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Volunteer in Kenya

Explore International Volunteer HQ’s popular Kenya volunteer abroad program. Choose from a wide range of trusted Kenya volunteer projects, including Teaching, Childcare, Special Needs Care, Sports and Women’s Education. Volunteers are based throughout a variety of Kenyan communities, volunteering in Nairobi, Nakuru, Mlolongo, Thika, Naivasha, Maasai and surrounding rural villages. With affordable Program Fees and top rated volunteer projects trusted by over 135,000 travellers, IVHQ is the best volunteer organisation in Kenya.

Highlights:
  • 6 meaningful project options available year-round
  • Program Fees from AU$601 for 1 week
  • Includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support
  • Accommodation in local homestays or a volunteer house

  • Projects based in and around Nairobi, Maasai or Nanyuki

Apply For Free

Key information

Fully hosted experience from AU$601
Volunteer from 1 - 12 weeks
Ages 18+ and families
Based in Nairobi, Maasai & Nanyuki
Projects align with UN Sustainable Development Goals
Impact driven projects run by locals
B Corporation certified organization
Discover unique wildlife on safari

Volunteer opportunities in Kenya

Increases access to education

4-6 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from AU$601

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Based in preschools, daycares and kindergartens
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

Assist in kindergartens and primary schools with up to 100 children per class. Help to run lessons and provide general support wherever it’s needed.

Improves health & wellbeing

3-4 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from AU$601

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Based in and around Nairobi
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

Help those with special needs and their families, providing care, education, therapy and general assistance in a kind, compassionate way.

Improves health & wellbeing

3-4 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from AU$601

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Based in schools near Nairobi
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

Volunteer in schools, playing games with students. Teach popular local sports, introduce ones from your home country and enjoy being active.

Increases access to education

4-6 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from AU$601

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Based in schools in Maasailand
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

A unique cultural experience, based in rural Maasailand. Help teachers in local schools with a range of subjects, providing one-to-one assistance for students and occasionally taking charge of the classroom.

Increases access to education

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from AU$601

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Based in schools in and around Nairobi
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

Assist local teachers in schools in disadvantaged communities around Nairobi. Help to teach a range of subjects, enabling tuition in smaller groups and easing the workload of local staff.

Supports gender equality

4-6 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from AU$601

  • Duration: 1 - 12 weeks
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Based in women’s centres in and around Nairobi
  • Volunteers aged 18+ and families

Provide support and education for disadvantaged women, including domestic violence victims, those with HIV/AIDS or other hardships. You can also help women to establish income-earning businesses to support themselves and their families.

What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

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Sarah Macdonald
22 Feb 2024

I'm so, so grateful for my time volunteering in Kenya. After feeling a bit stuck and lacking that spark in my heart, I decided to sign up to go to Kenya... It's been a dream of mine to do a trip like this since I was 16 (I'm 39 now). I'm so glad I did!! I was, of course, nervous before going, but once I arrived and was greeted by the local team, all of those nerves melted away and I was able to immerse myself in the experience. The entire experience was eye opening, humbling, heart warming, and wonderful. That spark I was seeking has certainly been ignited and I can't wait to volunteer more and find more ways I can help. Thank you IVHQ for providing such a professional and safe avenue for this kind of experience!

To anyone hesitant, those are normal feelings. There's always nerves and fear when stepping into something you've never done. But the only way to experience the great things in life is to feel the fear and step out and do it anyway! Great things never come out of comfort zones. Go for it and book the trip... you absolutely won't regret it!

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Niamh Kissane-Wood
06 Dec 2023

I received very good guidance and preparation resources from IVHQ - my Program Manager was good at keeping in contact and answering any questions! My overall experience volunteering in Kenya was absolutely amazing, I gained some lifelong friends and memories I’ll never forget. I’m so grateful to have met the children at school, the teachers and my host family.

I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a person and it’s even made me think about a future career with children in Africa. My host family, Rose, Cleo, Jesse, Joel and Jed were amazing, they looked after my sister and I for 3 months and we had so much fun with them. They are such a beautiful family. We have kept in contact since leaving and hope to see them again! The school had a great atmosphere, the children were funny, kind and hard working. In terms of the actual volunteering I did, it was exactly as I had expected and I got to do all the things I had hoped to. I have already encouraged a few of my friends to look into volunteering and to anyone who is hesitant about joining, I would definitely say to do it! You will meet so many people and experience so many amazing things. This was hands down the best thing I’ve ever done!

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Daniela Madrigal Lozano
23 Aug 2023

The two weeks that I was there I learned many things and grew as a person. I liked being able to help the children of my school to be able to improve their knowledge. It is a very nice feeling to see how the students were taking steps forward and to know that IVHQ helped make that happen. It is a unique, moving and very beautiful experience. I take with me many memories, joys, smiles, friendships and above all, learning. I was delighted to see myself as part of this volunteer program and without a doubt I would go again.

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Vivian Wong
25 Jul 2023

I loved the program checklist on the MyIVHQ profile which felt personable, easy to navigate, and helped me prepare for my volunteering trip. The local team were amazing, thoroughly professional, attentive, and ensured we were well looked after and safe during my time there. My accommodation was comfortable and my host family was very welcoming and lovely. The meals were absolutely delicious and cooked with a lot of love and care. I have gained new life-long friends and contacts in Kenya for when I visit there again. I have learned a lot about their culture and their way of living. It has also taught me a lot about myself and I am so very grateful for this experience. My advice would be to not hesitate, go book that trip, and make the best memories because it's rare to get an experience like this!

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Lucy Calio
19 Jul 2023

Your life will be changed forever I can guarantee it! The guidance and preparation resources I received from IVHQ were very handy and easy to understand! My host family who I lived with for my duration were super warm and welcoming - I will miss them all very much. On the Special Needs Care project, I was working with a young boy who had a physical disability. He wouldn’t usually play outside and participate physically in class due to his disability, however, we worked on specific rehab exercises to build his confidence. It was insane to see the difference just one day of work could do. He was out playing soccer with the other kids at lunch time, standing up in class and dancing. The increased confidence this young boy had, just with someone taking focus on him, was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.

I enjoyed my experience to the point where I want to volunteer more regularly now and influence others as well. Volunteering is not an easy thing to do and it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but 100% one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I have ever experienced. Seeing different cultures, environments, meeting new people from around the world and realising how happy you can be with so little made such an impact on myself and my own personal growth.

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Carter McGowan
26 Apr 2023

Showing up to school each morning and being greeted by 32 smiling fifth graders were my favorite moments from the volunteer experience in Kenya! The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was seeing how valued education was by these children compared to schools where I'm from. Their level of passion and enthusiasm is unmatched. I admit I was hesitant for my 8 week program, however, this soon changed on my very first day being surrounded by the kindergarteners!

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To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

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How to get started

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Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
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