P.O. Box 48902-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya

Kenya Voluntary Development Association

“Development against Dependence”

KVDA Work camps Program from April – December 2015

P.O. Box 48902-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya

Kirichwa road, off Ngong Road, Kilimani, House No: 77 (1)

Email:

Website:

Telephone: +254 721 650 357

Kenya: Country Profile

Capital: Nairobi

Regime: Republic

President:Uhuru Kenyatta

DEPUTY PRESIDENT: William Ruto

Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)

Bordering Countries: Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia

Land Area (km2): 571,466

Population (million): 39.4

Density (pop/km2): 67.7

Urban Population (%): 21.0

Official Language: English

National Language: Kiswahili

Main Tribes: Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, Kamba, Miji Kenda

Main Religions: Christianity, Islam

Total Fertility Rate:4.6

Infant Mortality Rate: 52.0

Life Expectancy at BIRTH:58.9

HIV Adult Prevalence (%): 6.3

(Source: Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008/09)

APRIL 2015

Project Name:vigetse community health centre

Code: KVDA/STV/04A

Dates: 4th -25th April 2015

Orientation: 4TH April 2015

Location:VIHIGA COUNTY, Western Kenya

Theme:Empowering the community for a healthy and gender sensitive approach to social participation

Project overview

Vigetse community health center idea was mooted in 1963 by Vigetse Women Group that was a member of Kenya Voluntary Development Association. The Women who formed the group are now elderly and most of them have lived to witness the fruits of their labour.

The formation was at a time when awareness levels were very low and women were largely marginalized in society with insignificant roles in decision making. The preponderance by the male gender due to cultural affinity consigned the women to the periphery and it was this trend that was vehemently opposed by the section of the womenfolk who teamed up to form the group with the aim of empowering the less fortunate in their midst to spur socio-economic development.

The women begun small by engaging in horticultural activities where they mobilized savings for the purchase of the land. Despite the fact that they had the money to buy the land, it was culturally forbidden for women to oversee demarcation of land as this responsibility was the preserve of the men folk. The women had no choice but to solicit the services of a man who was incorporated into the group in order to pursue this agenda.

They acquired the land in 1962 and construction begun at a slow pace in 1984 with the foundation raised by local and international volunteers from Kenya Voluntary Development Association.

In 2004, through the efforts of Ms. Joyce Adisa Bunyoli, who served in KVDA in various capacities for many years, the community founded the Maragoli Community Development Foundation(MACODEF) with the aim of enhancing the volunteering resolve and tackling grave challenges afflicting the community courtesy of the higher poverty levels among the community folk.

Vigetse Community Health Center has just been commissioned in 2013 after painstaking efforts by the women towards the construction of the facility, equipment and staffing.

The health center thanks to these efforts currently has one qualified nurse who retired from Government service and another volunteer from the community who is a clinical officer and efforts are underway to engage more staff to cope with the increasing number of patients seeking treatment at the health center.

Through the community support and well wishers, drugs have been purchased to start off the health center and there is need for more support to strategically align the health center with the ever changing medical challenges and the already expressed needs by the community members.

Among the challenges posed is the insufficient staff, lack of adequate space for expansion for the laboratory and other critical amenities. The health center seriously requires injection of capital to reinforce the outlined shortfalls as well build its capacity to continue offering services to the larger community.

The health center is among the key planks of MACODEF and it is situated in Lusiola sub-location south Maragoli location Vihiga County and its establishment was received with gratitude by the local community who have for many years been deprived and unable to access health care within the community

AGE: Volunteers have to be at least 18 years old to participate in the work camp. There is no upper age limit

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The facility offers health services to the local community members

TYPE OF WORK CAMP: SOCI

Volunteers will work for maximum of six hours daily from Monday to Friday and the schedule is flexible to suit into the capability of individual volunteers. The focus will be on the following:

Manual work and Intercultural activities:

Brick making and construction of MACODEF Resource Center
Capacity Building workshops with Community Based Organizations
Teaching at Primary and Secondary School
Cultural days for various nationalities
Home visits and topical discussion with the local people
Excursion to Lake Victoria in Kisumu and Kakamega Rain Forest

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS: Maximum 20 volunteers from Kenya and the international community

What to carry?

This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch, flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others

DONATION AND GIFTS:

These are usually symbolic gestures to enhance the solidarity of volunteers and the hosting community. Kindly contact KVDA for details in case you are willing to support a worthy cause in the community either by offering a donation or long-term intervention on the project.

THEME: Empowering the community for a healthy and gender sensitive approach to social participation

To empower the capability in developing partnerships and networks: KVDA together with the local partner organizations who will mobilize volunteers for this project are strongly based in their countries and are also very active at local level, they have several local partners such as Youth Centres, Youth Associations and informal groups. This grass roots cooperation with local partners will provide an added value to the project and will encourage also the local realities – often without access to the international dimension – in being involved in a large scale project where they could share knowledge and skills and to ensure an enduring and visible impact of the work done;
This project will provide the youth with work-readiness and livelihood trainings to empower them to make sound career and life decisions; for example by starting an income generating business on their own. Therefore the youth will receive a market relevant learning and work experience/opportunities beyond the current education and training activities.
The self-employment/livelihood /entrepreneurship training will provide the youth with fundamental knowledge in market relevant skills in some of the complementary areas, including entrepreneurship development, business planning, business skills, practical work attachment, career development planning, and linkage to financial services.

Orientation: Will be done on 4th April 2015 at KVDA Residence in Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 5th April 2015

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

Application Procedure

This should be done through KVDA partner organizations in respective countries. Kindly note that KVDA does not accept direct applications from volunteers from outside Kenya and all applications should be channeled through our partner organizations.

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

Volunteers will stay in a home with beds. Volunteers should bring sleeping bags and mats and 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. There is no electricity connection at the School but volunteers can charge their 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

APRIL 2015

Project Name:Naar-Olong Primary School

Code: KVDA/STV/04B

Dates:4th to 25th April 2015

Orientation: 4th April 2015

Location: Trans-Mara, Rift Valley, South West Kenya

Theme: Cultural Heritage of the Maasai Community

Project overview

Naar-olong Primary School is situated in Naar-Olong sub-location, Masurura location, Keiyan division in Trans-Mara district.

The school is situated 8 Km from Kehancha town and it was founded in 1990 with community efforts It has 250 pupils with high girls enrolment at initial stages and the numbers dramatically drop as they climb the academic ladder due to early marriages for the girl child and the rampant practice of female genital mutilation that remain a great challenge within the Kuria community when people cling to retrogressive cultural ways that continue to stifle genuine development potentials within the region.

Composition of the community

The local community is predominantly Maasai that residing in the wider Trans-Mara district.

They border the Kuria and Kisii communities of Kenya and their economic lifeline is livestock rearing.

AGE: Volunteers have to be at least 18 years old to participate in the work camp. There is no upper age limit

PROJECT Activities

TYPE OF WORK CAMP: KIDS

Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Monday to Friday.

Manual work and Intercultural activities:

Brick making and construction
Teaching pupils at the Primary School on specific subjects
Cultural days for various nationalities
Home visits and topical discussions with the local people
Excursion to Lake Victoria in Kisumu city

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS: Maximum 20 volunteers from Kenya and the international community

What to carry?

This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch/flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others

DONATION AND GIFTS:

THEME: cultural heritage of the Maasai community

The Maasai community remains the legendary jewel of Kenya and they are held in high esteem for their deep affinity to their cultural heritage and values.

Worldwide the mention of Kenya will elicit interest among the Maasai people who occupy part of Kenya and Tanzania. They have curved a niche for themselves as cultural ambassadors of Africa and we have the duty in the unfolding scenario to strive to unravel the mysteries that surround their heritage

Pastoralism defines the roadmap towards the being of the Maasai people with livestock as their most treasured property. Their tenacity, simplicity and selflessness are awe-inspiring and should be replicated to other communities in the world.

Orientation: Will be done on 4th April 2015 at KVDA Residence in Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 5th April 2015

Participation FEES: The project participation fees that is all-inclusive for the three weeks work camp is Euro 300

Application Procedure

WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION FEES COVER?

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

Volunteers will stay in School classrooms with very basic living conditions. KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will prepare 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 their electric appliances at the nearest market center.

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

MAY 2015

Project Name: Nyamanche Primary School

Code: KVDA/STV/05A

Dates: 2nd to23rdMay 2015

Orientation:2ndMay 2015

Location: Kuria, Migori County, South West Kenya

Theme: Gender Sensitivity: Focus on Female Genital Mutilation

Project overview

Nyamanche Primary School started the year 1981 as a Government School. The School supports children from the neighbouring villages. It consists of 600 (six hundred) pupils, 350 girls and 250 boys. The school has 12 teachers, 1 female and 11 male. It has 10 classrooms, 2 offices and 1 kitchen. The school has good academic record in the County.

MOTTO;

“Strive for Excellence”

OBJECTIVES

To mould future leaders
Maintain high discipline
To reduce illiteracy level in the Community
Create platform for volunteerism.

CHALLENGES

Cultural practice such as female genital mutilation
Poor sanitation
Lack of funds to facilitate the proposed development projects
Dependency on external assistance
Poor utilization of available resources

AGE: Volunteers have to be at least 18 years old to participate in the work camp. There is no upper age limit

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.

TYPE OF WORK CAMP: RENO

Volunteers will work for six hours daily from Monday to Friday.

Manual work and Intercultural activities:

School construction
Sand harvesting
Tree planting
Stones collection
Pathways clearing
Digging and treating of ant hills
Home visits and topical discussion with the local people
Excursion to Lake Victoria
Sensitization of the community on the side effects of FGM

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS: Maximum 20 volunteers from Kenya and the international community

What to carry?

This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch/flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others

DONATION AND GIFTS:

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.