Kenya
Overview
The first Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) volunteers travelled to Kenya in 2019. Since then, many have volunteered in projects across Kenya, including to Thigio, Matisi and Kamulu. The VLM Schools Immersion Programme now takes place in schools run by the Vincentian Fathers in Kenya. Kenya is located in East Africa, bordering Ethiopia and Tanzania and with a coastline on the Indian Ocean. It has a population of 54 million.
Some facts about Kenya
- The Republic of Kenya is named after Mount Kenya.
- Kenya is famous for its national parks, including Nairobi National Park, Tsavo Game Reserve, Amboseli National Park and Maasai Mara. Maasai Mara has one of the largest densities of the lion in the world.
- Kenya is also famous for its long-distance runners and attracts elite athletes from all over the world to train at altitude.
- Coffee is the biggest foreign income generator for Kenya. Only 3% of the coffee grown in Kenya is consumed locally.
- The flag of Kenya has the following meanings – black represents the indigenous population, red the struggle for freedom, green the land and white unity and peace. The shield and spears are carried by the Maasai people and reflect the traditional ways of life in Kenya.
Projects
Thigio
Projects: De Paul School, Community development & health
Thigio is a rural area located around 1 hour outside Nairobi.
The Vincentians run a school here from grades 1 to 7. It has 330 pupils.
The Daughters of Charity run community development and health projects here –
– Kitchen & gardening for women.
– Hospice, Health clinic & pharmacy.
– Counselling service.
– Community library and IT classes.
– Learning difficulties project with 66 people children to young adults.
– Physiotherapy.
This placement would suit teachers and physiotherapists.
Matisi
Projects: De Paul School, Upendo Children's project
Matisi is a suburb of Kitale, a town in Western Kenya. It is an area of poverty, drug and alcohol problems and a high proportion of young mothers. A lot of children are raised by their grandparents.
The Vincentians run a school with 385 pupils from KG to grade 7. It has an IT suite.
The Daughters of Charity run Upendo children project for street boys aged 10 to 17 years old with up to 50 boys a day coming to the centre.
The boys have been living on the streets of Kitale for varying lengths of time. They are able to shower, wash their clothes and then take part in activities, informal and formal learning.
The project campaigns for the human rights of the street boys and against human trafficking and advocates for the boys. Their ultimate aim is for the boys to return to their homes.
This placement is suitable for volunteers with a wide variety of skills. It would suit primary and secondary school teachers with the possibility of teaching English. Also running sports, games, arts, music, etc. The school also has computers and it would be possible to teach IT to the children. The street boys project would also be suitable for social workers.
Chepnyal
Projects: Community development, health & education
Chepnyal is located in a remote and hilly area in West Pokot District in North West Kenya.
The Daughters of Charity came here in 2002. The services offered include:
A Community development project, which provides the following programmes:
– Income generating projects
– A Water programme, providing access to clean water by providing well maintenance and repair service.
An Education project, which offers the following programmes:
– St Mary’s Nursery, an integrated programme with an outreach component.
– The Women’s Polytechnic.
School Resource teacher services, primarily for the girl’s primary and secondary school and activities for children.
A Health/Education Project, which offers the following programmes:
– Connecting children with disabilities to medical facilities to address their needs for surgery or for follow up medical care.
– Elderly project with socialisation, hot food, clean clothing, and weekly medical advice by a nurse and assessment when needed.
Due to the difficulty accessing health care transport of the sick is provided to area clinics and to the District Hospital.
This project specifically looks for physiotherapists, teachers, nurses and farmers.
Kiio
Projects: Community outreach & education
Kiio is located in Eastern Kenya and is very dry and hot all year round.
The Daughters of Charity came to live and work here in 2009.
The services offered in Kiio include:
Education/empowerment
-Administration of Kiio Polytechnic which offers the following courses; Carpentry, dressmaking, Masonry and Mechanics to trade test levels III, II and I. Classes in Business, Bookkeeping, Typing, Computers, Cookery, Crafts, English, Health, Hygiene, and Agriculture.
– Teaching in primary school
Community Outreach
– Elderly outreach, including health and social groups.
Support for the carers of children with disabilities.
This project specifically looks for physiotherapists, special needs teachers and occupational therapists.
Volunteer Stories
Impact
Read about our impact in Kenya with the help of volunteers and donors.
Want to get involved? Visit ‘Volunteering with VLM‘.
Visit other countries we work in
Ethopia
Ghana
Tanzania
