Fantastic month in Kenya!

I travelled to Kenya with Agape to spend one month working in an orphanage and it was a fantastic experience. The children were all friendly and incredibly keen to learn! I think most of the volunteers stay together in a group house but I stayed at the orphanage with three other girls. I spent my afternoons playing with the children and helping them with their homework and chores. I helped make chapati and sometimes the children sang for the volunteers staying there. The toilet was a hole in the ground but that is all part of the experience and I soon got used to it. I would definitely recommend taking lots of dry shampoo – it was a lifesaver!

Going to Kenya was my first real time away from home and I felt homesick a couple of times but there was another volunteer at the time who I could talk to. I was never on my own which made me feel safe and there were opportunities to go to local markets with other volunteers.

In my final week I was offered the chance to do some teaching at a local school. One of the other girls chose to stay at the orphanage but I moved into the house with a bigger group of volunteers (and a working toilet!). I am really glad I was able to do teaching as well as work in an orphanage as it gave me a more rounded experience. The children at the school asked loads of questions about the UK and some actually knew more than I did.

Volunteering abroad is always an expensive experience but before going I shopped around various organisations and Agape was very reasonably priced in comparison, especially for a once in a lifetime experience!

P.S. I have recently been offered a teaching assistant role. I do have other experience with children, but my employer has told me that my time teaching in Kenya is why I was offered the role. Definitely a CV booster ;)