Kakuma Refugee Camp School. incorporating volunteering  in the Naphtali Empowerment Centre, a children’s school Programme

Northern Kenya close to the Ethiopia / Sudan border. The aim of the Empowerment center is to empower young resourceful local community members so that they can then intern with children in their various activities back in their own villages. The Refugee camp caters aid for cross border refugees with food and support on many levels from housing to counselling. Kakuma speads across the desert of north Kenya. Its 86,000 inhabitants come from nine different countries and dozens of different ethnic groups. Sudanese people are about 70% of the refugees. The locals—mostly Turkana—is outnumbered by the refugees! Many relief agencies and NGOs provide services to refugees, but life its always a tall order due to its scale and complexity. Food, water, firewood, education, medical facilities, and social services are in perpetual short supply due to low funding and the type of the environment. With its being so remote volunteers must fly internally from Nairobi then travel into the camp.

 As a visitor to Kakuma it is important to prepare psychologically and physically too. The UNHCR refugee camp is in the area you will find all nationalities of people, refugees and UN workers. It’s a very busy place for focused person and especially a self motivated one. Transportation around is not quite reliable but we have bicycles but one can hire a vehicle at a minimum cost. The area is very hot, and is a desert. The people stay even for two weeks without food. It is recommended that volunteers participate in groups of two and above.

VOLUNTEER WORK

• Participating in the feeding programs -twice a week {Over 200 kids}
• Teaching and helping in the main school. ( main part )
• Every fortnight visit the Manyattas and distribute food
• Teaching- Teaching Adults who will in turn teach the kids, teaching kids under the trees as there are no classrooms.
• Counseling
• Helping children eat
• Preparing food
• Organizing games and plays for children
• Helping home develop and manage a kitchen garden

           Outreach Visitations – provide medical services in the Manyattas 

The area is very hot, and is a desert. The people stay even for two weeks without food. It is recommended that volunteers participate in groups of two and above. This means one needs cotton clothes and carry a lot of sun burn lotion. If need be depending on ones health you will need nutrition supplements as vegetables and fruits are not easily available. Also bring with them sunglasses, Hat, Mosquito net and Repellant, Open shoes, and a lot of drinking water. It is also recommended that the volunteers participate for two weeks then take a break, whereby they can travel around Kitale, Mt Elgon, and Eldoret etc, to beat the heat between 11 am and 3 pm everybody goes to rest because of the heat, and continue working after 3pm to 11pm at night.

Professionals in education, child care, medical, Agriculture, Nutritionists, Christians or Church Groups. Experienced travellers. The experience of the desperation of hungry, sick and needy children would be shocking to many. Those wishing to get to the hub of real need, roll sleeves back, get dirty, and help people and children who live really in another world to our own. Despite the exposure to poverty you will see the locals, the children and the other aid workers are very hospitable and will leave an indelible impression in your mind. Volunteer must be flexible with varied tasks based in and around the school.

You will be living in a guest house which is occupied by United Nation workers. This is BASIC accommodation due to the location. The guest house if fully equipped and is within walking distance of the school that's within the camp compound district.The security in the area is good, walking at night is not encouraged  in the villages at night. All the workers should report back by 6-oclock and give a report of the day to the supervisor. The working days are Monday to Saturday half day, Sundays are free unless for those handling the children program.

Not many! Sit around camp fires in the bush, under the stars and chat with your new friends.

HOME / OUR PROJECTS / PRICES / HOW TO BOOK / FAQ / ABOUT US / VOLUNTEER REPORTS / FACTS / LINKS / GROUP PROJECTS / EMAIL US / FACEBOOK PAGE