How to help?

4) Volunteer in Kenya

We welcome volunteers who would like to spend some time with the children in Kenya. Volunteers shall assist the staff in their office duties, help the children with their homework and tutor them, and participate in animation of games and oversight of the children's daily duties.

Apply to volunteer in Happy Home

We accept volunteers who are willing to stay for a period of 3 months or more in Happy Home.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please first read our website carefully, read the volunteer agreement and read the FAQ below. Note that failure to adhere to the agreement can be a valid motive to terminate the assignment (and thus to send you back home).

Please contact us on volunteer@HappyHomeKenya.org at least 2 months before your planned departure. We will ask you a CV and a motivation letter explaining how you can be useful to Happy Home (written in English). We will then conduct a series of interviews (in person or through skype-webcam) before deciding if you can be accepted as a volunteer with us.

Past and Current Happy Home Volunteers 

Abdala (Germany): 27th sept - 1 year

Katerina and Merle (Estonia): Marchl - September 2011 (6 months)

Anne and Tabea  (Germany): August 2010 - 2011 (1 year)

  Mary (USA): November 2010 - March 2011 (5 months)

"I loved it.  The kids, the other volunteers, and the staff all made me feel immediately welcome.  The most important thing was help them with their schoolwork and supplement their curriculum with extra reading, studying, or pictures.  Several children are absolutely hungry for more information than they get in their textbooks, so it was wonderful to be able to answer their questions, look things up in a dictionary etc."

Giuliana (Venezuela): July - October 2010

  Roberta (Chile) & Rodrigo (Costa Rica): November 2009 - April 2010

  Celeste (Chile): March - July 2009

  Marie-Pièrre (Belgium): Nov 2008 - March 2009

"A lot of moments spent in Happy Home are that good that I can't choose a favorite. For example, when you come back from somewhere and see the children running to you, smiling, “aunty anakuja” (aunty is coming back); when you explain them a homework and see that they have understood; dance some dances with the girls; ; when you walk with them around with little hands in yours… "

  "Globe Note" musicians (France): June - July 2009

   Liesbet (Belgium): March - June 2006, Aug - Sept 2007, Aug 2008

"What I enjoyed the most of all was playing and singing with the children. One by one, they are such amazing individuals. Each of them having own needs and nature. The creativity of these children kept on surprising me and their happiness was part of the wonderful ambience the compound was filled with. This place couldn’t have gotten a better name than “Happy Home”.

  Melissa (Belgium): Nov 2007 - Jan 2008

Bernadette & Hans (Belgium): July - Aug 2007

FAQ

Q: Is it possible to come for a shorter period than 3 months
A: As volunteers need time to adapt to the local reality and adapt to the daily life in Happy Home, we do not accept volunteers for less than 3 months. Only returning volunteers are allowed to come for shorter periods.

Q: Am I expected or allowed to raise funds for Happy Home before or after volunteering?
A: We do not force volunteers to raise funds for Happy Home, but of course we welcome their initiatives. However, to ensure that your fund-raising is done in a transparent way, please DO NOT UNDERTAKE ANY FUND-RAISING BEFORE DISCUSSING IT WITH US on volunteer@happyhomekenya.org !!! We will provide you with all information and documents required for proper transparent fund-raising.

Q: How can I be the most useful to the Happy Home children after returning from volunteering?
A: As a returning volunteer, you are a very important resource to Happy Home. As you know the children well and have all the energy needed to achieve great results, you can be of a great help to the people in charge of fund raising for Happy Home. DO NOT UNDERTAKE ANY ACTIVITY  BEFORE DISCUSSING IT WITH US. We need translators and people helping out with newsletters and administration, we need people organizing activities, etc. Please see "help back home" and contact volunteer@happyhomekenya.org in case you are interested.

Q: What is the cost of volunteering? What about accommodation?
A: We do not ask volunteers to contribute financially. The only costs are related with the cost of transport to and from Happy Home, the cost of the Kenyan VISA, and the cost of insurances. We offer accommodation to volunteers inside happy home and volunteers are welcome to eat with the children 3 times daily. Happy home does not supply additional food nor comply to special diets.

Q: How safe is Kenya ? And how safe is it to stay in Happy Home
A: Kenya is a rather safe country, where many tourists are going every year. You will be quite safe inside and outside happy home during daytime. However, there are several issues which need to be considered when staying as a foreigner in Kenya. Volunteers should not travel by night (risks of accidents and robbery) and should not wander around by night in cities or even in the village of Stella (risk of robbery, rape, etc.). In case of any doubt, please ask the happy home manager. 

Q: What about diseases and vaccinations ?
A: Kenya being located in tropical regions, several diseases are common which international volunteers might not be used to. They include among others Malaria, TBC, Hepatitis, Typhoid, HIV/AIDS, etc. We ask volunteers to collect all information from a doctor specialized in tropical medicine (inquire from a nearby hospital) and to act in consequence. Always wash your hands with soap, cover your skin during evenings, use insect repellent, and use malaria prophylaxis. Do not drink the local water unless you boil it yourself or filter it with a good filter. You can purchase bottled water in the village or nearby town.

Q: What about insurances?
A: We request that volunteers purchase a valid health and emergency insurance, covering medical care and emergency evacuation. In addition to an international insurance, we encourage volunteers to purchase a Kenyan evacuation insurance such as "flying doctors" (transport by air to Nairobi in life threatening situations).

Q: How can I obtain a Kenyan VISA?
A: Being frequently visited by tourists, Kenya sells VISA at the airport upon arrival. This service is valid for most citizens. Please check if your country is eligible to this agreement: Nationalities which may acquire VISA at entry points. Note that you should carry US$ to pay for your visa at the airport. Check the visa fee on-line: Kenyan Immigration VISA fee