Itinerary

GETTING THERE

You will be seen off at Heathrow by one of the AV team and will fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, where your Kenya-based AV representative will meet you. You will then travel 65 kilometres by bus to Lake Naivasha (after a short stop at the AV office in Karen, Nairobi) for your orientation course. On the way you’ll get your first view of the Great Rift Valley!

BRIEFING AND ORIENTATION

The Fish Eagle Inn is on the edge of Lake Naivasha. Colobus monkeys play in the trees and hippos wallow in the Lake. Acacia trees shade the spacious grounds and the hotel has a swimming pool. We will discuss the following during the course:

• History, customs and culture of Kenya and its people
• Safety, health and security
• Teaching techniques, lesson planning and practice
• Some language training in Kiswahili
• The education system in Kenya

You will also have the chance to take a boat on Lake Naivasha to see hippos and fish eagles, and walk with giraffes, zebra and antelope in a small game sanctuary.

YOUR NEW HOME

After your briefing, you and your AV group will be taken by bus to a rendezvous near your school from which you will be collected and delivered to your house, doing some food shopping in local supermarkets on the way.

You will be introduced to the children and school staff and will be shown around by a staff member appointed to welcome you to your new home.

Your house will probably have a bedroom, a communal/cooking area and somewhere to wash. Electricity is intermittent at best, you may not have running water or flushing toilets. So you will have an outside pit latrine or ‘long drop’. Whatever house you get, you will grow to love it and soon feel very much at home!

THE PROJECT

A large part of every weekday will be spent teaching, organising PE, sports, extra-curricular activities (art, music or drama) and socialising in the staff-room. There will be homework to set and marking to do.

You can teach in pairs or on your own. You should have at least 12 academic and PE/games lessons every week.

At weekends and on public holidays you will have the chance to: chill at home; get together with other AVs; do some work, such as painting a classroom or dormitory; run an inter school sports competition; or travel to see other parts of Kenya – whatever you like. We know it will all be fun!

INDEPENDENT TRAVEL

Finally, your three month school attachment will come to an end. Leaving will make you very sad indeed but nearly four weeks of travel ahead of you will certainly help to ease the pain. Some activities might include rafting the Source of the Nile in Uganda, bungee jumping over it, kayaking in it, and quad biking or horse riding along its banks. Alternatively, a visit to gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (expensive but very special). The beautiful beaches of Kenya, Lamu, Tanzania or Zanzibar are worth a visit - travel by Arab dhow, windsurf, swim, snorkel or scuba dive in the Indian Ocean or simply sunbathe by it. Or trek a serious mountain - Mount Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro; why not go on a camel trek in scenic Laikipia; or a tradiiotnal wildlife safari at the famous Maasai Mara; we can help organise bookings.

HOME

Pass by the AV office on your way to the airport to collect your stored luggage. We suggest you try the famous Carnivore Restaurant – the biggest barbeque in the world, for your last night in Kenya!

If you are staying on a bit longer in Africa, don’t worry because “Once an AV, always an AV!” We will store luggage for you and help you out if you run into any problems.

Don’t underestimate the reverse culture shock of returning home – it is real and can be quite a surprise! But most AVs fall in love with Africa and come back again…and again! And, of course, our Nairobi staff are always delighted to welcome back old AVs.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before departure:

Pre-departure information, support and advice
A nominated member of the UK volunteer support team
One-to-one face to face briefing for UK applicants
Telephone briefing for non-UK applicants
References taken up
Comprehensive online health check
Advice on group flight booking or individual flight arrangements
Briefing for group departure from London airport

In-country:

In-country representative
24/7 in-country backup
Meet and greet at airport (if arriving with the group)
Airport transfer (if arriving with group)
In-country induction course
Transfer from induction course to school/project
Accommodation (except during independent travel)
Food allowance (except during independent travel)
Management of emergencies, including lost passport, illness, etc. whilst in-country

Upon returning home:

Returning home advice
Full telephone debriefing

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Flights
Travel Insurance
Country visas
Meeting of non-group arrivals
Accommodation for early/late arrivals
Medical expenses, e.g. inoculations, malaria prophylatics
In-country medical expenses
Drinks
Tips/gratuities - No tips/gratuities for AV staff are necessary or expected
Spending money
Extra activities that you choose to do
Independent travel

If you need some help and want to talk about your plans to volunteer please Get in touch

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