Contents

- Kenya’s Country profile (INSIGHT)
- Location of the project
- Brief History of the project
- Language spoken in the project/region
- Present status of the project
- Mission Statement
- Education
- Health
- Permanent Volunteers
- Areas of concern (in terms of skills, knowledge and requirements)
- Number of volunteers
- Time frame work (Duration)
- Items covered by the project
- Cost the project does not meet
- What to bring
- Do’s and Don’ts of volunteering
- Preparation of the volunteer{s}.

01 Country’s Profile (Kenya)

Country’s population after 1999 National censor was 30 million with an annual growth rate of 1.89%.
Kenya bordered by five countries, Tanzania on the south, Uganda on the west Ethiopia on the north and Somalia on the northeast.
Kenya hosts snow mountains: Mt.Kenya and Mt.Elgon with rich natural habitat for millions of plant and tree species.
HIV/AIDS-on 25th November 1999,HIV /AIDS was declared a National disaster, which has become a serious public health challenge in developments with increasing Severe Negative Social-Economic impact.
An estimated 700 people loose their lives daily to HIV/AIDS related cases. Since 1984, more than one million Kenyans have died leaving behind approximately one million orphans. In1988 alone, nearly 200, 000newHIVinfections occurred in the country.
At the end of 1999, 14% of the adult population in Kenya was estimated to be living with the Virus (2,000,000 adults aged between 15 and 19 years).
The total number of people infected is higher in the rural areas were 50% of the population lives (Fact-the 80% of the population lives on 20% of the highly potential agricultural land) although prevalence is higher in urban areas i.e. 17% in urban areas and 13% rural areas.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 730,000children have lost their mothers or both parents due to those pandemics at the age of 14 years or younger. This devastation on households results in a 49-78% loss in income.
With the completion of the National Strategic Plan on HIV /AIDS in 1999, Kenya hopes to reduce it’s prevalence 20%-30% by the year 2005.
The Health delivery system consists of 3,500 health

facilities.
Doctor-Patient ratio is 1:10,000 with registered nurses at 1; 4000
33% of the children under 5 years are chronically malnourished, 6% are wasted and 22% under weighed.
-It is indeed 2005;significant changes have already been realized. Currently with the introduction of antiretroviral drugs more lives are been prolonged and the awareness campaigns, the number of deaths has almost been halved {i.e. from 700 deaths to 300 deaths daily} Still much has to be done in order to change people’s attitude in relation to this dangerous scourge.
This calls for concerted efforts from all the service providers to rescue our young men and women from this monster.

Location
Kirasha Rescue Center is situated along Nairobi - Nakuru Road approximately 5 kilometers from the Kirasha Village shopping center in Kiambu District, Lari Division in Limuru region. The region is always cold with temperatures sometimes falling to 10oc. the area / region is characterized by smoggy, fogy and misty kind of weather. At times sunshine is not seen the whole day, with drizzling effect experienced throughout.
The center is located in the remotest part of the region and from the title name the land is allocated by the administration for the displaced families, and orphaned children, in conjunction with the area church. The climatic situation of the region is generally green with potatoes, cabbages - vegetables - growing acting as the economic main stay of the region. The agricultural practices are underlined by commercial farming.
It is approximately 70 Kilometers about ½ hour drive from Nairobi.

Languages spoken in the region
Kiswahili and English are the most spoken languages within the project.
Kikuyu is the local language of the region and some very basic Kikuyu greetings will be greatly appreciated by the community. Most of the people are learned, can understand and speak fluent English and Swahili.

Brief History of Project
Sometimes back in 1992, there was the famous tribal clashes between various tribes within the Rift Valley region which is highly potential area in agriculture.
Some families were displaced, with some children ending up to be orphans and street children.
These families, orphans and children had to run for safety and came to be in this Limuru region.
The effects of the clashes brought untold suffering to the families of the displaced living them without land, shelter and food. The children started stealing food from the indigenous community leading to friction between the inhabitants and the immigrants. Most of the children are orphans who turned to be street children. It was thought for a moment the only way to address this social problem was to poison the food so that in the process of stealing the children could eat and die.
Before the idea could mature word had reached the local administration about the looming phenomenon awaiting this innocent children and the area administration (local authority) had to find a way to solve the problem.
A land was allocated to these displaced families and orphans to their rescue. This way, the center was born with the area church playing a pivotal role to ensure that the center grows. The center is one of the few community initiatives which is coming up with the use of local available materials

Present Status of the project
The center is composed of one long wooded building divided into classed where the children are learning.
The classes are not cemented (floor), besides the building, there is an eight (8) acre land allocated for the intended health facility and agriculture (farming).

Mission Statement
To give the children hope and a bright future through proper institutionalization and empowering the community to be self-sustainable.

Education
The Kenyan educational system consists of 8 years in Primary School, both 4 years at secondary and university level.
Unlike the previous years where the cost of education especially in primary school was expensive, this year under the new government there is free primary education. There are about 4 million plus pupil in the Kenyan Primary School.
In Kirasha Rescue Center there are two permanent volunteers who are teaching the children at zero costs. The first children sat for their primary level exams in 2002.The goal is still far to be realized but with the sense of hope from the children who always afford a smile despite the difficult learning conditions. Majority of the children are still deep inside the forest.

Health
The nearest health facility is 2 kilometers away.
Kenya government promised affordable health services to all. But at the same time majority of health facilities within rural areas lacks enough quality health care. Therefore the health of these displaced families will be after ensured after establishment of the health facility within the project.
The 85% of world population has no access to clean wholesome water, which means only one in every 6 people has access to clean water and same apply to people at Kirasha.

Permanent Volunteers
Currently the school has two (2) permanent volunteers who are assisting the children. The two volunteers are female who help to bring up the children, and teaching.

Area of Concern {skills, knownledge and requirements}

Volunteers with teaching qualification or relevant educational skills and knowledge are required to teach the children in the school.
Volunteers are expected to provide support in teaching, administration, mobilizing and addressing issues related to education within the community. Volunteers’ need to contribute/initiate ideas and by that would be promoting self-sustainability of the project. This is an opportunity for the volunteers to work at the community/grass level in capacity building, education and awareness on health related issues {HIV/AIDS}, training on self-sustainability. Some of the skills volunteers are to acquire include Resource Management, Community Development, Social Work, Sociology, teaching and Agriculture

Note
One of the daunting tasks is to try and convince the children who are still in the forest to come and start utilizing their own rescue center and since they are still traumatized they need counseling.

Number of Volunteers Required
Maximum of ten {10} volunteers at any open time.

Time Fame Work {Duration}
Ideally the project would accommodate volunteers for a period of 1-2 years especially on education program. However mid and long term volunteers can be absorbed particularly in the project and within the community.

Project covers-
Family stay {with independent room for privacy}

Cost the project doesn’t meet
Insurance
Recreation
Pocket money


What to bring:

Photos of your country and family
Any learning materials e.g. pencils, pens old books for the children
Umbrella to use incase it starts to rain {wet almost daily}
Heavy clothing because the region is always very cold
A big smile, a happy and positive altitude
Chlorine tabs for water purification [WATER PURIFIER].
Mosquito net.
Heavy covering beddings {blankets}.

Dos and Don’ts of volunteering

Do try to learn some of the local languages {Kikuyu}, it will be highly appreciated by all {even if you only lean the greetings}
Do show an active interest in learning about the culture and be open-minded especially in learning all the opinions.
Do keep promises e.g. visiting someone’s home or family, the will be waiting for you and may be disappointed if you fail them
Do and try to be yourself despite differences you may have with the community members {e.g. going to church, religion}
Don’t make it difficulty for future volunteers by giving away lots of gifts or money. This is not the role of a volunteer. We don’t want the community to rely or depend and perceive volunteers in this negative way
Don’t be disappointed when things do not change or improve immediately. Remember community development takes time. Every little bit helps since change is a gradual process


Orientation

Preparation Seminar will take three days and include courtesy call to the respective volunteer’s Embassies, High Commissions before proceeding to the project

‘WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR SELFLESS HEART FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY’

For more information please do contact us

Please send us you comments and enquires.

Email:      [email protected]
P.O. Box: 48902-00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
Fax:        +254 20 225379
Address:   Kampus towers, 1^st Floor, University Way.
Phone:     +254 020 225379.