Kenya School Holiday Club 2008
Action for Children in Conflict’s (AfCiC) Holiday Club is a programme of activities during the school holidays for over 150 of the poorest school children in our partner primary school, St Patrick’s, in Thika. The children are in Classes 4 to 8 and aged 8 to around 14. At the Holiday Club the children attend lessons to revise their school work and prepare for the next year, learn new activities and have some fun. 2008 will be the fifth year we have run the club.
To apply: Please email Maria at maria@actionchildren.org for an application form and return this to Maria together with your recent CV.
FAQ
Why a school holiday club in Kenya?
During the long primary school holidays in August, children from the most deprived areas of Kenya become a burden to their families and are expected to work, often then failing to return to school when it reopens. Our experiences since 2004 shows that the Holiday Club helps to ensure almost all of them come back to school.
When is the holiday club?
The Holiday Club will run for three weeks during August. Volunteers will need to arrive at the start of August for training and orientation.
Where is the school?
Thika town is about 40 km north of Nairobi. This is where Action for Children in Conflict run a street child prevention and rehabilitation programme. The Holiday Club is part of our prevention work.
What does a holiday club typical day consist of?
The school day runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Mornings consist of lessons both on Kenyan National Curriculum subjects and special lessons on unusual topics to stimulate pupil interest and broaden their learning. Food is provided daily at lunchtime for all pupils. The afternoon is for games and activities including board games, ball games, painting, drama, arts and crafts.
What will volunteers do?
Volunteers will be involved in teaching one hour lessons in the morning. Classroom size is normally large and level of ability extremely variable. The National Curriculum is similar to that in the UK, and is also taught in English although this is the children’s third language (after their tribal language and Swahili). Volunteers will prepare a different lesson for each of the three weeks. These will be delivered to a different class each day. Previous volunteers have taught about their country, culture and language. What you want to teach will be discussed and agreed with you before you come to Kenya. Volunteers will organise, supervise and participate in the afternoon fun activities
How many volunteers do you want?
We want to have four volunteers for St Patrick’s this year. Demand is high, so please apply soon!!
Who are the volunteers?
Anyone who feels they could make a significant contribution to the club! Volunteers must be 18 years +
Do I need to apply in a team of four?
No. You can apply individually.
Are any particular skills required?
We are looking for people with good leadership and organisational skills, who can work on their own initiative. You need an outgoing nature and a good sense of fun with lots of ideas for games and activities for children.
Do volunteers receive any training prior to departure?
A UK staff member will arrange an informal face to face interview where possible to provide further information on what volunteers can expect and what they can hope to achieve.
Who is responsible for volunteers whilst they are in Kenya?
Our Kenya Country Director will be in Kenya throughout the duration of the Holiday Club and will ensure the smooth running of the Club and your trip. We also have locally employed staff members who are extremely reliable and trustworthy. However you will not be “supervised” the whole time and will need to be comfortable taking care of yourself.
The headmaster, teachers and children at the school are very friendly and you will be warmly welcomed. You will be working along side the teachers during the Club and they will be happy to offer support and advice.
What is the accomodation like?
Volunteers will be living in a Thika hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. The hotel is close to the schools, and is clean, secure and comfortable, with friendly staff.
What is there to do at weekends/evenings?
Thika has a number of bars and clubs where people go to drink, eat roast goat and dance. They are different from the Western style places in Nairobi and give you a chance to see real Africa. The locals are very friendly and enjoy meeting people from other places. You can easily arrange trips to local places of interest at the weekends. Nairobi has many tourist attractions e.g giraffe centre, baby elephant santuary, as well as bars and clubs.
Is it possible to travel after the holiday club?
Yes. With prior notice we can help you arrange a safari or a trip to the Coast or other interesting areas. You will have to decide how long you wish to stay before we book the flights.
How much does it cost?
We are asking each volunteer to raise £1300 each, which includes airfare, insurance (personal and medical), accomodation and a contribution towards the cost of running the holiday club.
In addition volunteers will require about £60 per week for food/ drink etc. If you want to do other trips we can get costs for you in advance.
When do I need to pay?
The first installment of £500 needs to be paid by the 1st July 2008. This will be non-refundable. The remainder should be paid by the 20th July 2008.
What is the best way of fundraising?
We have a volunteer fundraising pack which will be sent to you, and includes a variety of ideas from organising various events to writing to official grants and trusts. We will offer you all the support we can give, and can provide official letterheads and paper if necessary.
How do I prepare for the trip?
Following acceptance on the volunteering programme, we will send you an induction pack with detailed information on what to take, visas, vaccinations etc. We will also provide you with information on safety measures.
What else does AfCiC do?
AfCiC works to break cycles of violence, hatred and despair by providing psychological, emotional and educational support to survivors of conflict, especially children and young adults. We run programmes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with street children.
