Volunteer Accommodation

During your placement you can chose to live either at our Interim Care Centre (ICC) or at the volunteer house.

The Interim Care Centre

The Interim Care Centre (ICC) in Thika, Kenya provides intensive rehabilitation for street boys in a residential setting. The ICC is for children who find it especially hard to break from the street or whose family situations require in-depth intervention to make the home environment a safe place for the child. There, during residential care for up to six months, intensive rehabilitation and family reintegration work prepares the way for a return home. Staff members liaise with families, local institutions, schools and support organisations to facilitate each child's return to society.

By living in our Interim Care Centre (ICC), volunteers are given the unique opportunity to fully intergrate with the children and staff whilst gaining an invaluable insight into the work of a small NGO.

Living at the centre provides volunteers with the ultimate Kenyan experience. Volunteers live and work with the local staff and children, enjoy kenyan food and live a back to basics lifestyle. Whilst there is electricity and facilities for you to charge electrical equipment and plug in laptops, occassionally there are power cuts and the centre goes without electricity for several days. There is a dedicated staff toilet (a clean pit latrine) which is made available to the volunteers and hot water will be provided each day for you to wash with. Additionally, Janet, the organisation’s house-girl, will visit the centre once a week to clean your room and wash your clothes for a small fee (?).

Accommodation at the centre is clean and secure. There are two separate, lockable volunteer rooms at the centre, each with two beds. Whilst we prefer to give volunteers their own room, occasionally you may have to share with another volunteer. As a result your privacy and personal space are sometimes limited and volunteers should be prepared for this. Whilst residing and working at the centre we ask you to remember that you are a role model to the children and therefore must behave appropriately.

If you choose to live at the centre you must be prepared for full integration into our centre work and to accept the demands and the responsibilities this accomodation option entails. That said, living with the children at the centre is extremely rewarding and allows you to create close personal relationships with both the staff and children.

Costs: Volunteers who stay at the ICC are requested to pay £350 for their first month's stay and £300 for each subsequent month. This should be paid to the UK prior to your arrival in Kenya. This amount covers accomodation and meals at the centre, as well as a contribution to the running of the ICC.

Your contribution will go directly into providing teaching materials and activities for the children and also fund their lunchtime meals promtoting more positive learning.

The Volunteer House

Alternatively, if you prefer a level of privacy and home comforts then the volunteer house is for you. The house is situated on the edge of the town centre and is within walking distance of the office and both AfCiC centres.

There is a sitting room with a television and a dvd player and you can bring your own dvds to watch in the evenings or at weekends. The kitchen is small but stocked with everything you need and there are several supermarkets and a market nearby where you can purchase food to prepare. There are two gas rings, a kettle, toaster, a toastie machine, a fridge and a small freezer but there is no oven or microwave.

There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms (complete with hot showers) in the house. Two of the rooms are single rooms and the other two are twin rooms. Again, whilst we prefer to give volunteers their own room, you may be required to share on occasion. Each rooms is equipped with one or two single beds, mosquito nets and a built in wardrobe. Linen and towels are provided but you may wish to bring your own from home and some other items such as pictures, posters etc. to make your room more homely.

Janet, the organisation’s house keeper, visits the house twice a week to clean and wash your clothes and volunteers are requested to contribute 500ksh per week to a house kitty to cover the costs of household items and cleaning products. There is also a night watchman to ensure volunteer’s safety.

Cost: Volunteers who stay at the house are requested to pay 15000ksh (approx. £120) per month plus a 750ksh monthly contribution to the house kitty. This amount covers rent, electricity, water, the house-keeper’s salary and the watchman’s salary. Rent should be paid in three month installments to the Kenyan Director once you have arrived in Kenya.

If you choose to stay at the house, we ask all volunteers to raise a minimum project contribution of £700 for stays of three months, £900 for stays of six months or £1100 for a stay of nine months. The volunteer is involved in directly spending this money with the staff at the centre to maximise the benefit for the street children. This might include funding workshops, parental training sessions, educational trips for the children etc.