Volunteering in Kenya - What to bring for the people?

Question

I'll be volunteering in an orphanage in Kenya in about 3 weeks from now and I need ideas for what to bring out for the people that run the orphanage and the kids themselves.

So far I have stationary, footballs, sweets but I can't think of anything else.

Any help appreciated :o)

keep in mind if suggesting something be specific. :P Don't just say 'toys'

Cheers

I have purchased footballs, rounders equipment, childrens books, pens, pencils, colouring pencils, lollipops so far.

Any more suggestions would be appreciated :o)

Answer 1

I would actually recommend that you do not bring much with you. Instead, purchase the items in Kenya. By doing this, you will be supporting the Kenyan economy and you can also buy a lot more for your dollar

Last night, we had a woman at our house who gave a fund-raising presentation for three orphanages that she funds in Kenya. She has opened a bank account in Kenya that she and a designated person can access. She wired her money to Kenya and her partner in Kenya (the woman who operates the schools in the orphanages) can take the money out for what ever the needs are. This lady also travels to Kenya once a year.

The first year, she raised funds and bought them a school bus.

Then she returned and helped rebuild some classrooms, lay down a floor (so the kid no longer had to sit in the mud) and she had chairs and desks built for each of the kids.

She learned that four of the children in the orphanages died of malaria and other diseases so she raised funds and gave each of her kids innoculations so that they would be safe. In the two years since then, not a single child has died. She they build a clinic at the main orphanage and, through fund raising, she keeps the clinic staffed 24 hours a day and stocked with medical supplies.

Last year, she purchased 300 chickens and started a chichen farm for them so that they could have eggs to eat. It has been very successful and she is currently working on building a chicken ranch with 1,000 chickens.

When she returns to Kenya this time, she will be providing the kids with socks and blankets. She said that the kids in her orphanage needed socks, shoes and blankets. The blankets cost $8.00 each and shoes cost $10.00 each (I do not remember the cost of the socks).

As an interesting side note, my youngest niece is a member of the Girl Scouts and her troup has joined in with the fund-raising cause for this woman. She learned that there are 18 girls in a sister Girl Scout program at the orphanage and she wanted to do more to help them.

My niece is learning to play the saxophone so my sisiter and my niece went door to door in our neighborhood with a sign that said "Help the orphans in Kenya. A song for a donation". All but one household donated to her cause and she played a song for al of them. She raised $186.00 in donations. She learned last night that her donation will buy new shoes for the 18 Girl Scouts in the orphanage.

If you (or anybody out there) want information of this legitamate charity, please email me at [e-mail] and indicate that you are from Yahoo Answers so I do not delete you.

In closing, I would recommend that you try to contact the orphanage as soon as possible and ask them what some of their needs are. Then try to buy as much as possible in Kenya!

PS. Toys are always nice, too. On this ladies first trip, she brought a suitcase full of Beany Babies and the kids were thrilled and appreciative.

Good luck and all the best to you!

Answer 2

I agree with a few other answers who suggested you buy the items in Kenya. My first trip I brought candy, snacks, balls, toys, etc... which were wonderful and well recieved. BUT my second trip I brought money and for about $2.50 a person was able to purchase enough flour, fat, beans, and rice, to last the persons family for about a month. I got tears and hugs when those were given as gifts. It meant so much to them.

Orphanages in Kenya can be very different then what we imagine here in the US. The ones I was at were more what we would consider daycare and feeding programs and at night the children would return home to their relatives (usually grandparents or uncles). If this is the type of orphanage you will be at consider gifts that will be useful for the entire family. Bring multiples as kids will often have many siblings (and cousins) back at home and will want to share. You may be asked to not send home anything other than food with kids as it will likely get stolen (and may even put them in danger from others who want it).

Another tip I got straight from the Kenyans we worked with is to not hand things out to everyone we saw on the streets (and you will be tempted). This creates a begging culture and is actually considered to be very offensive to them. They value relationship so much over possession. However if you stop and chat for awhile and then want to give the person something to remember you by, that will be welcomed and will mean a lot more.

Enjoy, I love Kenya.

Answer 3

Nairobi conjures all of the romance and adventure of its vivid colonial days and is a good place to invest your vacation, discover more with hotelbye . Among the things worth see is the Nairobi's rich record and tribal culture is produced alive in their outstanding museums and the Karen Blixen Museum in one of the museum most visited. Also in Nairobi you are able to visit Nairobi National Park. The park is just a rhino refuge and protects more than 50 of these really endangered creatures. Along with the rhinos, readers often see: lions, gazelles, buffaloes, warthogs, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, and significantly more than 400 species of chickens have now been recorded in the wetlands and here, the Nairobi Safari Walk is a well known attraction giving pet lovers the opportunity to place wildlife on base, and strolling trails weave about the area known as Hippo Pools. Nairobi happens to be a city where whole the family may enjoy.

Answer 4

Depending on where you are going if it has girls over 13 sanitary pads will be really appreciated, again depending on where you are going you find that most girls that age and above do not go to school during that time of the month!!!

If the orpahanage is within Nairobi this might not be particulary a problem, try and make your gifts very relevant to their needs, which is mostly stationery, and day to day items such as food and cleansing products, soap ,tissue.

For the administrators again thinking its not in Nairobi a tshirt will be appreciated by all.

Kenyans are very grateful any gift will be really appreciated all round.

Incase you decide to get any of the above as gifts you will be better off shopping in Kenya you will definately get more for your money and will be easier on your luggage.

Enjoy your stay

Answer 5

It will be better to bring them over the counter medecine like cough syrup sore throat medicine and aspirin ,
and then when you get there take them shopping they will show you what they want and they will have a good time just shopping with you ,instead of carrying all the staff with you
speaking from experience ,
as for the workers get them some chip watches and t-shirts from the USA they will love that . It can be from any city .
I will also be there end of this month just for a week and then of to Rwanda .
God bless you and all you are trying to do for the children ,

Answer 6

You are better off getting to the orphanage first and assessing their needs. Then just do your shopping in Kenya. Clothes and beddings would however go along way if you want to carry your stuff from abroad.

Answer 7

I, too, am traveling to Kenya at the end of June for a 2 week mission. We'll be in several regions throughout the country. My husband works in Africa and says the kids love gum. He brings tons of it when he goes. Another thing you might bring, space permitting, is gently-used clothing. Once you get there large bags of rice, etc are always appreciated. Where in Kenya are you heading? I would love to hear about your trip. Traci

Answer 8

Well good of you to think for the disadvantaged. When visiting this people i advise to think of learning materials(sport equipment included), Food, clothings, and anyother thing you would like to give the whole home that would not be for individual person.

For the leaders i suggest you come with a lot of blessing for them since that is what they need most.

Answer 9

you do not favor to holiday with a view to 'help someone'. What volunteer events are you doing now, close to to the position you stay? close by volunteer events can furnish you with skills and adventure that can help you to charities that deliver volunteers overseas. maximum charities that i'm attentive to that paintings 'overseas' are searching for for for knowledgeable workers who can devote to lengthy time period assignments. What guidance, training, skills do you've that those charities can use? have you ever appeared at job postings and outlines (paid and volunteer) from communities operating overseas? Why shouldn't charities use experienced and knowledgeable workers? A volunteer's prices 'in u . s . a .' are not any more low-priced; purely providing a warmth-body who pick's to 'sacrifice months of your life to a reason' received't be as sensible to a charity as you seem to imagine. maximum charities have countless close by community who can fill the unskilled postions overseas; why do you should get particular treatment to fill one among those positions? you nonetheless have countless options; you could volunteer in course of your position, you could receive the tutorial, skills, and adventure it really is necessary and devote to operating lengthy time period with those charities, you'll discover someone 'lower back homestead' to sponsor your holiday, or you could paintings at homestead and keep the money to pay your own way. i do no longer see using decrying charities for providing a way for unskilled, short-time period volunteers to take section because you imagine that is purely too expensive-the further money spent on searching after you ability a lot less money spent on providing help to those you have to be serving. You declare different solutions to similar questions were condescending; yet many of the words and words on your question seem condescending or elitest to me..... journeys overseas are expensive for honestly everyone. Why might want to a charity fund your favor to paintings overseas?

Answer 10

you really had a wonderful heart...i salute you for doing that marvelous endeavor...

i guess you should bring much of the school supplies such as pens, stationaries and other things alike. children out there really love to study, only there is insufficient supply of all the stuff they need.

would you please tell me how did you became a part of that group?i would also love to be one!!!Please, tell me more of how i can dispense help to all those children??

May God Bless you and have a safe trip.