Rays of Hope Family

Rays of Hope is a women led non profit community based organization that carry’s out various activities aimed at empowering women, youth, children and also taking care of the elderly in the Likoni region of Kenyan coast. The underprivileged members of community benefit from education and implementation of skilled achieved to develop and sustain their livelihoods. such skills have been provided through the programs organized by rays of Hope Family. Volunteering here means you will have a lot to share with a wide range of people in the community depending on your preferred assignment.

Next start date: Volunteers can Join any time

Highlights:

Programs is open throughout the year and starts anytime
Affordable fees from $300
Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
Run activities that help Women, children youth and the elderly learn and have fun
Immerse yourself in the rich cultures and traditions of the local people
Interact with people of all ages in your day to day activities
Enjoy the ambiance of a beautiful environment of Kenya coast

This program is Ideal for:

Volunteers who are interested in social work with children and people of all ages , You’ll be supported by the local teams and placement staff so no working with children experience is required.

What to expect and how you will make a difference

In this program you will stay and work with women group in various projects that aim to empower women and youth, educate children and provide care to the elderly. Volunteers will find themselves involved in health care education to young girls , women and youth economic empowerment and provision of food stuff and medical support to the elderly. other activities include:

Teaching children in school subjects and promoting their talents
Teenagers reproductive health education
Cooking and serving the children
Playing with the children indoor and outdoor sports
organizing tours for children
Office work like updating children profile files & health records and promotion of child sponsorship programs.

The aim of this project is for volunteers to provide their invaluable time and contribute through physical and mental support to the efforts of the organization .

Why you should take part in Volunteering at Rays of Hope Family

When you volunteer at Rays of Hope Family in Kenya you’ll be adding value to the local community development and add to your personal and professional experience by:

Promoting entire community welfare and well being
Protecting the integrity and dignity of Children and women in the society
Giving a children youth and women hope of prosperity in life irrespective of their background
Imparting knowledge to young school going children and promotion of cultural exchange
Immersing yourself in Kenyan culture
Discovering Kenya’s rich history

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to Siriafrika Ecoventures prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
All volunteers should be able to communicate in English. and be ready to learn new language.

Location

Rays of Hope is located in Mombasa County, Likoni sub-county, Timbwani Ward.
A fifteen minutes’ drive from the famous Likoni Ferry crossing to the South Coast region, heading to Diani beaches.

The organization is a few minutes walk away from the shelly beach tucked in an urban settlement that came up as a result of the nearby ferry crossing channel that attracts populations traveling to and from Mombasa Island for work and other business.

From Rays Of Family one can easily explore the vast attractions of the Kenya coast apart from the beaches of Diani approximately 27kms away, enjoy wildlife at Shimba Hills national reserve approximately 48Kms away among other attractions.

Arrival and orientation

There are two options of arrival that volunteers can choose from:

First option: we recommend this option for volunteers staying shorter period and would like to maximize on their time at the placement. volunteers to book their flight to arrive at Moi international Airport in Mombasa. Upon arrival volunteer will be met by one of Siriafrika Ecoventures placement coordinator and be transfered to a family stay accommodation in Mombasa for Bed and breakfast. Volunteers who arrive before 2pm will be transfered directly to their host family/volunteer house at the placement and they will be orientated at the project site the next day.

Those who will arrive later than 2pm will be accommodated in Mombasa, on day 2 while in Mombasa Volunteers will have orientation with option of Mombasa city tour (Fort Jesus, Mombasa Old town, Haller park and Market ). After lunch volunteers will cross the channel to Rays of Hope Family, this should take less than an hour, volunteers will then get to settle and familiarize themselves with the organization and the area. On day 3 volunteer will be integrated in the program of work and activities at the project.

Second Option: Volunteers can opt to arrive in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in this case volunteers will spend 2 nights in Nairobi. on the second day following arrival day volunteers will have orientation with option of Nairobi city tour (Girraffe Centre, animals orphanage, Elephants orphanage e.t.c). volunteers will travel by train the next day to Mombasa then have a transfer to the project.

Typical Volunteer Schedule

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays

Work and break times are dependent on each project and placement. A typical volunteer day would be as follows

7:00 – 8:00 AM	Breakfast at Volunteers accommodation.
8:00 – 12:00 Noon	Volunteers work per schedule
2:00 – 5:00 PM	Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to relax, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing.
8:00 PM	Dinner at the homestay.

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of southern coast . Volunteers can visit Shimba hills national reserve, Kaya forest, Diani beaches, Colobus monkeys conservation, Wasini marine park etc

Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to destinations, such Malindi for a beach holiday experience with other Mombasa attractions such as the fort Jesus, Haller park and the Mamba village volunteers can decide on this option at the end of their stay also and take departure flight from Mombasa.

Accommodation

Volunteers are accommodated in a host families of the members of the organization depending on the number of volunteers present at your time of volunteering you may expect to share a room with other volunteers, you’ll have an opportunity to learn the Kenyan way of life, meet local people, eat local food, speak the local language (Kiswahili ) and engage in local customs and traditions.

Living is basic, yet still comfortable, most families have electricity. Volunteers will have their meals in a common shared dining.

Bedding is provided, but it is recommended you bring your own towel and toiletries, as well as a sleeping bag if you wish to travel on the weekends.

Wi-Fi isn’t available in some homes. To keep connected while away , you can purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone. (details of specific family will be provided during application)

Meals

The wide range of Kenyan tribes, ethnicities and cultures are reflected in the diversity of the local cuisine. Volunteers are provided with three meals a day which are served at the accommodation and tend to be rich in carbohydrates.

Breakfast is served around 7am and generally consists of chai tea, toast, fruit and sometimes mandazi – African donuts. A typical lunch can include vegetables with rice, occasional meat and fruit and is served around 1pm. If you will be going out and not returning home from the placement for lunch, you will need to pack your own lunch in the morning. Dinner is usually served around 8pm and usually includes traditional food, such as ugali (a cornmeal), mashed potatoes with peas and corn, meat and vegetables.

Tap water is not safe to drink without treatment or boiling , though bottled water is readily available. Volunteers typically drink about two liters per day, which adds up to cost around US$10 a week.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please make a note on your application so arrangements can be made. However, it is important that volunteers should not expect to eat as they normally do at home.

Pricing

Duration	Program Fee Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days.
1 week	$300
2 weeks	$400
3 weeks	$520
4 weeks	$640
5 weeks	$760
6 weeks	$880
8 weeks	$1,120
10 weeks	$1,360
12 weeks	$1,600

What is included

Accommodation
Meals
24/7 in-country support
In-country program orientation
Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
Airport pick-up
Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
Certificate of International Volunteering

A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, public transport to and from your placement each day, criminal background check and return to the airport when your program finishes.
Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Kenya generally find US$150-200 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Gallery

What to bring

Clothes

– Light cloths for hot or warm days

– Lightweight pants or shorts

– Warm cloths for cold nights

– Sturdy shoes

Accessories

– Sunscreen

– Mosquito repellent

– Bandana

– Sunhat

Toiletries

– Shampoo & conditioner

– Toothpaste & toothbrush

– Deodorant

First Aid Kit Additions

– Motion sickness medicine

– Anti-diarrheal medicine

– pain killers

– Antihistamine

– Antibacterial ointment

– Sunburn cream

Travel Essentials

– Reusable water bottle

– Wet wipes & hand sanitizer

– Flash Light

Optional Donations for placement

– Books & Pens

– Cloths & Shoes

– Sports materials and equipment

-Computer(used or new)

-Toys

-medical accessories (gloves, sanitizers, masks etc.)

Rays of Hope Family