A child playing at KACH
All nationalities are welcome and we accept volunteers of all ages, as long as you are 18 or over. Our programme is open to anyone who feels they have something to contribute: useful skills include being able to teach music, IT, arts & crafts, ESL, and sport.
What kind of volunteer will IPI appeal to?
You might be an undergraduate, studying International Development, who is keen to gain practical experience of grassroots efforts to bring about sustainable social change. Perhaps you have an interest in permaculture and eco-farming, or are on a gap-year and looking for meaningful volunteering opportunities and the chance to immerse yourself in daily Kenyan life. You may be a linguist wishing to build fluency in Kiswahili whilst making a social contribution in country, or you could be an active retiree simply looking to share your skills and work/life experience.
Some of the children learning about eco-agriculture
Whatever your background, our programme will appeal to those who are open-minded and open-hearted; people who love children and living in a community; people who work hard but also love to play; and people who are able to go with the flow. Whilst you will of course be given substantial support when you first arrive, IPI needs volunteers who can work independently, and who are flexible, proactive and easygoing with whatever the experience may throw at you.
A journey of self-discovery
IPI is a place of ‘finding who you are’ and the team is looking for volunteers who are willing to look inwards for answers in relation to what comes up for them. They want people who can talk openly, who trust that together it is possible to make a difference in the world, and who believe that each individual has their own contribution to make. They are not looking for ‘experts’ in the traditional manner. Rather, they are seeking partners, people who wish to explore opportunities for building and transforming relationships across cultural and ethnic divides.
Dr. Karambu Ringera
In the words of Dr Karambu Ringera:
We will be facilitators of your learning – not your teachers. We’ll give you a platform to learn about a new culture, new food, dealing with being uncomfortable, how to do things you haven’t done before, how to work in the heat. Within the space of this new culture, you will have the opportunity to see in action, in a context which deeply needs healing and empowerment, innovative eco-building, sustainable farming, peace-building work and community empowerment techniques at the cutting edge of modern thought. And this healing empowerment will also come to you, the volunteer.
Please read on for details of how to apply.
