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Up to 5 Hours/Day
No Cancellation
15 people
English
Due to Elimu Centre International’s location being in a rural area, it is not common for the students to get daily experience speaking English. International volunteers are highly valued in the community as they can share their language, culture, and positive ideas. There are a total of 4 classes at the school and 3 local teachers who are handling them. With the support of a teaching volunteer, local teachers can delegate some of their daily teaching tasks and have time to place more focus on students who may need extra assistance.
Volunteers with prior teaching experience can also have the opportunity to lead their own classes, help supervise the children during breaktime, help with serving meals and give assistance in areas which need support in the school.
Please note, this program is not available during school holidays. If you apply for this program during school holidays, we can place you into another active program during your desired time slot.
When you volunteer with our teaching program, you not only help the community gain access to equal education, you also gain personal development skills and professional teaching experience by:
Alego Usonga is a subcounty located in Siaya, Kenya. The village where volunteers stay and work is called Uhembo Village. The Uhembo village is known for being a natural an untouched destination. The main source of income in the village is agriculture. Almost everyone within the community participates in farming by growing and selling their own crops. There is little access to technology and running water within the village. The average community member in the Uhembo Village may find difficulties in finding the means for enough food throughout the week, funds for schooling and gaining access to professional opportunities. Volunteers can help by providing support for local initiatives which are designed to improve the quality of life and access basic essentials.
Volunteers will need to arrive in Kisumu 1 day prior to their assigned orientation day.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Kisumu International Airport (KISi). If you are traveling by bus to Kisumu, you can book your tickets to arrive at Kisumu Bus Terminus. Your airport pick-up or bus station pickup is included in your Program Fee.
When you arrive at the airport or bus station, a member of the Volunteer to the World staff will be there greet you. From your point of arrival you will be brought to your temporary homestay or hotel in Kisumu. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our local team in Nairobi on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Kenya – an introduction to Kenya, Kenyan customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Kenya, and an introduction to your project and placement. Once your orientation is complete, you will be transported to your teaching program location in Alego Usonga. Alego Usonga is located a 1 & a half hour drive from Kisumu City. Upon arrival in Uhembo Village, you will be placed in your homestay or hotel.
| Duration | Program Fees |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $ 622 |
| 2 Week | $ 752 |
| 3 Week | $ 944 |
| 4 Week | $ 1082 |
| 5 Week | $ 1287 |
| 6 Week | $ 1426 |
| 7 Week | $ 1564 |
| 8 Week | $ 1703 |
| 9 Week | $ 1907 |
| 10 Week | $ 2046 |
| 11 Week | $ 2185 |
| 12 Week | $ 2323 |
You will be escorted to your placement by one of our local staff members.
The school operates from Monday to Friday and volunteers can expect to work a minimum of 4 hours per day. Work and hours at the placement are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at, but a typical volunteer day would be as follows:
Breakfast at the homestay or hotel
Volunteers travel to their placements and meet with the placement staff. There is usually a morning tea break and lunch break.
Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their homestays, go sightseeing or do some shopping.
Dinner with host family or hotel
On weekends, volunteers can take the opportunity to relax and travel. Volunteers can explore Alego Usunga, Kisumu City, 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.
When you join our teaching program in the Uhembo Village, you have the option of staying in our local home, which is located within the same compound as the school. Volunteers will have their own bedroom while staying at the accommodation. There is no running water at the house and water is collected from a water pump which is located within walking distance from the house. You will be assisted by our local staff in getting your daily bathing water. Since there is no running water on site, bucket showers are the easiest option for bathing. There is no western style toilet in the home, however there is a local toilet in the house. There is no Wifi within Alego Usonga, but there are telecom providers which provide coverage within the area. There is regular power within the compound, however the area can be subjected to power outages so it is suggested to bring a power bank incase of blackouts.
The second option for accommodation with our teaching program is to stay at a nearby hotel. There is a hotel with a view of Lake Victoria which is just 15 minutes by motor bike from the school. This accommodation offers a single room accommodation with running water, western toilets and a shower within the room. There is regular power within the compound, however the area can be subjected to power outages so it is suggested to bring a power bank incase of blackouts. There is no Wifi within Alego Usonga, but there are telecom providers which provide coverage within the area
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 is served around 7 am and 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 served around 1pm. If you are not returning home from your placement for lunch, you will need to pack your own lunch in the morning. Dinner is usually served around 8 pm and 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. However, it is important that volunteers should not expect to eat as they normally do at home.
Purpose
To help improve the English skills of the students in the community
Duration
Choose between 1-12 weeks
Age
Volunteers 18 + and families
Program Fees
Volunteer Hours
up to 5 hours per day
Accommodation
Homestay or hotel options available
Who should apply for this program?
This program is best suited for volunteers who are passionate about making a lasting impact in the community through teaching English. As you will be volunteering alongside our local teaching staff, you do not need to have previous teaching experience, however, it is strongly recommended that you gain some understanding of teaching prior to your arrival in Kenya.
Member Since 2024
