Kenya is an obvious choice for travelers. Between its jaw-dropping landscapes, dizzying array of wildlife and rich, diverse culture, you are bound to find whatever it is you’re looking for. Here at Tembeza Kenya, we are proud to offer the people of the world a chance to help ensure all the assets of this magnificent country are protected, from its environment to its animals to its people.

Through our volunteer placement service, we offer a variety of truly unique opportunities to anyone yearning for a chance to travel with a purpose. No matter what project you choose to join, whether it’s conserving endangered species in a national park, teaching art, music and drama at an elementary school, or promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in rural towns, you can be assured of having a positive and lasting impact, as well as a fulfilling and utterly unforgettable experience.

Nobody knows Kenya like we do. Rather than offering volunteer experiences in other parts of Africa and the world, we continue to focus our time and energy on the place we know best. Through our ongoing commitment to voluntary work in Kenya, we have developed extensive collaborations with some of the country’s most significant organizations, including the Kenya Wildlife Service—Africa’s oldest and most prestigious conservancy—and the governmental Ministry of Education. This means our volunteers have the chance to live and work alongside people dedicated to enacting change and to be at the very forefront of addressing Kenya’s most pressing needs. Tembeza Kenya is proud to offer the following:

- An unmatched range of projects to participate in, all of which are constantly changing based on up-to-date information about the work being done and the need for volunteers.
- Detailed briefings on each of these carefully selected projects, based on comprehensive research and volunteer feedback.
- 24 hour support from our in-country supervisors, all of whom are born and raised Kenyans who take pride in knowing the country inside out.
- A two day orientation and induction to Kenya with your supervisor, beginning the moment you step off the plane.
- Extensive pre-departure support from our knowledgeable travel advisors, all of whom are ex-volunteers who have spent significant time in Kenya.
- Additional adventure travel opportunities to participate in after your placement, ranging from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to fishing in Lake Victoria.
- Ongoing financial donations to the chosen projects of each volunteer.

Tembeza Kenya has worked hard to develop a reputation for recruiting hard-working and enthusiastic volunteers, and we don’t intend to lose it now. Whether you’re a college professor or a college dropout, we will discuss with you in detail your background and your expectations to help determine whether you and the Tembeza team are a good match. Irrespective of age, sex, gender or education, we look for the same qualities in all our volunteers: dedication, tenacity, creativity, a sense of humor and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of others. You will need to be able to roll with punches, thrive on challenges and enjoy discovering both the differences and the similarities of the people you encounter.

This may sound picky, but it’s with good reason: not everyone is cut out for a Tembeza Kenya placement. Some organizations take the “cookie-cutter” approach to volunteering, sending large groups of volunteers to isolated camps and villages, and keeping them busy with various activities as per a carefully structured work schedule. We do not take that approach. At Tembeza Kenya we believe that the true value of spending time abroad comes from exposure to all the realities of life, both the positive aspects and the hardships.

So if you are looking for real exposure to the issues at hand and can embrace the challenges of living and working in the Third World, we are the right organization for you. The people you work alongside will not treat you as a tourist, nor should you expect to be treated as one. Our travel advisors will discuss with you at length what your placement will entail so you will know what to expect, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not sure whether you’ve got the right stuff. All we ask is that you remember, nothing good ever comes easy.

Think carefully when choosing your placement(s) by carefully reading through all the project briefings. Take into account not only what you think you will find most rewarding and enjoyable, but also which projects can benefit from you joining the team. Volunteering is a two-way street, meaning that volunteers and their host organizations should benefit equally from each other.

Once you have familiarized yourself with our various projects and have a sense of what interests you most, just go ahead and give us a call. Our travel advisors are always available to give you expert advice on projects and availability and to discuss your travel plans. Alternatively, just fill out our online application form. It does not put you under any obligation to volunteer with us, it is merely a preliminary means for us to find out a bit more about you, and determine what projects might be suitable for you. Don’t worry if you are not sure which project you want to do, or what dates you want to travel, just fill it out to the best of your knowledge. One of our travel advisors will then contact by phone to discuss your options in more detail.

Once you are happy with the arrangement, we will formally offer you a place on your chosen project for your selected dates. We will send you a comprehensive briefing pack and one of our travel advisors will call you again for a more detailed follow-up conversation, giving you the opportunity to ask all the questions you’re bound to have. Remember, you’re also free to call us anytime if you have any questions during this process. That’s what we’re here for!

On Your Arrival:
Your Tembeza Kenya supervisor will meet you at the closest airport, which will almost certainly be either in Nairobi or in Mombasa. Depending on how you’re feeling after your flight, you will either be taken straight to your host family (where you will spending your first few nights during your induction) or out to dinner and drinks!

Induction:
During the first few days after your arrival you'll receive an induction to the area you’ll be living and working in. The depth and length varies according to how comfortable you feel in a new environment, but it will certainly include useful advice regarding money, food, transportation and telephones. You will be shown your nearest post office, Internet facility and foreign exchange bureau, and have the opportunity to buy a Kenyan SIM card for your mobile phone. You will also be taken to your country's embassy for registration. Depending on how nice you are to your supervisor, he may be inclined to take you to some local points of interest, like the David Sheldrick elephant orphanage, the Nairobi National Park Safari Walk or the Nairobi Children’s Home. The first few days of induction will also give you an opportunity to become familiarized with Kenyan local customs and code of behavior, which is undoubtedly very different from yours. Our supervisors will also try to help you learn some basic Swahili, and are always available to give advice on the cultural differences you are bound to encounter.

Safety:
Even though Kenya is one of the most stable countries in Africa, safety remains our number one priority. If we believe your safety is compromised in any way, we will take immediate steps to remove you from that environment. Please be assured we are in constant contact with the embassies of our volunteers, and this supplements the information available to our local supervisors on the ground, who will be looking after you for the duration of your placement with us.

Accommodation:
The type of accommodation and the standard can vary depending on location and type of project you're doing; sometimes it can be quite luxurious and at others it can be more basic, but in all cases we ensure that it's clean and safe. On most of our city-based placements, you will be staying with a host family. While some families will merely house and feed you and leave you to your own devices, others will 'adopt' you and make you an integrated part of their household. In other cases, you may find yourself sharing an apartment with other Tembeza volunteers. On our conservation projects you will probably be staying in a variety of accommodation, ranging from tents to guest houses in the national parks. We are always open to suggestions and will bear in mind any preferences you make clear to us during the application process.

Food:
On all placements, breakfast and dinner will be provided. If you are staying with a host family, your meals will be cooked for you, and you will probably be expected to eat with your family. If you're in an apartment or sharing with other volunteers, you may have to do your own shopping and cooking, and in this case you'll be given a weekly or monthly budget to use as you wish for your food. The budget will be sufficient to cover basic meals, but won't include enough for 5-star dining or wine or beer. If you're a vegetarian or have any allergies, this is taken into account when we arrange your placement. Eating out in Kenya is very cheap, and you will probably find yourself going out to eat quite frequently. Your Tembeza Kenya supervisor will undoubtedly show you the best restaurants and cafes in town.

Traveling:
Most volunteers set aside additional time after their placement to see more of Kenya. Check out our mini-adventures to make sure you make the most of your trip! If there is something you would like to do whilst in Kenya that is not mentioned here, just ask one of our representatives and we will do our best to arrange it for you. Our local supervisors in Kenya take great pride in their bargaining skills, and can almost always get better deals for trips than volunteers who arrange them on their own.

Heading home:
You should make sure you are back in the city from which you are departing at least a day or two before your flight, because you never know when a bus ride you are counting on will be cancelled. You may also want to set some time aside to buy souvenirs for friends and family. On the day of your flight, your supervisor will take you to the airport for your trip home.