Help Me Volunteer in Kenya!
Hey everyone, I am ecstatic to let you
all know that I will be travelling to Africa this year on the 14th
of September! I will be spending four weeks volunteering on the International
Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) orphanage program in rural Kenya. I am trying to raise funds to help
purchase much needed supplies for the orphanage and community I will be
volunteering in. During my stay I will work alongside local staff to help with
teaching, cooking, cleaning, farm work, assisting with feeding programs, and
caring for the children and infants. Ever since I was a little girl I have
always wanted to go to Africa to help children less fortunate then I and now I
am finally making that dream come true. Due to the high incidences of poverty
and illness, orphanages in Kenya can host 50 to 300 children at any one
time. These kids need love, attention, life skills and education so they
can have successful futures that are filled with the same opportunities as
others. I want to help make a difference even if in just one child's life,
knowing I could give these children hope is worth more then anything to me. I
am extremely fortunate to have the life I have and I am determined to help
others in any way I can. I have requested to stay in either the
Gioto Garbage Slum or the KCC Slum, as I feel there is more of a need for
volunteers there and I will be of greater help. I am currently fundraising so
when I arrive in Kenya I can purchase the children clothes, shoes, books,
pencils etc. If I am able to raise enough money I am hoping to buy much needed
medical supplies, water and food for the community. I have also been looking into purchasing
livestock, chickens etc. but when speaking to Joe Gichuki the program director
of Networks For Voluntary Services, the partner organization of IVHQ, he
recommended that I am better off waiting until I am in Kenya so that I can
assess the situation there and see if the community has the facilities and
capabilities of keeping the animals. I have also looked into purchasing large plastic water
tanks, so that the communities are able to store uncontaminated fresh
rainwater, but again I wont be able to do decide whether the community will
need this or not until I am there. None of the fundraised money will be
going towards my expenses; every cent of the money I raise will only be used to
help the orphanage and community I will be volunteering in. I have paid for all
my program fees and flights and I am currently saving for all my other expenses
I will have whilst over there. Every
dollar counts, every dollar is appreciated and every dollar goes towards love,
hugs and warmth these children otherwise miss out on. Thank you to
everyone who is willing to lend a hand. x If you have any questions or would like
more information feel free to contact me. You can also visit the IVHQ website
at http://www.volunteerhq.org/volunteer-in-kenya.html