Overview
Community Development Internship in Kenya

As part of this internship you will make a real difference to the lives of the children most in need in Mombasa’s Bombolulu area, at a children’s centre and an HIV/ AIDS orphanage. You will be working alongside a dedicated staff supervisor and local volunteer teachers, typically with children aged between 3 and 13 on a project that offers basic education and meals to the most vulnerable children. This internship allows you to experience the challenges faced by urban communities in Kenya, contribute to grass-roots initiatives, and gain invaluable hands on practical experience in a variety of fields, including project management and team leadership.

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To be part of Olives Rehabilitation Centre's frontline history went beyond my wildest hopes and dreams of helping disadvantaged children and I thank GVI for their principles of spending 70% in the field

Shirley Paterson, GVI Intern

What Difference Does This Internship Make?

The children's centre aims to provide under-privileged children with free education, and critically, lunch - hunger is one of the most common reasons children fail to attend government schools. In a holistic approach the centre offers counselling to children from broken or abusive homes or who are orphaned, as well as to parents. Entirely reliant on independent donors to rent small, basic classrooms, and volunteer teachers, the centre achieves remarkable results - children sponsored to go onto private mainstream education are typically within the top 10% of their class. The orphanage was set up as a charity to care for HIV / AIDS orphans, often abandoned as young babies. Children receive a secure homelife, education and medical care. This project delivers opportunities to children from disrupted homelives, supporting health and social awareness in an area with high HIV prevalence, prostitution and drug abuse, and limited access to healthcare. Volunteers not only make a direct contribution caring for and educating the children but increase the capacity of the centres to improve facilities, programmes and funding.

Highlights

A life changing experience caring for orphaned and vulnerable children; support primary education and receive training in communicative teaching; develop health, social and environmental awareness programmes through arts and sports; guide children on trips to Haller Park to view giraffe, hippo & crocodile. Gain an internationally recognised certificate in team leading. Put your skills and experience to use improving facilities and resources or fund-raising. Live amongst, learn from and support Kenya's urban impoverished communities; learn Swahili. Explore Mombasa's history, culture, beaches and nightlife.

Location

Mombasa sits on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast. Bombolulu is the city's largest slum area, adjacent to the wealthy suburb of Nyali, north of Mombasa island. The area includes the marine park and Mombasa's finest beaches, bars, restaurants and nightlife.

See Life on the internship page for more information

Field Conditions

The accommodation will consist of group living in a basic house with access to electricity and running water. Volunteers will be in mixed-sex dormitories and share cooking and cleaning duties. Food will be simple and nutritious, cooked on rotation, with fresh fruit and vegetables daily, and meat or fish a couple of times a week.

See Life on the internship page for more information