St. James Community Orphans School
Code: 660275a21a124dc8baa3c379e8a74897 Copied
About the project
St. James Community Orphans School
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Kenya Voluntary Development Association (KVDA) is an indigenous and membership organization which is non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit started in 1962 as a work camp organization registered under Societies Act. In 1993, KVDA was registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the establishment of NGOs Co-ordination Act. Our Philosophy KVDA seeks to promote inter-cultural education, international peace, inter-human understanding and solidarity as well as sustainable community development through voluntary service “Development against Dependence”, captures KVDA’s philosophy. KVDA calls upon everyone to pull their resources and freely work together for international harmony and sustainable development in the spirit of “togetherness”. KVDA mobilizes volunteers from different countries in the world, regardless of their background or affiliation to live, learn and work together for the development of a needy community.
💼 What the programme involves
The school is located within Mfangano Island, Waware sub-location, Mfangano north location, Mfangano division, Mbita Sub-county of Homa-bay County.
Pupil population: 124 - Classrooms: 6 - Classes: Baby class, Nursery class, Pre-unit class, Std 1, Std 2, Std 3 - Sponsors: Community sponsored - Vision: ”To be an exemplary Centre of excellence in quality holistic, academic education provision within the community” - Mission: ”To provide accessible and acceptable education to the less fortunate professionally, and in a formal manner that can be realized from within and without the community” - Motto: ”Arise and shine for a better life” - Objective: to be the school within the island in helping provide for the welfare and well-being of the numerous orphans and destitute left behind as a result of HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Volunteers activities:
- Brick making
- Social work majorly guiding and counseling for the HIV/AIDS program
- Field visits and face to face meetings with the local people
- Participate in home visits to enhance inter-cultural education and solidarity
Theme: taking care of abandoned and extremely vulnerable orphaned children
Volunteers will work for 6 hours daily from Monday to Friday.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The host community will provide a house to accommodate the volunteers with very basic living conditions. Volunteers have an obligation to climb down the level of the people with the aim of exposure to development challenges.
KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will cook their own meals in turns. Water is available from springs and it is recommended that drinking water should be boiled or medicated. Mineral water available at supermarkets is also recommended. There is no electricity connection at the project but volunteers can charge their electric appliances at the nearest market center.
Furthermore, we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games and music from your country (for an intercultural evening) – and a lot of motivation!
📍 About the location
🎒 Leisure activities
KVDA offers educational tours to spectacular sites including the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve at separate fees. Please contact us for specific tour information.
⚠️ Requirements
English is the language of the work camp. There will be a possibility of learning Kiswahili and other international and local languages as cultural diversity is a major component in international service.
Do show an active interest in learning about the life in the community, and be open-minded especially with the cultural difference in the community - Do and try to be yourself despite the difference you may have with the community members e.g. going to church etc. - Do keep promises e.g. visiting someone’s home or family they will be waiting for you and may get disappointed if you fail them. - Do not make it difficult for future volunteers by giving out a lot of gifts or money. This is not the role of volunteers and we don’t want the community to rely or depend on you and neither should they perceive volunteers in this negative way. - Always be cautious and nurture true friendship in your endeavour to support the needy. - Do uphold the principles of volunteerism. - Do live in accordance with the Laws of Kenya and KVDA regulations - Do work alongside the local community members/project staffs /institution in the spirit of complementary support and co-operation. - Do not get disappointed if things do not work out, remember change is a gradual process and every bit of impact will go a long way in make a difference for the community. - Remember it’s all about learning from each other and not basically helping the local people.
What to carry? This 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
The port of entry to Kenya is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and airport pick up will be done on provision of full flight details. The volunteers will be taken to KVDA Residence in Karen for accommodation that has highly subsidized rates.
Orientation will be done on 8th April 2018 at KVDA Residence in Nairobi and the team will leave for the project on the morning of 9th April 2018.
ℹ️ Additional information
The project participation fees that is all-inclusive for the 3-weeks workcamp is 300€ (project preparation cycle, return transfers from the airport and the project, KVDA administration, orientation, certificate of participation, project coordination, facilitation, evaluation and monitoring).
Not covered: excursion activities, local travel while in the community, personal effects, needs and wants.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
KVDA/STV/12A
03/12/2016 → 22/12/2016
KVDA/STV/07E
09/07/2016 → 30/07/2016
KVDA2018/STV/04B
08/04/2018 → 29/04/2018
KVDA/STV/09A
02/09/2017 → 23/09/2017
KVDA/STV/04B
02/04/2016 → 23/04/2016
KVDA/STV/04B
15/04/2017 → 30/04/2017
KVDA/STV/11C
04/11/2017 → 25/11/2017
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
Mfangano Island, 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: 21:16 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken