Food Security & Farming Kenya

If you like working in the outdoors and don’t mind rolling up your sleeves or a bit of sweat on your brow and some friendly banter with fellow volunteers, support staff and local farmers, than maybe this project is just right for you!  

You don’t need any past experience to be approved, just a willingness to help support local people and a desire to help. Our local coordinators are there to ensure you’re settling in and adjusting to the climate and culture successfully. It can be very hot in Kenya, so it’s important you’re ready for the heat when working outdoors!

Volunteering on this project is a great way to support local farmers. Farming is very labor intensive and so any assistance with daily tasks has a massive, lasting impact on families and the community as a whole. Before you begin, your orientation will cover all the do’s and dont’s and how best to really help make a difference.

• Accommodation
• 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
• Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
• Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
• 1 day orientation
• Daily transportation to project
• In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
• Fundraising support
• University course credits (where applicable)
• Certificate of Completion

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Tours, Souvenirs & spending money

Included in the program fees is a 1 day orientation which starts every Monday in Gatanga.  This is an important day to help you become familiar with your surroundings, as well as learning about the local customs, culture and surroundings. Your volunteer program will then commence from Tuesday and throughout the rest of the week.

Typical Orientation Day Includes:

• Introduction meeting, General/ house rules, Setting Expectations, Advice on Health and Safety and handling of documents.
• Kenyan Do’s and Don’ts,
• Introduction to Kenyan culture & history and Swahili Language Lessons.
• Tour of house, local area and where you can find nearby shops. This is where you can buy a local SIM card if required.
• Lunch
• Tour to a Coffee Factory
• Hike to a local Waterfall

Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.

A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). You must arrive at the meeting point by 13.00 on Saturday or Sunday. If arriving during the pickup times on the Saturday, we charge US$50 for the extra night’s accommodation.

If arriving outside the pickup times on Sunday, you can book a private transfer for US$50.

If arriving during the week, or on Saturday outside of pickup times, we charge US$50 for any extra night’s accommodation before your program, and another US$50 fee for a private transfer.

Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).

Sunday – Arrival

Monday – Orientation Day 

Tuesday to Friday – Volunteering

A typical day of volunteer work on the farm lasts approx 4-6 hours, with a break for lunch. The tasks you will help with depend greatly upon the season and the priority of needs at the time. Activities will vary depending upon your own knowledge, skills and ability. A typical day might look like:

• Breakfast
• Assisting farmers on the farm/plantation
• Lunch
• Assisting farmers on the farm/plantation
• Free time
• Dinner
• Free time

Saturday & Sunday – Free Time to Explore 

During your free time after hours and on weekends, there are many places to explore in the surrounding areas.

For example, you can visit the Fourteen Falls in Thika, go trekking up to Mount Kenya (a stunning snow-capped peak), visit the amazing Mombasa beach or head out on a weekend of sightseeing in Nakura or Nairobi and explore national parks rich with native African wildlife.   

See the below ‘Weekends & extra tours’ slider for more info on things to do in the area.

On this project, modest clothing, long sleeves and long trousers give the best protection when working outdoors.  Clothing needs to cover the knees and shoulders. Bring work gloves, work shoes or boots, a water bottle, hat and sun protection.

Kenya is a stunning country, featuring almost every terrain and climate from desert, beach, cities and forests.

There is something for every traveler here, particularly for wildlife lovers. It has over 40 National parks throughout the country and holds the some of the world’s most loved and endangered animals. Here you will find lions, leopards, elephants, hippos and so much more! Kenya is famous for its incredible safaris, which are the countries main source of tourism.

Also well known is the semi nomadic Maasai tribe- a hugely symbolic tribe known for its colourful adornments and traditional clothing. Kenya is a nature lovers paradise, with a visit to the Great Rift Valley being a must. For those who enjoy a gentler pace then Kenya also offers some beautiful beaches, its coast stretching almost 80,000 kilometres.

The beach is also sunny for most of the year! The capital, Nairobi is the fifth largest city in Africa, with unique vibes and a vibrant nightlife. This bustling and cosmopolitan city will throw you into Kenyan way of life and be an interesting eye opener.

Kenya is a huge country with its climate changing from tropical along the coast, to arid in the northern regions and then mild inland temperatures.

Kenya receives a large amount of sunshine year-round but generally, the hottest months are between February and March while the coldest months are July to mid-August. The “long rains” start from March to June, while the “short rains” are between October and December.

Due to Kenya being a major hub for migration over the years, it has now become one of the most culturally diverse countries with many different languages spoken.

There are over 40 different ethnic groups in Kenya, including Luo, Kamba, Maasai and more. Each have their own of mother tongue, although Swahili remains the most widely spoken language. You will also find ethnic groups from European, Arab, Indian and Pakistani, who migrated to the country in the 19th century.

Religions such as Christianity and Islam are widely spread, however many local people still believe in the ancestral world, where the dead have a bearing on the living. Today, the majority of Kenya’s culture, dress, music and food has taken strong influence from other parts of Africa, India, Europe and the United States.

In certain parts of the country however, many local communities hold onto their traditional lifestyle and customs. They still wear the clothes, animal skins and jewellery as they did centuries before. Many remote tribes remain completely isolated and indigenous.

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IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.

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