Intern or Volunteer with a Grassroots Youth and Education Organization in Kenya

  Kenya

• Other Cities in Kenya: 
Kakamega
• Mombasa: 
Mombasa

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: See FSD Website

Description: Examples of how you can support Youth and Education initiatives in Kenya:

* Teach core subjects in English to primary or secondary school students, subjects include mathematics, business education, biology, chemistry, physics, English, music, art and design, history and civics, HIV /AIDS education, and geography.

* Work at a day care center for orphaned children (3-4 years of age) that provides nutrition, care, and recreational activities.

* Organize recreational activities for students, such as soccer, netball, basketball, volleyball, music, dance, drama, choir, boy/girl scouts, field trips (to local forests, prisons, and hospitals), farming activities (gathering crops), and/or horticulture.

* Provide counseling, tutoring, and recreational activities to primary school children who've been orphaned, generally due to HIV/AIDS, and are at severe risk of dropping out of school.

* Support a community youth center's initiatives aimed at providing families the information and tools they need to avoid and remove themselves from common poverty traps. Participate in educational theater productions, facilitate group discussions with peer educators, provide counseling, and support income-generating activities.

* Teach a variety of vocational subjects to children and adolescents, such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring, and basic construction techniques appropriate to the region.

For more opportunities in youth and education in Kenya, visit our website or contact us directly.

About FSD

The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1995 to support underserved, international communities in a collaborative and sustainable manner. Our model incorporates three overlapping programs:

1. Sustainable Development Training Programs for Interns and Volunteers
FSD provides comprehensive training and immersion programs for interns and volunteers seeking hands-on experience in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Program participants come from countless professions and more than 300 universities worldwide to collaborate with our partner organizations on community-driven projects that reflect sustainable practices.

2. Grantmaking to Projects and Initiatives Led By Our Partner Organizations
Donations and grants given to FSD are used to support projects and initiatives implemented by our partner organizations, site teams, interns, and volunteers.

3. Sustainable Development of Community-Based Organizations
Our professional field staff, consultants, and program participants provide on-site technical training and capacity building to more than 200 community-based organizations.

Highlights: Development Issues Addressed by FSD in Kenya
While Kenya did implement universal primary education so that eight years of schooling are provided free, additional costs of uniforms and books still prevent many from attending. Over 1.7 million children remain out of school - the majority of whom are street children living in slums or in marginalized pastoralist communities. Secondary schooling that properly equips children for the next level is extremely expensive and rarely accessible in underserved areas. At the root of the problem is a drastic decline in education funding and social services by the Kenyan government and international donors. The easily visible result is that a large percentage of Kenyan youth only have a basic level of education, few usable skills, and minimal employment opportunities. The poor education system and subsequent idleness of these adolescents creates a dangerous combination that frequently leads to drug abuse, early pregnancy, crime and other severe behaviors.

FSD partners with organizations that assist communities with affordable primary and secondary education, offer vocational skills training to adults, and contribute to social services for all. Extracurricular activities are also cultivated to mobilize children. FSD interns and volunteers have supported programs such as drama groups that use theatre to educate street kids about life skills; girl's soccer teams that act as a catalyst for empowerment; and youth leadership programs that train young people to act as peer educators and counselors. These sorts of activities are ways in which FSD can contribute to the education, care, and empowerment of vulnerable youth throughout Kakamega and Mombasa.

Cost in US$: Depends on Program Selected; See FSD Website

Included in the fee is: a one-week orientation; family homestay will all meals provided; language lessons (not available in Latin America); development trainings and workshops; group sessions; midterm retreat (9+ weeks only); final debriefing session; on-going in-country support from FSD site team and U.S. staff; 200 USD mini-grant; eligibility for additional project funding up to 500 USD, medical evacuation and limited health insurance; and pick-up from the airport.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: FSD supports participants who boldly wish to initiate the change they believe is necessary in the developing world. Interns are passionate about sharing their practical knowledge, heart-felt enthusiasm, and economic resources with communities abroad that suffer unnecessary hardship. They wish to gain hands-on, grassroots development experience because they believe change is most powerfully cultivated on a community level. The aim is to experientially learn how their work can empower the community toward applying sustainable development solutions, rather than increasing reliance on foreign aid. Participants choose FSD because the program structure enables them to design and implement their own sustainable projects in collaboration with their host organization and the FSD Site Team. They are able to test their ideas and theories in the most direct way possible, giving them the experience and knowledge they seek. The flexibility of the host organizations allows for participants at all stages and levels of experience in international development to participate, thus opening the programs to a diverse group of capable applicants.

Age Range: 18-75

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Kenya Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Foundation for Sustainable Development's Mission Statement: FSD supports the efforts of grassroots organizations in the developing world that are working to better their communities, environments, and the economic opportunities around them. We believe community development is only sustainable if it empowers the people to effectively use and cultivate their own resources in a conscious manner. Through our programs, we aim to raise international awareness of the economic challenges in developing countries and to support cross-cultural communities in finding more effective solutions to development issues.

Year Founded: 1995