Project overview The Taita hills rise from the Southeastern Nyika Plateau. They are ancient fault-block formation stretching south to Malawi through Eastern and Southern Tanzania. They sit almost cheek-by-jowl with one of the region’s recent volcanic ranges, the Chyulu Hills. The project is situated on the foot of the Sagalla Hills in Taita Taveta district in coastal part of Kenya. It is approximately 7-8 hours’ drive from Nairobi. Sagalla is remembered to be a home of the first missionaries in the early 1900 and these is evident with one of the first churches in Kenya still standing strong.
PROJECT Activities Gideon Mosi Primary School is a relatively new institution was founded in 1990 and it has rapidly expanded to accommodate 293 boys and girls from class 1-8. The 8 Teachers at the Gideon Mosi Primary School are employed by the Teachers Service commission and they are qualified to teach all rounds from class 1-8. In cases where the teaching staff is not adequate, the Parents and Teachers Association employs teachers for a short duration of time to help bridge the obtaining gap.
TYPE OF WORKCAMP:
CHILDREN and RENOVATION Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Monday to Friday.
Manual work and Intercultural activities:
•School renovation, •Teaching Primary School pupils •Awareness campaign on Human and Wildlife Conflict •Home visits •Cultural days for various nationalities •Topical discussion on the project theme together with the local people
THE BANE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT This phenomenon of human beings and wildlife conflict is very controversial and has attracted the attention of all and sundry. The scenario is prompted by the proximity of the local community to the Tsavo National Park that is the home to wildlife and this directly plays into the hands of the local community members who are forced by the circumstances to learn to live with the situation and the attendant challenges.
Working with community groups on poverty reduction and sustainable development will involve the active involvement in projects that are geared towards youth and women empowerment activities, HIV/AIDS awareness, provision of infrastructure in learning institutions. Poverty is a major issue in the local community and is directly linked to the spread of HIV/AIDS because poverty drives HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS drives poverty. This highlights the need for a multifaceted response to both problems, but particularly to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Both these problems disproportionately affect women and youth. The goal is to try and enable the local members address community issues, thus enhancing the economic and social empowerment of women and youth for poverty reduction in Gideon Mosi, and linking this with activities to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. These activities will also help strengthen rural community and their local economies. In the process being able to improve access to quality education for school children The volunteers will be required to join hands together with community members in addressing the theme of the camp in order to empower the community to coming up with a more pro-active way of enhancing the academic development of community children.
Orientation:
Will be done on 19th August 2017 at KVDA Residence in Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 20th August 2017
Airport pick-up services:
This will be done subject to provision of full flight details. The port of entry to Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Volunteers will stay at KVDA Residence in Nairobi at a fee Participation FEES The project participation fees that is all-inclusive for the three weeks work camp is Euro 300
INSURANCE:
KVDA does not provide insurance and volunteers should obtain travel insurance cover. It is a good idea to get medicine you are used to from your home country and seek advice from your personal doctor. WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION FEES COVER? Project preparation cycle, return transfer from the airport and the project, KVDA administration, orientation, certificate of participation, project coordination, facilitation, evaluation and monitoring WHAT IS NOT COVERED? Excursion activities, local travel while in the community, personal effects, needs and wants. EDUCATIONAL TOURS KVDA offers educational tours to spectacular sites including the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve at separate fees. Please contact us for specific tour information. ACCOMMODATION The volunteers stay in School classrooms in very basic conditions where there are no beds and electricity. KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will cook their own meals in turns. Volunteers have an obligation to climb down the level of the people with the aim of exposure to development challenges. Water is available from springs and it is recommended that drinking water should be boiled or medicated. Mineral water available at supermarkets is also recommended. There is no electricity connection at the project but volunteers can charge the electric appliances at the nearest market center.
LANGUAGE:
English is the language of the work camp. There will be a possibility of learning Kiswahili and other international and local languages as cultural diversity is a major component in international service
PROJECT DETAILED INFO SHEET:
Will be sent to the volunteer sending organization as soon as the application is accepted by KVDA
CONFIRMATION DEADLINE:
Should be done via e-mail at least one month before
PROJECT Activities The school was started with the aim of having members of the community have access to education and more so the girl child. In this community, differences between man and woman dictate a difference in their social roles and this reinforces a notion that men are more superior to women. Capacity building will provide both men and women with political insight and moral support in confronting gender issues. A woman’s social status has led to marginalization. This was the very reason of starting the school so as to empower the girl child.
The project involves different types of activities. These include: Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Monday to Friday.
Manual work and Intercultural activities:
•School construction •Teaching primary school pupils •Tree planting •Stones collection and pathways clearing •Sensitization of the community on the side effects of FGM •Home visits and topical discussion with the local people
THEME:
GENDER SENSITIVITY: FOCUS ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM) •Female genital mutilation is a strong tradition in this community. It is illegal. But still more than one third of the women are circumcised and each and every young woman is subjected to the cut. •The church has preached against FGM for decades but in spite of the deep devoutness the priests do not have enough power over the souls. •FGM has nothing to do with religion; it is a so-called culture and tradition in certain groups. • The practice is deeply rooted in views on chastity, transition to womanhood, “purity” for marriage and basically a wish to control women sexually. In certain areas, the survival and fertility of the local community is assumed to be threatened if the girls are not circumcised. Many brave young girls who refuse FGM are regarded as “unmarriageable” and become outcasts. •It is a brutal act, painful and has led to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Volunteers will be required to liaise with other Non-Governmental organizations like Red Cross in creation of awareness to the community.
Orientation:
Will be done on 9th September 2017 at KVDA Residence in Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 10th September 2017
Airport pick-up services:
The port of entry to Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and airport pick up will be done on provision of full flight details. The volunteers will be taken to KVDA Residence in Karen for accommodation that has highly subsidized rates Participation FEES The project participation fees that is all-inclusive for the 3- week work camp is Euro 300
INSURANCE:
KVDA does not provide insurance and volunteers should obtain travel insurance cover. It is a good idea to get medicine you are used to from your home country and seek advice from your personal doctor. WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION FEES COVER? Project preparation cycle, return transfers from the airport and the project, KVDA administration, orientation, certificate of participation, project coordination, facilitation, evaluation and monitoring WHAT IS NOT COVERED? Excursion activities, local travel while in the community, personal effects, needs and wants. EDUCATIONAL TOURS KVDA offers educational tours to spectacular sites including the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve at separate fees. Please contact us for specific tour information. ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS •Volunteers will stay in classrooms at the School with very basic living conditions. Volunteers have an obligation to climb down the level of the people with the aim of exposure to development challenges. •KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will cook their own meals in turns. Water is available from springs and it is recommended that drinking water should be boiled or medicated. Mineral water available at supermarkets is also recommended. •The Government policy to install ICT in primary schools has seen connectivity to the national power grid for most educational institutions in Kenya and this makes it easy for volunteers to use electric appliances while at the project. •Furthermore, we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games and music from your country (for an intercultural evening) – and a lot of motivation!
LANGUAGE:
English is the language of the work camp. There will be a possibility of learning Kiswahili and other international and local languages as cultural diversity is a major component in international service
PROJECT DETAILED INFO SHEET:
Will be sent to the volunteer sending organization as soon as the application is accepted by KVDA
CONFIRMATION DEADLINE:
Should be done via e-mail at least one month before the start of the project.
Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Monday to Friday.
Manual work and Intercultural activities:
•School renovation, •Teaching Primary School pupils •Awareness campaign on Human Wildlife Conflict •Home visits •Cultural days for various nationalities •Translation of thematic focus of the project together with the local people
THEME:
HUMAN AND WILDLIFE CONFLICT THE BANE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT •This phenomenon of human beings and wildlife conflict is very controversial and has attracted the attention of all and sundry. The scenario is prompted by the proximity of the local community to the Tsavo National Park that is the home to wildlife and this directly plays into the hands of the local community members who are forced by the circumstances to learn to live with the situation and the attendant challenges. •Working with community groups on poverty reduction and sustainable development will involve the active involvement in projects that are geared towards youth and women empowerment activities, HIV/AIDS awareness, provision of infrastructure in learning institutions. • Poverty is a major issue in the local community and is directly linked to the spread of HIV/AIDS because poverty drives HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS drives poverty. This highlights the need for a multifaceted response to both problems, but particularly to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. •Both these problems disproportionately affect women and youth. The goal is to try and enable the local members address community issues, thus enhancing the economic and social empowerment of women and youth for poverty reduction in Gideon Mosi, and linking this with activities to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. These activities will also help strengthen rural community and their local economies. In the process being able to improve access to quality education for school children •The volunteers will be required to join hands together with community members in addressing the theme of the camp in order to empower the community to coming up with a more pro-active way of enhancing the academic development of community children.
Orientation:
Will be done on 4th November 2017 at KVDA Residence in Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 5th November 2017
Airport pick-up services:
The port of entry to Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and airport pick up will be done on provision of full flight details. The volunteers will be taken to KVDA Residence in Karen for accommodation that has highly subsidized rates Participation FEES The project participation fees that is all-inclusive for the 3- week work camp is Euro 300
INSURANCE:
KVDA does not provide insurance and volunteers should obtain travel insurance cover. It is a good idea to get medicine you are used to from your home country and seek advice from your personal doctor. WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION FEES COVER? Project preparation cycle, return transfer from the airport and the project, KVDA administration, orientation, certificate of participation, project coordination, facilitation, evaluation and monitoring WHAT IS NOT COVERED? Excursion activities, local travel while in the community, personal effects, needs and wants. EDUCATIONAL TOURS KVDA offers educational tours to spectacular sites including the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve at separate fees. Please contact us for specific tour information.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS •Volunteers will stay in classrooms at the School with very basic living conditions. Volunteers have an obligation to climb down the level of the people with the aim of exposure to development challenges. •KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will cook their own meals in turns. Water is available from springs and it is recommended that drinking water should be boiled or medicated. Mineral water available at supermarkets is also recommended. •The Government policy to install ICT in primary schools has seen connectivity to the national power grid for most educational institutions in Kenya and this makes it easy for volunteers to use electric appliances while at the project. •Furthermore, we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games and music from your country (for an intercultural evening) – and a lot of motivation!
LANGUAGE:
English is the language of the work camp. There will be a possibility of learning Kiswahili and other international and local languages as cultural diversity is a major component in international service
EMERGENCY CONTACTS:
Below are the emergency contacts for Kenya Voluntary Development Association:
Executive Director:
0721 650 357
Regional Coordinator:
0722 710 663
PROJECT DETAILED INFO SHEET:
Will be sent to the volunteer sending organization as soon as the application is accepted by KVDA
CONFIRMATION DEADLINE:
Should be done via e-mail at least one month before the start of the project
« I can say that the best things about the workcamp and this whole experience were the chance of making a real difference to the lives of very needy children. This is an extremely valuable project where volunteers can have a massive impact. Also the possibility of learning a huge amount about a country so different from our own. I learnt ten times as much by carrying out a workcamp than I would ever do backpacking. »
