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- Healthcare, Community & Hospital Volunteering in Kenya
What is the Healthcare, Community & Hospital Volunteering in Kenya all about?
Join us in Kenya as a healthcare volunteer and help make a difference to those living in challenged and developing communities. Kenya is hugely affected by the struggles of water-borne and mosquito-carried illnesses, HIV/AIDs, poverty and unemployment. It is still known to be one of the poorest countries in Africa. Kenya’s lack of public funding in the healthcare sector results in a shortage of medical staff, infrastructure and resources. Many qualified professionals leave Kenya to go find an assignment abroad. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Kenya has just one doctor and only 12 nurses/midwives for every 10,000 people. As a result, there is a huge need for public health assistance in Kenya, where volunteers can offer skills and support. The focus of the activities is on preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health and impact the lives of those that are affected by these problems. The project works with hospitals, schools, and public health clinics surrounding the Limuru area. On this placement, you will be working in various different hospitals and health clinics to help support the severely under-staffed and under-resourced hospitals.
Why choose this Healthcare, Community & Hospital Volunteering programme in Kenya?
- Impact the lives of those affected by the healthcare issues that the country is facing.
- Share your knowledge and experience while building relationships with the local community.
- Learn about Kenyan healthcare services, including the challenges of caring for patients with limited access to resources, and experience different settings such as hospitals and healthcare centres widening your view of the healthcare system in Kenya.
Role of the Community Healthcare volunteer
You will be placed on a healthcare project during the mornings, and asked to join a community outreach project in the afternoon.
Depending on availability and your experience, you may be placed in a maternity ward, orthopaedics department, HIV or diabetic clinic, nursing or emergency care services, operating theatre, outpatient unit, administration office, pharmacy, or laboratory. You may also be asked to prepare and present workshops for staff or patients. During your interview, a Kaya placement advisor will speak to you about your background and qualifications, as well as ask you about your preferences. Regardless, you will have a variety of opportunities to gain observational experience and learn about providing care in a limited resources country. Your afternoons will be spent volunteering in pre-schools, orphanages, old people’s homes, or delivering health-related lectures to help the population understand the basics of self-care.
What skills do I need to be volunteer in this Healthcare programme in Kenya?
This project requires volunteers to be studying or qualified in healthcare. A competent level of both written and spoken English is also essential in order to communicate effectively with the patients and the staff. Your medical background will determine your placement at the various public health centres or hospitals. To help determine the best placement for you, you will be asked to provide a CV/resume, healthcare experience, qualifications and/or current university course as well as transcripts (if studying).
WHY JOIN THE PROJECT
To gain valuable healthcare and medical experience observing patient care
To experience Kenya’s beautiful landscape, wildlife and ethnical diversity
To help staff care for more patients by asissiting with some basic tasks
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Where will I work in Kenya?
About the Location
The projects are located in Limuru, Kenya, situated on the equator of Africa’s east coast. Located in the Kenyan highlands, the area is covered with stunning tea plantations. It is located just 30 kilometres north of Nairobi. Volunteers will have the opportunity to see many of the world’s most famous species, including zebra, wildebeest, elephants and big cats.
Overall Kenya has a tropical climate – hot and humid at the coast and more temperate inland, up to the snowy peaks of Mount Kenya. While it is considered not to have distinct traditional seasons, it certainly has rains and dry periods. December to February is the hot, dry season with average temperatures around 28°C.
Accommodation
During your time on this project, you will be staying in a basic cottage, offering many spectacular activities around like volleyball and tennis. The surroundings are breathtaking. Volunteers will be sharing rooms with other same genders participants. The cottages have running water, hot showers and flushing toilets. As you will be living in a community of volunteers, during your stay, you will be asked to participate in basic tasks like washing dishes and food planning.
What to do in your spare time
During your down time, you can enjoy the recreational activities available on site such as volleyball, tennis, walking trails or just taking in the magnificent views. At the weekends, you will be able to enjoy some of the incredible attractions Kenya has to offer like safaris with game viewing or weekend gateway at the Masai Mara National Reserve or visit the bustling city of Nairobi.
Details & Costs
- Duration: 2-12 weeks
- Cost: £1368/$2175 for 2 weeks
see drop-down menu for additional weeks - Requirements: Age 18+
- Location: Limuru, Kenya
- Working hours: Monday – Friday, 07:30 – 16.00 (schedule may vary)
- Project availability: Every Monday. Pleas contact a Kaya advisor for details.
- Arrival day: Monday
What is included
- Accommodation: shared cottages
- Food: 3 meals per day
- Airport pick up and drop off from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
- Training: Pre-departure information pack & on-site orientation
- Daily transfers to and from your project.
- Support: 24-hour support from on-site coordinator
- Activities: staff help organise weekend activities (activity fee costs paid locally)
- Fundraising Guide
- Working alongside qualified professionals
What is not included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Visas
- Police/Government Background Check: US and UK citizens will be processed through Kaya (admin fee applies); all other nationalities must provide local police check.
- Any costs for COVID-19 PCR tests required pre-departure and in-country
Easy 4-step application process
APPLY ONLINE
Apply for a Kaya program and pay your application fee to apply for your space on your chosen project. Our advisors will then contact you to guide you through the next steps.
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
Once we’ve received your application, we’ll review your details and be in touch to arrange your informal telephone interview with your Kaya Placement Advisor.
CONFIRMATION
Following your interview, we will provide you a placement offer. Once you are ready to confirm your placement and dates, you can pay your confirmation fee to book and secure your space.
GET PREPARED
When you have confirmed your project dates we'll send you your Welcome Pack and lots of other helpful information to assist you with preparing for your placement.
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