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Youth Sports Education Volunteer Program in Kenya - Nairobi

Youth Sports Education Volunteer Program in Kenya - Nairobi

Have the goal of volunteering in Sports Education in Kenya? International Volunteer HQ’s Sports Education project enables volunteers to gain teaching experience in local schools in and around Nairobi. Volunteers will be able to share their passion for sport with disadvantaged students who use it as an outlet for fun and competition while also gaining skills and coordination.

Highlights:
  • Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
  • Affordable fees from AU$601 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Help to teach sport in local schools

  • See Kenya’s stunning vistas and natural beauty

  • Experience daily life in Nairobi by staying with a local family

Key information

Improve wellbeing through physical activity
Based in schools near Nairobi
Homestay accommodation
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Fully hosted experience from AU$601 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 12 weeks
Take a weekend safari trip
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who love sports and want to work with children in schools, but would prefer not to spend all their time teaching in a classroom. As you will be volunteering alongside local teachers, you don’t need any previous teaching experience, however it is important to note that you may be required to teach other classes such as math, English, science or social studies.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Sport plays a big role in the lives of young, enthusiastic Kenyans. Many children grow up with very little, but by using sport as an outlet for fun and competition, they gain skills and coordination while enjoying themselves at the same time.

As a volunteer on the Sports Education project in Kenya, you’ll help to broaden students’ knowledge of sports, teach foreign sports and educate them about general fitness, health and wellbeing.

Volunteer duties may vary but often include:

  • Assisting local teachers
  • Helping with popular sports like football, basketball and volleyball
  • Teaching sports from your home country
  • Planning lessons

It is important to be aware that resources at the schools are limited and if you want to teach a sport or game that requires specific gear you may need to plan ahead and bring some materials or equipment with you, as it’s unlikely you will find it in Kenya.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Good mental and physical health is key to sustainable development and building healthy and happy communities. Now more than ever, we must increase access to free healthcare and health education across the globe to achieve an acceptable standard of living and wellbeing for all.

Why do Sports Education volunteering in Kenya with IVHQ?

As a sports volunteer in Kenya you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Providing students with physical and health education
  • Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining teaching experience
  • Immersing yourself in Kenya’s diverse culture

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ 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 must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

GM
Gregory Macpherson
14 Mar 2023

Volunteering is not an easy thing and it’s definitely way out of my comfort zone but 100 percent one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things you’ll do in your life. Seeing different cultures and realising how happy you can be with so little made a big impact on me and being able to connect with the students at the program was a favorite moment of mine.

...
MH
Mason Holling
24 Sep 2022

Just do it because it will change your life and if you really don’t like it you can always go home. Spending time with the children and then teaching me Swahili during lunch was a favorite moment.

...
HA
Haleem Ali
15 Dec 2021

Volunteering helps you develop as a person and is something that will make you understand yourself more. Do good for others and good will come back to you.

...
AC
Asadi Ceccarelli
15 Dec 2021

Great programme, 100% would recommend to anyone considering. Had the best month of my life. Had the best time, I will be back.

...
MG
Maximilian Gebauer
19 Aug 2021

Guys if you come with an open heart you will have an experience full of love. Each interaction with the people over there can be a really intense and joyful one. Just be yourself and you will have a great time!

...
CH
Cade Higbee
04 Feb 2021

My favourite moment from the volunteer experience was spending time with the children in the school and the scheduled breaks with the women at the women's center where we would teach them the Cha-Cha and just get to know them. Trust the local team and IVHQ team in general. They know best and even though the country may be foreign and things could be scary, everything will be okay if you listen to the guidance given.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Kenya with IVHQ

Location

Nairobi is home to IVHQ’s Kenya program. The capital city of Kenya is a dynamic, diverse metropolis known for its natural beauty and wildlife safaris. Volunteer projects are set in and around Nairobi and the Kibera Slum which is home to hundreds of thousands of people living below the poverty line. Volunteers can help by providing support to local initiatives designed to improve their quality of life and access to basic essentials.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Nairobi the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, a member of the local team will greet you at the airport and bring you to temporary volunteer housing in Mlolongo, just a short drive from the airport in Nairobi, where you will spend the night before your orientation and before being transported to your homestay. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are traveling in Kenya prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up overland in Nairobi the day before your program orientation

Orientation is hosted by our local team in Nairobi on the morning of your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Kenya – an introduction to Kenya, Kenyan customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Kenya, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing. Once your orientation is complete, you will be transported to your homestay and introduced to your host family.

Volunteer schedule example

First day

You will be escorted to your placement by a member of your homestay family or another volunteer and introduced to the placement staff.

Weekdays

You may have a morning or afternoon shift, or both, and can expect to work a minimum of 3 hours, Monday through Friday. Work and hours at the placement are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at, but a typical volunteer day would be as follows:

7:30 AM Breakfast with the host family
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Volunteers travel to their placements and meet with the placement staff. There is usually a morning tea break and lunch break.
2:00 - 5:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their homestays, go sightseeing or do some shopping.
7:00 - 8:00 PM Dinner with the host family

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have free time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Nairobi, wider Kenya and Eastern Africa. Sunday is a religious day of rest. If you wish, you can accompany your host family to their local church, as a Kenyan church service is a unique and special experience for many volunteers.

In Nairobi you’ll have the opportunity to get up close to a wide variety of wildlife including elephants and giraffes, visit the Nairobi National Park, shop at the many markets and malls, learn about Kenya’s history at museums, or tour Nairobi city, the Kibera Slum, the Maasailands, or the Bomas cultural centre.

Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield including to Mombasa, Uganda or Tanzania, or to embark on a safari.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated in homestays with local families who have been​ ​approved by our local ​team in Kenya. Volunteers can expect to share a bedroom​ ​​with two to four other volunteers of the same gender.

Bedrooms have single or bunk beds and bedding is provided. Living is comfortable and most homestays have electricity,​ ​running water and western bathrooms. It is important to note that​ ​there are often power outages and water shortages​, and ​​volunteers need to be prepared to have the occasional bucket shower and periods of time without power.​ Some rural homestays​ do not have electricity or running water and in these locations you​ ​​can expect to find​ ​squat/pit toilets​ and bucket showers.

Our local team gives your host family a fee for your support, food and board. It is exciting to​ ​stay with a host family, and you’ll have a​ ​unique opportunity to learn about the​ ​Kenyan way of life, meet local people, try local food, speak the local language and​ ​engage in local customs and traditions​.​​

WiFi can be accessed from local cafes and restaurants within walking distance of most homestays in Nairobi.

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 7 am and generally consists of chai tea, coffee, toast, fruit and sometimes mandazi - African donuts. A typical lunch can include vegetables and lentils with rice, occasional meat and fruit served around 1pm. If you are not returning home from your placement for lunch, you will need to pack your own lunch in the morning. Dinner is usually served around 8 pm and typically includes traditional food, such as ugali; a cornmeal porridge, mboga; a vegetable dish, irio; mashed potatoes with peas and corn, meat and vegetables.

Tap water is not safe to drink in Kenya, though bottled water is readily available. Volunteers typically drink around half a gallon, or two liters per day, which costs around US$15 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

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week AU$600 Equivalent to AU$86/day
2 weeks AU$825 Equivalent to AU$59/day
3 weeks AU$1049 Equivalent to AU$50/day
4 weeks AU$1273 Equivalent to AU$45/day
5 weeks AU$1498 Equivalent to AU$43/day
6 weeks AU$1722 Equivalent to AU$41/day
8 weeks AU$2171 Equivalent to AU$39/day
10 weeks AU$2619 Equivalent to AU$37/day
12 weeks AU$3068 Equivalent to AU$37/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • 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.

Check what's required to visit Kenya

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Nairobi
Population 52.57 million
Languages Swahili and English
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Time zone UTC+03:00

Weather and climate

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. As Nairobi is close to the equator the weather does not vary much. The summer months, from December to February are warm with temperatures ranging between 30°C and 14°C. June is usually the coldest month, with temperatures averaging between 13°C and 22°C.

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How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
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