|
This is a challenging but very rewarding programme, especially good if you would like to use your passion for sports and your education to help these Kenyan children.
Sports Volunteer Programme
If you have teaching experience, you can do even more than this if you like and get involved in teaching a larger number of areas. Your work will mainly focus on being a teaching assistant, so you will be shadowing the local teachers during classes. There are occasions where you may be required to run a class yourself and even create your own lesson plan! Don’t worry though, the local teachers will be on hand to give you all the assistance you need to do this and also give you pointers on teaching techniques and standards.
Volunteer Role
The exact nature of your volunteer role will be dependent on the sports that you want to teach but, really, the basic role will remain the same. Your role is also entirely flexible, as you are able to coach in a way that you see fit. Just keep confident, have loads of fun and you will be great.
Please Note: As you would perhaps expect, in these disadvantaged areas in Kenya the sports facilities and equipment used by the project are not of the same standard as you are perhaps used to. The equipment is often old and facilities minimal. If you are keen on introducing a new and different sport, the equipment may not be available. If this is the case, we would recommend that you do a bit of fundraising so that you are able to donate the equipment to the project.
Coaching Placement
There are six main schools in the Kimilili area, and you will be placed in one of them depending on what sport(s) that you would like to coach. Each school has different needs in terms of sports, so your interests and the skills that you have will be matched with a school that will suit you best. Sports classes in Kenya are taught separately according to sex. Females are only allowed to be taught by female teachers and males by a male teacher – the same will apply with your classes.
With several volunteers based in different schools in the area, you may be able to organise a tournament between them over one or several weekends. You can compare your own coaching skills against the other volunteers!
Sports Clinic
As well as working at your school, you are also able to coach other local children at your very own sports coaching clinic. The project coordinators are also involved with a number of other local community organisations such as day centres, orphanages and youth clubs. If you would like to offer your services, you can also work with the organisations to sort out sports sessions and games, even a local league or tournament, depending on how long you choose to volunteer for.
Local Teams
Another opportunity that you can take advantage of whilst you are in Kimilili is getting involved with some of the local sports teams. Past volunteers have set up clubs and others have chosen to play for the clubs. There is a lot of scope to get involved with the local sporting community and, again, depends on the sports that you are looking to play. Regardless of what you wish to do, it is a great privilege to be part of the local community (sports-wise!) and a really good way to get to know the local people.
If you would like to get involved with the local sports teams, have a word the one of the local coordinators who’ll be able to give you some advice.
The local teams include:
- Rescue Steps Rugby Team
- Rescue Steps Football Team
- Teremi Rugby Team and more.
Project Age Limit
The participants on this programme may be of a broad age range. Maximum age decided on potential participants health.
Project Requirement
You don not need any specific skills or qualifications to take part in this programme.
Daily Transport
Your airport transfer and the transport to take you to and from the project site will be in the project’s vehicles, as will any trips in and out of the local town to use the Internet and so on. If you need transport during your free time will need to be arranged and paid for by you.
Accommodation and Meals
Your accommodation on this project will be in houses that you will share with the other project volunteers. They are comfortable and enclosed in a compound that is walled and gated. The accommodation is safe and also has a night watchmen on site.
You will find that the house is pretty modern and comfortable compared to the local houses. You have Western-style toilets, a fridge, an electric and a gas cooker and washing facilities. There is electricity but power cuts do occur frequently. You may also experience a water shortage.
All of your meals are included and will be provided for you by the house cook. Food will be made in the local style, with local ingredients. Any special dietary requirements can be catered for.
Project Support
The coordinators for this programme are Mary and James. They will be able to provide you will the field support and any assistance that you need, answer any questions that you have throughout your stay. The in-country team are very friendly and available for you to contact every day. However, please bear in mind that they do have over 2,000 people to look after so they can often be pretty busy. It is important that you are able to be independent and use your initiative, be motivated and come up with your own ideas.
Additionally, you will be provided with a 24 hour emergency number before you depart for Kenya, so that you are able to get in contact with one of the UK office staff at any time should you need to.
Please note: Schools in Africa are very different are very different and are not at the same standard as Western schools. Structure is poor and time is not a priority. Caning is also still a common practice and a lot of the time it is the teacher who does not show up, rather than the children.
Orientation
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the project. Once you have got settled in a bit, the coordinators will guide you through a comprehensive orientation and answer any questions that you may have. They will cover:
- The local language and culture – social norms, traditions and culture
- How you are expected to behave – dress code, school and house rules
- Safety – where to avoid, how to deal with an emergency
- Important amenities – where to find banks, hospitals and embassies
- Transport and travel in Kenya – where to go and how to get there
- Volunteer placement – what the project involves, who to report to, the other volunteers etc
School Holidays
Kenya has a few national holidays that are celebrated throughout the year, but the main school holidays are in April, August and December. The project does still operate throughout the school holidays, as at least a quarter of the children will stay at the school to take part in extra tuition. Therefore there will be a sufficient number of students at school that will require coaching and teaching.
Please Note: during the school holidays, the high number of students that what like coaching may mean that you will need to do extra out-of-school coaching. It is likely that the programme will be less structured but this will give you more freedom to coach as you wish.
Equipment Donations
This sports volunteer project, like other charitable organisations, needs donations each year to develop and be sustainable. Although the cost that you are paying to take part in the project does include a project donation, all volunteers are encouraged to bring any equipment that they feel may benefit the programme.
This can include:
- Kits
- Balls
- Pumps/needles
- Whistles
- Boots/sports shoes
- Plastic cones
This donation is not compulsory. If you do make one, it certainly does not have to be brand new.
Visas
You will need a visa to enter Kenya: This will cost you between £30 – 35 and can be obtained on your arrival into Kenya with your passport. However, you may also obtain it prior to leaving for Africa.
|
