptop, there is a possibility to purchase a pre-paid USB internet stick which will give you your own internet access.

What can I do in my free time?

Volunteers Voice asks for responsible volunteers who will take their commitment seriously, but at the same time anticipates and encourages your desire for travel and adventure. Your time away from volunteering is open for you to decide your activities. You may decide to take advantage of the local culture and spend time within the community over the weekend. Otherwise, there is ample opportunity to explore Kenya and all it has to offer. Kenya is incredibly beautiful and full of fun activities in which you can take part. It is also conveniently located to beaches and other tourist-friendly areas.

For volunteers interested in doing some traveling we have designed low-cost volunteer/student tour packages and adventure program. For more information on our volunteer/student tours please contact mzee@volunteers-voice.org.

Project Testimonial

Judith - Frankfurt, Germany

I had an absolutely amazing time with the kids. Great times, great experiences, great people. I just want to say what a lovely place Children's Hope Home is. It is so friendly. I never want to leave. I just can’t help but keep coming back. I wish the foundation all the luck and to all the future volunteers an experience as fulfilling as mine!

Nicole – California, USA

I volunteered in Kenya a year ago and I fell in love with the kids, the people and the country. After my visit, I wanted to return for a longer period of time. I had stumbled across websites for many volunteer organizations and thought this would be a great opportunity. Together with Lucy’s daughter with whom I’ve become very close I have created a project to support the orphanage.