Why not go where you’re really needed?

This project really does bring you face to face with the best and the worst of Africa; a resilient people battling one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet. Children’s homes have been set up around Kenya to help children who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. They offer the children a safe and supportive shelter, a basic education and a real chance in life. With the beat of the African drums filling the streets this is the real Africa, with none of the pips removed. The projects may be challenging but they offer real opportunities to make a difference. We’ll include our TEFL certification to help prepare you but the most important thing to bring is plenty of compassion and patience.

What does this community project do?

The centres we currently work with only take in HIV positive children. The aims of the centres are to provide a home, love, care and quality of life to the children. There are also plans to set up a school for the kids which will also take in children from the neighbourhood. By 2001, an estimated 890,000 children in Kenya had been orphaned by AIDS and HIV-related diseases. With 15% of the population carrying the virus, an increasing number of children are at risk of being caught in the wake of the epidemic.

Why does this project need volunteers?

The AIDS orphanages we work with are already understaffed and rely on the input of local volunteers to continue their good work. With the additional help of i-to-i volunteers, the orphanages can provide a greater level of support and education for the children, and offer them more individual care and attention. The children will also benefit from the social interaction with volunteers, the chance to learn some valuable English skills and the exposure to a different culture.

Your role as a volunteer

The orphanage requires extra pairs of hands to help with the day-to-day running of the project, so you will be expected to assist with cleaning, cooking and serving food to the children. You will also help to provide a basic education for the children, by organising physical education/sports lessons and teaching English. You may also be required to assist the staff in counselling the children.

The skills you need

You will need to be flexible and have patience, compassion and enthusiasm to face the many hurdles and challenges that you will inevitably encounter within your role. To ensure that you get the most out of and contribute fully to your project, a pro-active attitude is essential. A love of children is a must, while some background knowledge of HIV/AIDS and how it has affected the African continent is also useful. Above all, you should be emotionally mature, tolerant and open-minded.

Accommodation included

Homestay accommodation is included in the project fee and offers running water and electricity, although both may be cut off from time to time.

Project resources and advice

There are few resources at this project. Any stationery, sports equipment, toys or clothing would be greatly appreciated. You also can buy any extra items in Mombasa.

Local facilities

Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya and is also the largest coastal port in East Africa. It has good transport connections and is well linked to the rest of the country. Facilities are good, with several banks, including Barclays, internet cafés, tour operators and most of the amenities you would expect from a city.

Food included

You'll be provided with a nutritious breakfast and dinner each day, but should budget for lunch and any extra food.

Airport pick-up included

If you time your arrival to one of the designated arrival dates then airport pick-up is completely free. Please book your flight to arrive into Mombasa (airport code MBA). Should you require a different pick-up time, a charge will be required to cover fuel and staff time to come and get you. Any additional nights needed at the orientation accommodation, for example if you arrive a day or two early, should then be made in-country directly to the accommodation (roughly 2500KSh per night) or for the accommodation upgrade (roughly 60 USD per night).

Things that you will need to organize yourself

What exactly do i-to-i provide?

It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you for the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.

Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….

Project sourcing and assessment

We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More

Expert help-desk

Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.

Thorough project briefing materials

Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and project, and a DVD about how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.

TEFL training

If you are volunteering on a Teaching or Community Development project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More

Airport pickup

It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time… especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

Arrival orientation

Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More

Local in-country coordinators

Your in-country coordinator (ICC) will pick you up from the airport and conduct your orientation upon arrival. All ICC's are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More

24/7 emergency support

Aside from the local support from your in-country coordinators you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by i-to-i staff in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals Docleaf to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More

Ongoing training

The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. At the end of 2006 we flew all our in-country coordinators to the UK for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More

Supporting our projects

We don't fund our projects directly, but once a year they are all invited to apply for funding for special projects or resources from our registered charity arm, the i-to-i Foundation. i-to-i funds the operation of the i-to-i Foundation and is the largest single donor. Along with the generous support of our volunteers, we have distributed over US$200,000 in funding in the last two years alone! More  

Recruiting people like you

We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.

The intangible benefits

Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here

What we will do after you've booked:

• Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account
• We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know
• Community Development and Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course
• Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant) or send through a reference
• We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.
• We will hound you to complete your forms and pay your final balance when they are due
• We are available for any questions you may have on 0870 333 2332 or operations@i-to-i.com
• We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with final project and accommodation confirmation 21 days before you go

What you need to do after booking your place with us:

• Book your flights
• Arrange suitable travel insurance
• Fill out some extra details through our online interface:
  • application from
  • travel details
  • insurance details
  • medical information
  • emergency contacts
• Complete your police check or request your reference (where relevant)
• Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)
• Make final payment at least 60 days before you go
• Make sure you have a visa for your trip if its needed
• Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention
• Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip
• Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!
• Get on the plane!

Orientation Information

You will arrive on the Arrival Date - Saturday and will be met at the airport on that day (whether it is 12 in the morning or 11:59 at night). You will be taken to the Manson Hotel (see contact details below) where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. The hotel has a bar that also serves food and an internet terminal so that you can write home if you need to. It is located within walking distance of the main shops if you wish to have a wander - just ask at reception for directions.

Note: If you're arriving early we can arrange a meet and greet for you. If you require this please contact us to arrange this service. If you wish to make your own way please arrange to be at the address below on the arrival date:

If you have opted for the accommodation upgrade then you should make your way to the following address:

Your orientation will take place the next morning at the Manson Hotel and will introduce you to life in Mombasa as well as important information about staying healthy and safe. You’ll also learn a bit of Swahili along the way!

You will transfer to your permanent accommodation on the Sunday and this will be arranged for you by the team; transfers within Mombasa will take up to 1 hour and those to Kilifi will take about 1.5 hours. You will be introduced to your project on the Monday and start at the project on this day. From here on in you will spend your time with the project but the in-country team are there if you need them.