Assist on education projects for children in Mombasa’s slums

Previous Pause Next

Volunteers with Students at Mombasa Beach

Volunteers and Community Members at the Beach

Volunteer with Their Appreciation Certificates

Program Overview
Life on the Program
Program Details
Volunteer Testimonials

Program Overview

Travel to the vibrant East African coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, and the Bombolulu slum where impoverished communities exist next to upscale residences of Nyali.

Volunteers on this project work at a children’s center to provide education to vulnerable children and help improve literacy levels as well as environmental and social awareness. The centers provide free or affordable education to children who are orphaned or whose families have little or no income. After school arts and sports programs provide safe alternatives to the social pressures that lead to substance abuse and crime.

During your time in Kenya you may have the opportunity to take the kids on day trips, learn Swahili, go on safari, explore Mombasa and its beautiful beaches and learn how grassroots organizations offer real opportunities and care for needy children.

Life on the Program

At the beginning of you stay, you will shadow a local teacher or long-term volunteer, supporting them before taking over your own classes once you are comfortable with the work. Usually you will spend your mornings assisting with literacy and numeracy education at the children’s centers and your afternoons in one-on-one reading lessons with students who are falling behind. After classes, you will help with sports or physical education activities.

After the school day, you will head back home to prepare the next day’s lessons. This is a social activity in which volunteers and staff working creatively together to make the lessons as fun and interactive as possible with the limited resources available.

You will live in shared accommodations with a team of international volunteers, and you will all do your part of the domestic duties. Weekends are free for you to explore and enjoy the local area.

Program Details

GVI volunteers assist the children’s centers by planning and providing:

Literacy and numeracy tutoring
One-on-one reading lessons
Sports and exercise programs
Educational games and activities
Lesson plans and resource preparation

The staff at the children’s centers wish to further develop art, music, drama, sports and environment programs to encourage the students’ social development and stem the temptation to engage in crime or substance abuse. The centers also recognize that developing personal relationships with the children provides them with the security and confidence they need to excel in education. Education is a route out of poverty for them, and out program aims to give them better access to that route.

Volunteer Testimonials

I spent a total of four weeks volunteering on two separate projects in Kenya; two weeks in Shimoni doing wildlife surveys followed by two weeks teaching primary school in Mombasa. It was a truly...

Matthew Sherman, Australia

I spent a total of four weeks volunteering on two separate projects in Kenya; two weeks in Shimoni doing wildlife surveys followed by two weeks teaching primary school in Mombasa. It was a truly memorable experience, allowing me to see a totally different world while at the same time providing me with the opportunity to make a small but valuable contribution.

Working daily in the Shimoni forest for two weeks was incredible; a must for lovers of nature and the great outdoors. I can say without a doubt that the work GVI is doing in Shimoni - in partnership with the local organisations - is truly important for the preservation of the forests unique biodiversity. The residents of Shimoni are also unfailingly kind and friendly, making for a great place to spend a couple of weeks.

Teaching at Olive's and Precious in Mombasa offered similarly unique and enjoyable experiences. Managing a huge class (45!) of 12 year-olds was certainly a challenge - even for two teachers - but the students were genuinely interested in learning and lots of fun. Again, the contribution being made by GVI to both the facilities and the curriculum at these schools cannot be overstated.

All-in-all it was an awesome experience; and I can't wait to do it all again!

The kids were awesome to interact with. I found that GVI was very organized and that their heart is in the right place! I loved the culture shock but also having the support of other volunteers...

Mason Walker, Canada

The kids were awesome to interact with. I found that GVI was very organized and that their heart is in the right place! I loved the culture shock but also having the support of other volunteers living in the same house as me. Can't say enough good things about the people that I met through the GVI program. Volunteering with GVI was an unbelievable experience and one that I could not get otherwise as a traveller, can't wait to go again next year. I could tell the help was really needed.

I felt confident teaching from the training and being able to observe the actual teachers beforehand. Having another volunteer with you really helped the lessons as there was less chance of ideas...

Kieran Aldred, United Kingdom

I felt confident teaching from the training and being able to observe the actual teachers beforehand. Having another volunteer with you really helped the lessons as there was less chance of ideas running out or being overwhelmed by the children needing help. Trips to Mombasa Old Town, Diani and Malindi were wonderful. I felt safe and secure thanks to the staff who were always friendly, chatty and helpful. A GVI project gives you more of an experience than a holiday, and you feel as though you're contributing positively to the community rather than just observing it as an outsider.