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Choose between 1-12 weeks
No Cancellation
15 people
English
Rusinga Dog Rescue Animals Shelter has active daily community field work activities within the community like community education forums, SOS response to animals in need, follow up for animals under care within the community, and medical camps for animals which offer much needed veterinary services. The rescue kennel currently hosts some rescued animals that are up for adoption and require constant care. Rusinga Dog Rescue Animals Shelter also gives back to the community by participating and partnering with environmental conservation groups within the community.
Volunteers are highly valued in the community as they can help the organization complete these important tasks and improve the quality of community education.
When you volunteer with our animal welfare and teaching assistant program, you not only help an organization designed to mitigate animal cruelty and suffering within the Rusinga Island community, you also to promote animal welfare rights by educating the community on how to safely handle their animals. You will also participate in rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of animals that are in need.
In addition to working with the dogs in the community, volunteers will also assist local teachers at a nearby orphanage by helping improve English language skills and organizing activities.
Through our animal welfare and teaching assistant program, volunteers will also gain personal development skills and professional teaching experience by:
Rusinga Island is a stunning location in Kenya, located in the eastern part of Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater lake in Africa. Rusinga is part of Homa Bay County and is accessible via road from Mbita town through a causeway. It is renowned for its rich history, cultural heritage, and natural beauty
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya and transfer to host family home or hostel.
Day 2: Morning: registration and start of orientation. About 4 hours lecture at the home of your host. Topics covered during orientation lecture will include East African culture, history, customs, politics, geography, and necessary health precautions. The afternoon is free for exploring rural Kenyan life and getting to know your host family.
| Duration | Program Fees |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $ 586 |
| 2 Week | $ 644 |
| 3 Week | $ 771 |
| 4 Week | $ 851 |
| 5 Week | $ 998 |
| 6 Week | $ 1079 |
| 7 Week | $ 1160 |
| 8 Week | $ 1241 |
| 9 Week | $ 1388 |
| 10 Week | $ 1469 |
| 11 Week | $ 1549 |
| 12 Week | $ 1630 |
Arrival and pick up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya and transfer to host family home or hostel.
Morning: registration and start of orientation, About 4 hours lecture at the home of your host. Topics covered during orientation lecture will include East African culture, history, customs, politics, geography, and necessary health precautions. The afternoon is free for exploring rural Kenyan life and getting to know your host family.
Kennel cleaning, followed by training and bonding with the animals
Preparation and serving animal food
Field work which involves wellness check-ups and community education and interaction
Preparation of evening meal to be served at 10.00pm
On weekends, volunteers can take the opportunity to relax and travel.
There are several islands located within Homabay which can be accesses by boat including Mbita Island. Other fascinating destinations include Kisumu City, Kisumu Museum, Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Kajulu Hills, The Crying Stone, Kakamega Rainforest, Homa Bay, Port Victoria, and Kit Mikayi. There are also beautiful Islands located within Lake Victoria including: Ndere Island, Rusinga Islands, Maboko Island. Mfangano Island, and Takawiri Island. Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield including to Mombasa, Uganda or Tanzania, or to embark on a safari. All volunteers have the choice of adding our “Travel Top Up” option to their volunteer experience, in which a full itinerary and travel guide is provided. Adding this option ensures the best experiences in seeing natural wildlife and immersing in the authentic Luo culture.
Volunteers will be assigned to stay with a host family nearby the local orphanage and within walking distance to the animal shelter. The accommodation provides volunteers with all basic needs. There is no Wifi provided at the homestay.
The wide range of Kenyan tribes, ethnicities and cultures are reflected in the diversity of the local cuisine. Volunteers are provided with three meals a day which are served at the accommodation and tend to be rich in carbohydrates. Breakfast generally consists of chai tea, coffee, toast, fruit and sometimes mandazi - African donuts. A typical lunch can include vegetables and lentils with rice, occasional meat and fruit. Dinner typically includes traditional food, such as ugali; a cornmeal porridge, mboga; a vegetable dish, irio; mashed potatoes with peas and corn, meat and vegetables. Tap water is not safe to drink in Kenya, though bottled water is readily available. Volunteers typically drink around half a gallon, or two liters per day, which costs around US$15 a week. If you have any special dietary requirements, please make a note on your application so arrangements can be made. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available for this program. However, it is important that volunteers should not expect to eat as they normally do at home.
Purpose
To help improve the quality of life for the dogs of Rusinga Island and the quality of education for the youths.
Duration
Choose between 1-12 weeks
Age
Volunteers 18 + and families
Program Fees
Volunteer Hours
up to 6 hours per day
Accommodation
Local Homestay
Who should apply for this program?
This program is best suited for adventurous volunteers who have love for animals and are passionate about making a lasting impact in a rural community through teaching. As you will be volunteering alongside local staff, you do not need to have previous teaching experience or experience with dogs, however, it is strongly recommended that you gain some understanding of teaching prior to your arrival in Kenya.
Member Since 2024
