The situation:
There are untold thousands of children in Kenya living on the streets, and suffering from the worst forms of violation—physical harm, denial of basic needs, child labor and prostitution. Although the Kenyan government’s program for vulnerable street children is taking some counter-measures, the perpetual lack of funding has resulted in it being far too little, far too late. The AIDS epidemic has compounded the problem, and recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of children, from toddlers to teens, who are living on the streets. Without the means to make any kind of living, they are subject to severe poverty, abuse, drugs and worse. Most are orphans, and while some children do have surviving relatives to take them in, often the families cannot fully support them, and are able to provide little more than a roof and the occasional meal.

How you can help:
Volunteers participating in this project will work to rescue, rehabilitate, educate and relocate children who have suffered great hardships as a result of poverty and difficult family backgrounds. Consequently volunteers must be prepared to take on a multitude of roles, ranging from teacher, to counselor, to mentor, to friend. The work itself will also be extremely varied, as all the community groups we work with have several distinct “lines of action.” This means volunteers may find themselves heading out into the slums to bring in street children, or teaching them basic hygiene like how to brush their teeth, or helping them get through detoxification programs to overcome addictions to substances like glue. The work will not be easy by any means, as most of the children have been accustomed to life on streets and are not used to rules and a structured living environment, making patience and tenacity the essential qualities for anyone who wants to help.

Costs to participate:

	Currency	First month	Additional month
	US Dollars	$1,295	$895
	Canadian Dollars	$1,445	$995
	British Pounds	£695	£495
	Euros	€ 1,045	€ 995

The details:

Location: Nairobi and Mombassa
Duration: Two weeks to six months
Requirements: Minimum age of 17
Availability: Available year-round
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, with some evening work