Thanks to Marie for this.



Ingrids Centre is a great start for volunteers who want to visit for a day or week around Nairobi. Douglas Onkware and his wife Grace and twin brother Eric are wonderful, trustworthy dedicated people who really care - they'll take you around, let you see places and get with Kenyan life - an awesome introduction. I would highly recommend them. They were using 2nd hand, 10 year old text books for the teachers and not the current curriculum - so I donated new text books for teachers, food for the lunches of the kids, and an old laptop. Unfortunatly it doesnt have much memory so .. it wont operate with the internet - an you advise all  volunteers that any laptops are a wonderful learning source and are great to donate - I found some on eBay that had been reconditioned (200AUS$)and a computer warehouse (old ones for 25$). Nearly anything else is so much cheaper over there - and it gives help to the wider community - also save on transport costs. Best to fundraise for cash then when a need arises - so much CHEAPER to buy there (sanitary pads, school books, pencils, toothpaste, toothbrushes, schoolbags etc).
 
Re. costs..... a cheap hotel, caban be about 1500 Kenyan shillings a night around the river road area (about 23 $AUS) but Eric has a room for volunteers and a very reasonable cost can be worked out.Volunteers would be picked up and taken to school and brought back.



At JNMCC I gave Edward 3000Ksh for the couple of days there - plus the laptop some waterbottles, 50$ for internet use for Leo and a few other smaller things, did also a supermarket shop for some supplies for them last time it was about 35 USD per week for food and accommodation. A matatu from Kisumu to Maseno is 70 shillings and a motorbike from Maseno to Mercy I think was 200 shillings (I think). The cost of food has risen a lot for them, rice about $2 a kilo. and other basics a lot more than they were. I noticed even red beans had gone up - not sure to how much but many could not afford these anymore and they are a very basic food. There was NO fruit, cordial, meat of any description (not even fish bones!) when I stayed for the 3 nights.

[Travelling around] .. try to budget for about GBP12 - 18 for food, accommodation and transport per day. This would give a lot of change in the country or villages but about spot on in Nairobi. Then consider extra - bottled water 70 shillings for 1 litre, but boiled is fine to drink, toilet paper (a must for me - you can use leaves) chocolate or biscuits for late night munchies, and any souveniers, and or trips. Its always appreciated to bring, give, teach and share.
 
[Great advice from Marie, who gave so much in this latest trip.]

Technorati Tags: kenya, volunteer, living costs, AVIF

Back in February I met with Michael Ouma of Naivasha and his colleague Andrew from Leeds, UK, thanks to a FaceBook friend suggestion!



We were talking about opening a football academy in Kenya after Michael had completed his FA coach training in Manchester.
Now back in Naivasha AVIF volunteers Philip and Andrew (another Andrew) both sports teachers, will be joining Michael for the Summer.

Michael writes in an email "I'm a soccer coach by profession and at the moment coaching a Nationwide club as a part time job ...Homegrown FC".

Great name !
Environmental issues aside, the club runs under Homegrown Flowers Ltd, one of many many flower operations around Naivasha town, 100km from the capital Nairobi.



The town is situated in the southern Rift Valley with Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot featuring highly.


View Larger Map

Michael tells the volunteers "It has been my dream to come up with this Project .. to engage Youth in sport through FOOTBALL. However it has not been easy getting partners to help .. I'm doing everthing partaining legal requirements and by the time you are coming everthing will be in place (registration)."

During a three month trip to Kenya, Andrew Broderick met and befriended Michael Ouma Nam. Having gained Level 2 UK coaching qualifications, Michael and Andrew's project aims to create an exciting, stimulating learning opportunity for young people in the local communities of Naivasha and surrounding areas, to enhance their football skills and build secure foundations for their future.

They hope to gain participation from UK football clubs, in fundraising or financial support, possibly even endorsing a ‘scratch card scheme’, using donated gifts as prizes.



[Michael coaching in Swinton, Manchester, UK]

AVIF volunteers will assist Michael this Summer for the month of August during the Summer Volunteer Program.


Technorati Tags: football, coaching, training, Naivasha, AVIF, FA

Jambo - Habari (from Marie)

... You have probably seen my few pics on facebook - but wanted you to have a look at these first - ah where do I start........



I took a taxi motorbike from Maseno to Mercy Home - girls came running with open arms, huge smiles and big cuddles - tears flowed.......then when I looked down at these gorgeous girls, to my surprise - they were all new ones! LOL



Major structural changes - I hope you can see from pics. I was amazed. when I asked Edward why so many new starts - a brick chicken coup - computer room, tailoring room, and new small place for Edwards dad (his home is crumbling slowly) and a few small other rooms......he said that various volunteers wanted to leave something so ..we have many projects on the go - but lookin great and a real advance for the future. The chicken coup, pc and tailoring room have potential to earn some money - yay!

Yes things have gone up there as well as world wide - food has gone up a lot ... However the girls are vey healthy and well. And I cant believe how much they have grown - the little ones like Melissa and Iyeta - Wow.

.... the girls are all on the board overseeing the running of the place as well as other board members.



..I donated a laptop .. it runs on windows XP, and fairly up to date. They also have a dvd player now - I wish I had known as I would have got them Lion King...next time! Anyway - If anyone can keep there ears to the ground, and any older, unused or uwanted laptops are going out - collect them for whoever goes next. This way they will start a net cafe - and lessons to all the girls as well as outsiders - bringing in some needed funds. ....PLEASE please please - a few texts or letters to the girls to let them know we havent deserted them. This is one of the saddest things - I am also at fault.....as we get caught up in our fast paced lives, and yes we think of our wonderful time, and wonder how they are all doing - life there is slow - they fear that they are not thought about when us volunteers leave - so even a short sms to say hi is always welcome. ....



We are so fortunate and blessed to have lived with these great girls and experienced such a colourful way of life.......
Love and smiles always
Marie

Technorati Tags: AVIF. Mercy Home, Kenya, volunteer, Africa

Numbers are starting to be confirmed but we'd still appreciate more help. Please remember to send in details of your arrival times.

Here is relevant info you may or may not already know.

Please contact GDS safaris directly via the website if you wish to book a safari after the Programme ends, from 31 August. Similarly with diving off the coast or climbing Kili or Mt Kenya. I'd like to emphasize that you need at least a week for a Kili climb but Mt Kenya is "doable" in 2 days, with Mary Kariuki at your side.



Internet access can be found in local towns at approx $1 an hour but mobile communications are much easier, with the right phone. Please remember internet access in rural locations is by poor satellite bandwidth only so sending photographs back can be "challenging"! A prepaid Kenya SIM card is the most convenient and economical solution while you're in Kenya. If you want to make international calls you will need an international SIM, again, you can get these in Nairobi.

US dollars are acceptable in Kenya but you'll need small local currency in rural locations. You can pay your host for food etc in either currency, they will be able to buy a lot more for their money than you, as locals get much cheaper rates than us "muzungus".

540 Airlines, for all internal flights, allow up to 45kg baggage allowance for AVIF Volunteers. We strongly recommend that volunteers travel up-country by air, a much more convenient, faster and safer method of travel, though this cost must be borne yourselves. .. internal flights take 1 hour rather than 6-9 hours by road and cost around GBP60 return.

Distance-learning for Solar Cookers .. see Plans.pdf here
We need all volunteers to study these plans as you can assist with training in simple construction and use of the Solar "slow-cookers", under the guidance of SCI (Nairobi). SCI Archive site here

The Solar Cooking project continues to grow, please read the page on the SCI Wiki dedicated to Kenya.

We also recommend taking out Flying Doctor membership (please see Join Us > Safety section on website).

For all those not already informed please see the website section on Development Education, especially if you are a UK trainee teacher.Preparing for volunteering, volunteering itself and reflecting on the experience on your return are all likely to impact on your teaching.

MASTA have an online shop for travel goods and provide a free travel health guide on the website. Please send in AVIF Medical Forms if you have not already done so. Without these your place is not confirmed.

Itinerary as per website :

31 July arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi & Gracia Guest House

Orientation 1 August with Sharon at the Gracia

Return flights to Kisumu (book through www.fly540.com 10am NBO-KISUMU-NBO) 2 August. This flight stops in Eldoret.

4 week programme 2 August to 30 August

Return flight to Nairobi / NBO-Mara for Safari rendezvous / own plans/ home 1 September

NB. Safari is optional ~ itinerary here

Please try to contact your respective airlines and ask for a charitable baggage allowance if you are bringing over donated goods. Normally airlines are happy to offer this. I can provide confirmation if necessary, or else simply pass on our contact details.

Sharon or a representative of AVIF will meet you at the airport. On the occasion of delays, or very early flights please BE CAREFUL !! Only the most experienced African travellers can resist the temptations of Nairobi's taxi touts. Gracia Guest House taxi fare should be no more than Ksh1200 per person.

Gracia Guest House address : off Ring Road, Kilimani Road, behind the Ya Ya Centre/ Mall, in Hurlingham area. The Gracia is a very clean, pleasant, quiet place with excellent hospitality. This is a safe hotel. There are cheaper hotels but we cannot guarantee safety outside of the hotel.

The price for a twin room (cost shared between 2 sharing) is Ksh4250 / USD$ 62. A single is Ksh3250 .. these are extremely reasonable prices for high season, central, secure Nairobi.

Regarding educational posters, there is an instructions poster here should you wish to take some with you http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/cover.html

Can you all please make sure you are subscribed to the Blog as updates are published there and act as an archive for information. If you subscribe (most of you should already be) you will get sent the updates every time I write something.

We will shortly be assigning placements. Until numbers are confirmed its always difficult to do this.


Technorati Tags: 2009 update, AVIF