VOLUNTEERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

We recommend reading one of the following guide books:
• Lonely Planet Guide to Kenya.
• East Africa or the Rough Guide to Kenya, East Africa

Useful items to take
* Eye drops * Re-sealable plastic bags * Eye gel * Plug in mosquito killer * Torch with Spare batteries * Candles * Wet ones/moist tissues * Ear plugs

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE ONCE I GET THERE?
Every volunteer experience is unique and you truly get out of it as much as you put into it. But, you can get an idea of what day-to-day life in Kenya is like as a volunteer for Out of Africa by reading some of the past volunteer's experiences.

You will feel much more confident and if you need any more information please do email us and we will be happy to answer any questions.

While you will most likely have the experience of a lifetime, there will inevitably be days when you will ask yourself "Why did I do this?" Living in a very culturally difference country can present difficult situations that you have never encountered before. You will experience poverty first hand. However, for all the hard work you will do, you will have many very rewarding and enriching experiences. A great deal of satisfaction can be gained from making a positive contribution to the local community through OOA programs. You will most likely leave Kenya with a better understanding of the African way of life.

WILL I BE SAFE?
Many volunteers and their friends and family ask about this. We take great care to ensure the safety of all our volunteers. It is a MUST that every volunteer has adequate medical/travel insurance in case of any illness or emergency.

Out of Africa will need proof of insurance before we can accept any volunteer. We will send you a booklet with advice on your safety and all the do's and don'ts, interesting places to visit and eat. We recommend photocopying air ticket, record of payment, passport, insurance details etc., leaving one copy at home and carrying one.

A very useful thing to do is write up a security list. Typically this would contain information such as your home address, person to contact in emergency, flight details, passport number, travellers cheque numbers, serial numbers of cameras, binoculars, insurance policy number, credit card hotline numbers, bank details, anything else important. Keep a copy of this list in a secure place and leave one at home.

MONEY ISSUES AND BANKS?
It is advisable to take a mix of money, UK sterling, US dollars, travellers cheques, credit cards are all acceptable. . There are plenty of ATM’s around but banks can be slow. VISA IS ACCEPTED ANYWHERE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SKILLS TO OFFER WHAT CAN I DO?
Many volunteers initially think that their skills and experience won't be enough to make an impact. This is not the case as everyone has something to offer. The only skills required are a willingness to learn, adaptability and an open mind. Through our experience of previous volunteers we've learned that every individual has the potential to make a meaningful contribution.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss your skills and interests to see which placement might be best for you.

CAN I REALLY MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION?
Volunteering in a strange country and very different culture and providing meaningful work to another community can be difficult in a limited amount of time. We work at grass roots level in the community and believe that local people are the experts and know what's best for their own community. By placing you in local projects volunteers can be assured that they are supporting the community in a manner that is productive.

WHAT LANGUAGE DO THEY SPEAK IN KENYA?
English and Swahili are the two main languages spoken in Kenya. English is taught at an early age; so most teenagers and adults can speak English. There are many tribal dialects of Swahili. Swahili (or Kiswahili as it is called when one is speaking the language) is the national language of Kenya and the official language of Tanzania.

A useful attribute of the Swahili culture is its ability to incorporate outside influences and ideas. The grammar of Swahili is almost purely Bantu. While its vocabulary is also largely Bantu, there are a significant number of borrowed words from Arabic - primarily cultural and religious words. Swahili has taken many words from English and other languages, in particular, words having to do with Western culture and technology.

WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE LIKE IN GENERAL?
Kenyans are very friendly folk and will stop to greet you and talk to you. Kenyans love to formally greet each other, so be ready to shake a million hands. This is a sign of respect. You will notice this most of the time you are greeted. The Kenya greeting is by shaking hands. It is not unusual to get invited to someone’s home for a cup of tea, and you could even be offered food.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE IN KENYA?
The food in most restaurants is normally very good, meat especially is widely available. Although most often the locals drink the water without treatment of any kind, it is not recommended that volunteers do. Bottled water is widely available.

WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES DO I TAKE?
When you are out in the community, we ask that you follow local etiquette. Due to the local culture, we advise: in the dry season (Jan-March) it is not advisable to wear white because of the red dust. Casual, cotton clothing is best. Skirts should be on or below the knee for ladies. No sleeveless dresses or tops at college or in the schools. Trousers are ok for women to wear (though you may be mistaken for a boy/man). Smart trousers/jeans for men are advisable around the college and schools. Shorts and more casual clothing is fine for safaris and personal trips. Teachers tend to be quite formal in dress, but its fine for volunteers to dress more casually.


WHAT CAN I DO DURING WEEKENDS ARE THERE ANY PLACES OF INTEREST?
* Blue Post Hotel, Thika - good for the inexpensive weekend buffet lunches. Excellent craft village selling large range of soapstone, wood carvings, jewellery, leather goods etc.
* Safari Park Hotel, Thika Road - 5 star hotel open to non-residents for use of pool and leisure facilities. Charge 500 ksh to hire sun bed, towel etc. Offers buffet lunches or a la Carte menu.
* Fourteen Falls, near Thika - series of waterfalls in nice location.
* Around Nairobi some good places to visit for shopping are Westland's, Sarit Centre, Village Market near UN, there is open air craft market on Fridays,
* Masai Market on Tuesdays in Nairobi, City Market (beware of pick pockets/thieves at Maasai and City Markets).
* South of Nairobi there is the affluent suburb of Karen/Langata. Here you will find Giraffe Centre, Bomas of Kenya, Mamba Village, Splash, Butterfly Farm, Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage and other places of interest.