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Choose between 1-12 weeks
No Cancellation
15 people
English
Due to Ombugo Primary’s location being in a rural area, it is many times overlooked by the government in terms of receiving updated educational materials and facilities. It is also 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. The school is currently offering classes to students from Grade 1 to Grade 8. There is one teacher assigned to each classroom with some class sizes being quite large. With the support of a teaching volunteer, local teachers can gain support for students who may need extra assistance. As the school is located on top of a rural mountain, the students have less exposure to foreigners, let alone any visitors. There is a great interest from the teachers and students to have experience speaking English. Through having regular communication with fluent English speakers, both teachers and students can gain confidence in the language.
Volunteers with prior teaching experience can also have the opportunity to lead their own classes, help supervise the children during breaktime, 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:
Nyakach is a subcounty in Kisumu City in Nyanza Provine, Kenya. The village where volunteers stay and work is called Andingo Village. The Andingo Villiage is known for being a natural and mountainous 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. Since the village is located at the top of a mountain, goods are transported from neighboring villages just below the mountain. Transport from the base of the mountain to the top has become easier for locals due to the building of a much needed road. Before the construction of the road, the only way to pass through the mountain was by trekking. There is little access to technology and running water within the village. The average community member in the Andingo Village may find difficulties in finding the means for enough food throughout the week, funds for schooling, quality education 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 (KIS). 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 Kisumu 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 Nyakach. Nyakach is a 2 hour drive from Kisumu City. Upon arrival in Andingo Village, Nyakach, you will be placed in your homestay.
| Duration | Program Fees |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $ 527 |
| 2 Week | $ 656 |
| 3 Week | $ 842 |
| 4 Week | $ 980 |
| 5 Week | $ 1185 |
| 6 Week | $ 1323 |
| 7 Week | $ 1462 |
| 8 Week | $ 1601 |
| 9 Week | $ 1805 |
| 10 Week | $ 1944 |
| 11 Week | $ 2082 |
| 12 Week | $ 2221 |
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
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.
On weekends, volunteers can take the opportunity to relax and travel. There is a famous waterfall located within the mountain called Odino Falls. 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.
When you join our teaching program in the Andingo Village, you will be staying in a rural homestay which will be located either within walking distance or a short motorbike ride away from the Ombugo Primary school. Volunteers will have their own bedroom while staying at the accommodation. There is no running water at the homestays 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 Andingo Village, but there are telecom providers which provide coverage within certain areas. It is important to note that you can expect being disconnected from the internet in certain areas of the village, however our local team will assist you with finding locations with internet connection. The Andingo Village mostly relies on solar energy to power their homes incase of outages, however the area can be subjected to power outages so it is suggested to bring a power bank incase of blackouts.
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
Local Homestay
Who should apply for this program?
This program is best suited for adventurous volunteers who are passionate about making a lasting impact in a rural 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
Rusinga Island
