Single Events

We are in the process of evaluating volunteers to help Good Villages pursue our vision for educational and economic opportunity in rural Kenya. If you have experience or interest in working with an emerging NGO in Africa, please email us at info@goodvillages.org

Our volunteer program lasts ten days, including a three-day safari experience at the Maasai Mara wildlife park. Volunteers will be hosted with local families for lunches and dinners and will pay just $175 for room and board for the period of stay within Good Villages Center.

Each year, we will be welcoming volunteers from around the world during July and August. Volunteers are responsible for airfare; see our recommended air packages for flights to Nairobi, Kenya.

Transportation to and from good villages center will be provided, including airport pick up and all ground transfers for free.

Good Villages receives a 20 percent discount on admission and accommodations at Maasai Mara Wildlife Park through specific tour operators – total cost to volunteers is $1,500 for 3 days including room and board.

What to expect: “Be the Villager!”

Day One: 

• Arrival and ground transportation to Good Villages center
• Greetings and dinner
• Introduction to host families
• Welcome celebration

Day Two

• Introduction to Good Villages
• What to expect during your volunteer stay
• Walk a day in a villager’s shoes – sell bananas in the market, fetch water to prepare dinner, etc.
• Lunch with the host family
• Resume villager duties – dinner preparation, cleaning, homework help, etc.
• Dinner with the host family

 Day Three

• Skill-based breakout sessions describing Good Villages initiatives to volunteers
• Agriculture
• Education
• Infrastructure
• Lunch with the host family
• Volunteers share Good Villages initiatives with villagers and break off into small groups to plan skill-based learning activities
• Dinner with the host family
• Clean up, homework help, etc.

 Day Four

• Volunteer at Good Villages centre to help build housing, staff computer lab, help at the library, teach skills classes and collect/distribute school supplies
• Lunch with the host family
• Continue volunteer shifts at Good Villages centre
• Dinner with the host family
• Clean up, homework help, etc.

Day Five

• Volunteer at Good Villages centre to help build school buildings, staff computer lab, help at the library, teach skills classes and collect/distribute school supplies
• Lunch with the host family
• Continue volunteer shifts at Good Villages centre
• Dinner with the host family
• Clean up, homework help, etc.

Day Six

• Volunteer to teach agriculture and subsistence farming techniques to villagers
• Help work crops, gardens and livestock
• Lunch with the host family
• Continue volunteer shifts working crops, gardens and livestock
• Dinner with the host family
• Clean up, homework help, etc.

Day Seven

• Meet at Good Villages centre to wrap up village work
• Share success stories, challenges and recommendations
• Lunch with the host family
• Volunteer opportunity of choice: agriculture, infrastructure, education
• Dinner with the host family
• Farewell celebration
• Clean up, homework help, etc.

Days Eight, Nine and Ten

• Travel to Maasai Mara Wildlife Park
• Three-day photo safari and activities TBD
• See lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and the Maasai Giraffe, the largest giraffe species
• Return to Nairobi and fly home

PACKING LIST

Summers in Western Kenya is hot, humid and dry. Be sure and pack plenty of sunscreens.

• Toiletries (and wet wipes)
• Sunscreen
• Headlamp/LED torches for getting around at night
• Sunglasses to protect against the hot African sun
• Insect repellent
• First aid kit & regular medication
• Sturdy closed-toe shoes or hiking boots
• Around the camp’ shoes or flip flops
• Camera (including batteries and SD card)
• Pocket knife
• Solar panel charger
• Rucksack
• Day pack
• Lip balm to protect against dry African air, the wind in your face on safari and dust during the dry season
• Refillable water canteen so you don’t have to buy plastic bottles