Responsible volunteering for sustainable development
Since the beginning of Marafiki Community International, volunteers have been a part of the plan for the sustainable development of Kenya. We have learned so much in the 10 years we are in operation, and we are committed to making volunteering a responsible and meaningful cultural exchange.
The volunteer programs at Marafiki at intended to be as practical as possible based on the background and experience of the volunteer as well as the specific needs and plans of the placements and projects we work with.
We have 10 years’ experience in hosting volunteers from all over the world. Our volunteer house is located in Nairobi, and all the projects we work with are within 50 minutes commute of the volunteer house for the volunteers who will stay in Nairobi. For those who come to volunteer in Maasai Mara or SIDP, the volunteer house is their base in Nairobi.
The house is taken care of by the host mama who cooks and keeps the house clean, and usually it’s common to find volunteers learning how to cook chapatis in her kitchen. Other members of the Marafiki Team also live in the house to ensure that volunteers feel safe and are well taken care of. The host mama cooks breakfast and dinner for volunteers from Monday to Saturday, as included with the volunteer fee. Volunteers come from all over the world, all different backgrounds and ages and the house is a melting pot of languages and cultures!
Here is a small description of the different opportunities available for volunteers.
Early Childhood Education
If you are experienced in Early Childhood Education, and passionate about working with the little ones, this program is for you. The kids need a lot more play time, story telling and 1:1 activities. Volunteers in this program work in school classrooms providing support for teachers and organising fun learning activities for the smaller ones!
Medical Program
The medical program is suited to students and fully qualified medical personnel. The placement really depends on the level of experience.
The goal of the medical program is to support healthcare services and try to provide the services in areas where there is little access to healthcare.
Teaching Support & Tutoring
If you are a teacher or have ever taught a class or a private lesson and want to help support a class in one of our schools, the teaching program is it. Volunteers support the main teachers in a class, and work on the tutoring program, helping kids 11 years old and above who are falling behind.
If you are a qualified teacher we really need your help!
Maasai Mara
Are you open to living like a Maasai while volunteering at our projects in Maasai Mara? Not for the faint hearted, but loved by all volunteers is our Maasai Mara program. The type of work will be based on your background and experience as well as your ability to live disconnected from the world. This program can be an add on to one of our other programs.
Girl’s Empowerment
In a world where women can enter the circle of poverty because of early pregnancy or early marriage, we want to break with convention and encourage them to be empowered to make their own decisions in life. Volunteers in this program support daily activities at the schools but do an additional program of storytelling and growth mindset workshops that are specific to girls.
The Explorer Program
Do you want to volunteer and travel to the most beautiful parts in Kenya for 4 weeks? The Explorer program is made for people who want to do both. With weekends spent doing all kinds of excursions, volunteers spend one week in Nairobi, one week in SIDP, one week at the coast and one week in Maasai Mara. The volunteer work is practical and the views are amazing.
If you are a university group, a church group or just a group of friends, we also have plenty of work for you!