Only 270€ per week!
Empowering Village Women
Muranga County - Kenya
Teach financial literacy, basic English, Math, Accounting and other subjects of interest to women of different age groups in rural Kenya.
Use your voice and expertise to provide an additional resource to women and their communities. You will immerse yourself in a culture like no other, while sharing your knowledge of basic English, Math, Accounting, Health topics, Business skills, etc, to inspire local women to become more independent and proactive in their own future endeavors.
Program
Living
Muranga County
Kenya
Program Description
This program is geared toward assisting women who may not have had access to basic education and may find it difficult to thrive, particularly in this age where understanding the importance of education and an ability to manage basic technology have become fundamental aspects for survival. The ability to navigate issues such as personal development, environmental awareness, budgeting, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy also help to build a resiliency that cultivates sustainable development.
Therefore, through our program, we utilize the engagement of international participants with some groups of local women, who may never have had any kind of real-life exposure to outsiders, to help them to expand their worldview and personal perspective. Participant immersion in the community promotes a mutually beneficial relationship with the local women where all those involved gain just as much as they give.
This is an opportunity to form relationships with someone from another background and culture and create an exchange that motivates both younger and older women to show their hidden talents and enable them to participate in developmental activities of family, society, and nation.
Creative teaching methods and a positive outlook are extremely helpful and go a long way to engaging the women and breaking down the existing barriers. Participants are encouraged to use different techniques to teach topics that they are passionate about, and/or have firsthand knowledge, as long as they are relevant and assist with the goals outlined by the women being served through the program. Since English is widely spoken here, there is a greater capacity for you to convey your knowledge with ease and use anything you have in the way of reference materials and resources more easily.
Aims & Objectives
- Assist village women with recognizing their strengths and growing their confidence
- Empower local women to contribute to the development of the local Kenyan economy
- Provide an opportunity for mutually beneficial cultural immersion and exchange
Schedule
Monday to Friday
You will be preparing and giving four to five lessons per week to local women’s groups through the networks provided by a local Community Based Organization (CBO). The daily routine will be anywhere from 4-6 hours and may include travel to different village sites where you will be engaging with the community women to share knowledge and even learn how they manage their day to day tasks.
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: 18
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Intermediate
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: On Signup
Resume copy required: On Signup
Required qualification: Completed High School
Additional Requirements
An open mind and a positive attitude to share information in a thoughtful and meaningful way.
Additional Equipment
Required
- Comfortable walking shoes or boots depending on weather
- Casual dress is appropriate. However, no see-through, bare shoulders, low cut tops or shorts/skirts/dresses above the knee are permitted.
Optional
- Gently used Clothing or Books that you may want to donate to the community
- Teaching resources or materials
- Ball, games or other enjoyable activities to engage the community during your free time
Location
Muranga county is the largest community in Kenya, it is in the Central region of Kenya. There is the one zone consistent of the highest potential zones where forestry, tea and coffee from the most important economic activities. Nairobi is not too far either, and you can head there during the weekend for nights out or sightseeing.
About the Accommodation
You will be accommodated in our center. All participants are expected to be environmentally aware and use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. Sometimes there are power and water cuts during the day, but do not panic. This is life in the village. This is a very simple local accommodation, but you will have all of the necessities while here. You will have meals provided and rooms cleaned on the weekends, but you will also be expected to clean up after yourself and play your part in keeping the accommodation neat and organized. The location is very close to the Police station and a short walk to local market and shops.
Please be advised that in the event of an excess number of participants, we may use other local accommodation in the area that meets a similar standard as described herein.
Food Arrangements
Food served will mainly be Kenyan food, which consists of vegetables, potato, eggs, bread, pancakes (commonly known as “chapati”) and fruits such as oranges, bananas and avocados.
Facilities
Thika town is located a thirty minute drive away from our center and is filled with supermarkets, shops, ATMs, local markets and good restaurants. There is local transport available such as bicycle and motorbike taxis, van taxis and buses. Vehicles come up to our project sites every hour and drop you off in Thika town. Moreover, the bus station in Thika is your launching spot into other parts of Kenya.
Note: Please expect shops to be closed on Sunday as many people do not work that day.
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
There are many places for you to visit during your free time. For example, you can visit the Fourteen Falls in Thika, go hiking in Kenya Mountain, visit Mombasa and enjoy the beach or head for a weekend of sightseeing in Nakuru or Nairobi, which are filled with national parks. Nairobi is also the nightlife hub of Kenya.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Quick Facts
Name: Republic of Kenya
Population: 45 million
Capital: Nairobi
Language: English, Swahili
Currency: Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Time zone: UTC +3
Country Information
The first thing that might pop to mind when thinking of Kenya are lions, zebras and leopards. However, this vast country has much more to offer. With 40 national parks and reserves scattered around the country, Kenya features almost every landscape and activity that you can imagine and it will suit any type of traveller’s palette.
Undeniably, safaris are the core of tourism in Kenya, but you might also venture in deeper and discover the Maasai, a semi-nomadic tribe known for its color-filled adornments. Nairobi is another destination to explore, with its bustling nightlife and unique vibes. For those who love nature, a visit to the Great Rift Valley is a must. And for those who enjoy chilling at the beach, Kenya’s coastal area covers almost 80,000 square kilometers and remains sun-filled during most of the year!
Climate
Kenya is a big country and its climate varies from tropical along its coast to arid in the north and quite temperate inland. Kenya receives a large amount of sunshine year-round but generally, the hottest period is considered take place in February and March while the coldest one between July and mid August. The “long rains” season happens between March and June, while the “short rain” season is between October and December.
Culture
Over the course of history, Kenya has been the hub of migration and henceforth, the country has become one of the most diverse culture and language-wise.
The country has over forty different ethnic groups, including Luo, Kamba, Maasai and more. Each speaks a variety of mother tongues, although Swahili remains the most widely spoken language. Moreover, European, Arab, Indian and Pakistani groups who came to the country in the 19th century can be added to the mix of diversity.
Even though religions such as Christianity and Islam are widely spread, many still believe in the ancestor world, where the dead have an impact on the lives of the living.
Today, Kenya’s culture, including forms of dress, music and food sees its strong influences from other parts of Africa, India, Europe and the United States. However, in certain parts of the country, many communities retain their traditional lifestyle and culture and people still wear clothes, skins, jewelry as they did centuries ago. Many remote tribes remain absolutely isolated and indigenous as
Gastronomy
Traditional Kenyan food are known for consisting corn, potatoes and beans. A staple dish is Ugali, a porridge made out of maize. Another typical delicacy is irio, a blend of corn, beans, potatoes and beans dipped into meat or vegetable stews.
Transportation
Plane
Kenya Airways offers daily flights between Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Kisumu and Nairobi. Likewise, another popular choice is Air Kenya, which flies regularly between Nairobi, Mombasa, Malindi, Lamu, Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Meru, Nanyuki and Samburu.
Bus
Kenya has a large bus network between many destinations, but be advised that roads are bumpy. For safety reasons, we highly advise to use long distance buses only during daytime.
Minivan
Minivans, known as “matatus” in Kenya are another way to get around for short and medium distance travels. Taking a matatu is a must to experience the real Kenya as they are often decorated in colorful and fascinating colours. You can hail a matatu on the side of the road and in this day and age, the network is easier to figure out than ever as routes and schedules are provided on Google Maps.
Train
The train in Kenya is often dubbed the “Lunatic Express”. It travels between Nairobi and Mombasa three times a week. It is undeniably a great experience to travel by train but if time is an issue, we advise you to go for another method of transportation as the train has a bad reputation for being extremely slow and often delayed.
