Highlights:
- Community development: Build a school/water project, teach children or plant shade trees.
- Cultural education: Walk through local villages, learn from the Maasai and Kipsigis people or study Swahili.
- Leadership training: Get intensive and interactive leadership training.
- Environmental education: Learn on nature walks with local experts.
- Safari adventures: Explore a world-famous Maasai Mara.
Sample Itinerary – 16 Day
Day 1:
Travel
Depart for Nairobi via overnight flight.
Day 2:
Arrival in Nairobi
Arrive in Kenya! Your Free the Children Facilitators will meet you at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Then, travel to your Free the Children accommodations in a suburb of Nairobi, where you will spend your first night.
Day 3:
Travel to the Maasai Mara
Travel to your accommodations at a mobile camp near the Free The Children community you will be volunteering with in the Maasai Mara.
Visit the Great Rift Valley
On the way to the community, stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, where hundreds of thousands of animals pass through annually in the great migration across the Maasai Mara.
Trip Orientation
Get to know your new home away from home for the next several days! Get oriented to daily life at the Kenya camp and meet the local staff. During this time trip expectations will also be reviewed and set.
Evening Discussion
In the evening, take part in a discussion on Free The Children’s unique Adopt a Village program—learn more about the partnership between Free The Children and the Ghana communities, the community development projects and the impacts it has.
Day 4:
Language Lesson
Whether you are fluent or just learning, knowing a few of the basics of the local language, Swahili, will be a huge help when interacting with the community members. Start your morning off with a Swahili language lesson.
Volunteering in the Community and Safety Orientation
Before you roll up your sleeves and dive into volunteering projects, your Free the Children Facilitators will lead you in a build site orientation and safety discussion, so you’re prepared to work on volunteer building projects during your trip.
Tour of Community Projects
Your Free the Children facilitators and a Maasai Guide will lead you on a tour of Free The Children’s projects in the community.
Leadership Activities and Evening Discussion
Take part in interactive leadership skill building activities and a social justice discussion led by your Free the Children Facilitators.
Day 5:
Language Lesson
Brush up on your Swahili skills with a language lesson.
Volunteering in the Community
Spend a full day continuing your hard working on the volunteering project you started the previous day.
Evening Discussion
Take part in a discussion on education issues in Kenya, led by your Free the Children facilitators. Learn about the strengths and challenges students are facing in the region.
Day 6:
Village Water Walk
Alongside a local mama, journey down to the Mara River to see where families in this region collect water, and help bring back some water to the village yourself.
School Visit and Games with Local Children
In the afternoon, visit an old and a new school in the community. Then get to know local children and have some fun playing games with them.
Evening Discussion
Take part in a discussion on water and sanitation issues in rural Kenya, led by your Free the Children Facilitators.
Day 7:
Mulot Market and “Community Day”
Experience a traditional Kenyan market and discover the wide variety of items they have for sale. With a “Community Day” activity, get closer to the realities of living in Kenya.
Volunteering in the Community
Spend time in the afternoon continuing your efforts on your volunteering project.
Leadership Activity
Join your Free the Children Facilitators in an interactive leadership skill building activity.
Day 8:
Language Lesson
Start the morning off continuing to finesse your Swahili.
Volunteering in the Community
Spend a full day working on your volunteer project alongside community members.
Leadership Activity and Discussion
In the evening, take part in interactive leadership workshops and activities, and have a discussion on social justice issues, led by your Free the Children Facilitators.
Day 9:
Morning Hike
Start off the morning with a group hike, exploring your local surroundings.
Tree Planting
Help plant trees in our tree nursery, to give shade to the community, combat soil erosion and deforestation, and provide fruits and vegetables for local families.
Action Planning and Reflection
Begin to work on your Action Plan by reflecting on your own personal gifts and skills, the issues you’re passionate about and how you will create change upon your return home.
Day 10:
Language Lesson
Start off the morning with a Swahili lesson.
Volunteering in the Community
Spend the morning continuing your hard work on the volunteer projects in the community.
Games with Local School Children
In the afternoon, take a break from your project building and have fun playing games with local school children.
Leadership Activities and Discussion
In the evening, take part in interactive leadership workshops and activities, and have a discussion on social justice issues, led by your Free the Children facilitators.
Day 11:
Kisaruni Girls Secondary School and Baraka Health Clinic Visit
Visit two of Free the Children’s projects in Kenya – Kisaruni Girls Secondary School and Baraka Health Clinic—and take tours of the facilities to learn about Free The Children’s work in the community and its impacts.
Evening Discussion
Your Free the Children Facilitators will lead you in a discussion on healthcare issues in rural Kenya, relating to the Adopt A Village pillar.
Day 12:
Volunteering in the Community
Spend the morning working on your volunteering projects.
Beading with Maasai Mamas
See the local Mamas in action working on their alternative income projects, and even try out some beading for yourself.
Evening discussion
Take part in a discussion on local alternative income projects, led by your Free the Children facilitators.
Day 13:
Safari Day
Spend the day driving through the Mara with a local guide to look for the “Big Five”: giraffes, lions, elephants, hippos and buffalos. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Maasai Story telling
Join your Maasai Guide around the campfire for an evening of traditional storytelling.
Day 14:
Maasai Warrior Training
Join your Maasai Guide to learn about the importance of their traditional weapons, and practice how to use them yourself!
Medicinal Walk
Learn about traditional Maasai medicine and how plants are used for healing.
Volunteering in the Community
On your final day in the community finish up your volunteering projects and say your goodbyes to the community members you have met.
Action planning, reflection, and celebration
Work on your action plans for your return home. Reflect on your experiences throughout your trip, and celebrate your accomplishments with the camp staff.
Day 15:
Travel to Nairobi
Travel to Nairobi and enjoy a final dinner with your group at Free the Children’s Rosslyn Centre. Then get a change to shop at the Artisans Atelier at the Rosslyn Centre–pick up some souvenirs, handmade by Maasai Mamas, to bring back home for your family and friends.
Travel to Airport
With your facilitators, head to the the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and depart for home.
Day 16:
Arrive home, ready to rock the world!
What’s included in the cost of your trip?*
- In-country transportation (coach bus or vehicle)
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Filtered water, tea and snacks
- Full-time facilitation and coordination by Free the Children facilitators
- Volunteer activities, including building equipment
- Leadership workshops, action planning sessions, social issues discussion, and re-integration led by Free the Children facilitators
- Language lessons
- Safari Day
- Tour of Baraka Health Clinic and Kisaruni Girls Secondary School
- Maasai storytelling
- Weapons training
- Medicinal walk
- Water walk
- Beading with Maasai Mamas
- Old and new school tours
- Mulot Market
- Tree-planting
- Games with school children
*Activities are subject to availability and may differ depending on the length of your trip.