Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
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About the project
Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Kenya Voluntary Development Association (KVDA) is an indigenous, non-political and membership organization which is non-sectarian and non-profit making started in 1962 as a work camp organization registered under the Societies Act. In 1993, KVDA was registered as a Non-Governmental organization by the establishment of the NGOs Coordination Act. KVDA has since inception hosted over 50, 000 international volunteers to its community service development projects that have left indelible mark to efforts to enhance sustainable development.
💼 What the programme involves
This project is a joint effort involving Kenya Voluntary Development Association, Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), UNESCO Paris, Shimba Hills Forest Guide and Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests. KVDA is among the projects approved by CCIVS under the umbrella of UNESCO World Heritage program and successfully implemented the July 2014 World Heritage Volunteers program that hosted 15 international volunteers from Kenya, Russia and Japan.
Agriculture is the main economic activity of the Mijikenda people. Their most important cash crop is the coconut palms, whose products include oil extracts and palm wine. Its fronds are also used for roofing and as material for making baskets, mats, brooms and other weaved products. Other important cash crops include cashew nuts, oranges and mangos. Where favorable weather conditions allow, some Mijikenda people also grow annual crops such as maize, sorghum, millet, and beans.
Fishing is another important economic activity for the Mijikenda people. Mijikenda’s actively fish in the neighboring Indian Ocean, where their "daily catch" forms part of the seafood supplied to Kenya's coastal hotels and residents.
Volunteers' activities :
- To actively participate in conservation of the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forest and sensitize the local community on its significance.
- Promote volunteering and work ethnic among the local peace as a strategy to combat the high unemployment levels in the area.
- Environmental conservation in the wake of depletion of forest cover courtesy of population pressure, commerce and industry.
- Preservation of national heritage, cultural diversity, bio-diversity and sensitivity to nature.
- Tree planting
- Submit Project Report to KVDA.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Home stay and the volunteer is entitled to private room but will share other amenities and meals with the host family. It is convenient for the volunteer to carry sleeping bag, mat and personal effects. KVDA has a memorandum of understanding with the host project regarding the project costs with appropriate procedures, checks and balances.
Water is available at the hosting house from springs and it is important to preserve water at all times due to its scarcity and cooperation with the hosts will be highly appreciated.
There are no washing machines in the institution and the volunteer will be guided on how to wash clothes.
📍 About the location
Kwale, South Coast.
The Mijikenda community is composed of 9 different tribes who live along the coast of Kenya. They are closely related but distinct people—the Kauma, Chonyi, Jibana, Giriama, Kamabe, Ribe, Rabai, Duruma and Digo. They share a common linguistic and cultural heritage. Traditionally, each group lives in its own hilltop village (kaya) on the ridge along the Kenya coast, between the towns of Kilili and Vanga. In the past, the Mijikenda tribe was also referred to as the Nyika tribe, a near-derogatory term implying bush people. "Mijikenda" literally means nine homes or nine homesteads (in Swahili), referring to the common ancestry of the Mijikenda people. The nine Mijikenda sub-tribes are believed to be nine different homes of the same tribe. Each sub-tribe speaks its own dialect of the Mijikenda language. (for more info, feel free to ask for the brochure).
🎒 Leisure activities
Volunteers will have the opportunity for excursions:
- The Nature Trail: a walk through the Nature Trail will leave you from sable 'bandas' and the clear dropping waters of the Shed-Rick Falls leaves everyone with a satisfied and tranquil feeling of being at peace with nature.
- National Heritage: Kenya is a home of the 8 wonders of the world synonymous with the unique phenomenon that happens once a year with the migration of the wild beast from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania through the Mara River in to Maasai Mara from July to September. Likewise, Shimba Hills National Reserve offers variety of wild animals that include Giraffes, Impala, Warthog, Baboons, Sykes monkeys, Sable Antelope, Elephants e.t.c.
- Drive to Mombasa South Coast for beach relaxation. Visit Digo community origins of the Mijikenda: campfire with the kaya elders, Traditional dances with women, Traditional food mostly made of coconut milk.
- Visit Mombasa Old Town, with Historical buildings dating from the 14th century, beautifully carved doors. Also, visit Fort Jesus, built and used by the Portuguese as a fortress in 1593.
- A visit to the Indian Ocean.
⚠️ Requirements
What to carry is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch, flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others.
🤝 Meeting point
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is the port of arrival and KVDA will designate a driver for the airport pick up. We strongly advice volunteers against getting taxis on their own without reference to KVDA due to the obvious risks.
Volunteers will be driven to the KVDA Residence situated in Karen suburb in Nairobi approximately 25 Kilometers away from the airport and that is where the volunteers will be accommodated ahead of their placement to the project. The residence is situated in the serene environment with amble space for recreation and spectacular setting as the inauguration of volunteering to make a difference in the world.
ℹ️ Additional information
The project participation fee is 200€ per month if you stay 2 months or above - 300€ if you stay only one month.
What is included in the participation fee: return transfers from the airport - Full board at the project (accommodation and meals provided at the project) - Orientation, evaluation and monitoring - Volunteer mentorship
What is not included in the participation fee: Travel to and from the project. The volunteer will be required to pay for the bus tickets - Refreshments outside the project - Air ticket, Excursion, Visa and Insurance - Local travel and Personal effects.
Volunteers are accepted to join this project at any time of the year and should arrive in Kenya on 20th day of the month. The duration of placement is flexible depending on the availability of the volunteer.
2-day orientation seminar will be done on the 21st and 22nd of every month.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
KVDA/MLTV/2018/25
01/01/2018 → 31/12/2018
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
300.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Kwale, Kenya
Kenya
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Kenyan Shilling (KES / KSh)
Exchange rate
1 KES = 0.006892 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
East Africa Time
Local time: 22:02 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken