Project Name: Arise and Shine Care Center

Code: KVDA/MLTV/2023/20

Location: Miwani, Kisumu County, Lake Region.

Service Sector: Youth and Education

Theme: Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development

Date 2023.

OVERVIEW ON HOSTING ORGANIZATION 

• Kenya Voluntary Development Association (KVDA) is an indigenous, non-political and membership organization which is non-sectarian and non-profit making started in 1962 as a work camp organization registered under the Societies’ Act. In 1993, KVDA was registered as a Non-Governmental organization by the establishment of the NGOs Coordination Act.
• KVDA has since inception hosted over 50, 000 international volunteers to its community service development projects that have left indelible mark to efforts to enhance sustainable development.

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Arise and Shine Care Center is a non-profitable Community Based Organization (CBO) which is an initiative between Piny Pek, and Otieno Okado Youth Groups. The CBO was started in April 2010 and later registered in November 2010 under the Ministry Of Gender, Child and Social Development .NO. NDO /CBO/878484. 
• It is located in Ramula Sub-Location, Ombeyi Location, Miwani Division, Muhoroni District, Kisumu County. It lies slightly 29km from Kisumu City and 8km from Ahero Town within Ombeyi Market as its operation site.
• Ombeyi region as a whole has approximately 26,000 inhabitants and exclusively depends on agriculture as a source of their subsistence and cash income. Due to environmental changes especially depletion of soil through floods, backward agricultural practices, ignorance, premature deaths due to HIV/AIDS and other epidemics which have affected the agricultural production and the income of cash crops (rice & sugarcane) in negative ways, it has led to acute poverty, higher child mortality, increasing illiteracy rate cross cutting between the gender and even early marriages among the youth.
• Due to the increasing poverty, unemployment, the division of labour by gender and age groups, it has been found that the youths are more dependants on their parents and guardians. Piny Pek Youth Group saw it wise forming a network with Otieno Okado Youth Group to come up with a way forward in order to alleviate all these problems, thus easing the burden on age through youth empowerment and involvement. This networking between the two groups has given birth to Arise and Shine Care Center.

OBJECTIVE / AIM

1. Empowerment of youths towards sustainable development geared towards poverty eradication.
2. Protect and nurture natural environment
3. To aid in the spread and creation of awareness on democratic principles
4. Creation of job opportunities targeting the youths and the less privileged members of the community.

MISSION: To develop an effective institution with sustainable programme aimed at youth empowerment and promotion of community and family based sustainable intervention.

APPROPRIATE:- To influence change and development of community and extra community institution, structures, values, systems and policies that cause and reinforce poverty, dependence, injustice, discrimination, inequalities, exploitation, oppression and persistent lack of the requisite capacity for active and full voluntary participation and involvement of the poor people and youths in their social economic and political development.

ESSENTAL:- To effective and efficient achievement of the goals of youth survival, development, protection and  participation, poverty reduction and protection of the natural environment through beneficiary participatory production and reproduction of an innovative combination of the following services; empowerment of youths through information and food production, appropriate technology for community informal sector development, lastly racial, religious, political, sectarian, regional and tribal basis.

STRATEGY: To implement its mission, the organization should strengthen the community groups with emphasis to the youths which helps them improve their lives.

The organization facilitates the participatory rural appraisal methods that move awareness resulting to community action plan. The organization also provides trainings to youths group leaders on the basis of P.R.D (Participatory Rural Development) methods.

VISION: To come up with an institution with an instrumental programme aimed at achieving and empowered community with avenues for sustainable development, aimed at reducing poverty index and giving top priority to the less privileged members of the community

Volunteer tasks

• Rice farming
• Poultry keeping
• Horticulture
• Inter-cultural learning coupled with home visits for exposure to development challenges.
• Possibility to visit the historic sites like Hippo point on Lake Victoria in Kisumu City, renowned Kakamega Rain Forest and the Equator point at Maseno University; among other spectacular sites of interest in the region. However, this will be done most probably during the weekends.

PROJECT START DATES

• It is recommended that volunteers applying to join this project should be aware that school terms in Kenya start at the beginning of the following months January and May 2021
• Schools in Kenya have three holiday seasons; April, August, November and December annually
• This means the volunteers wishing to participate in this project should arrive in Kenya at the start of January, towards the end of April 2021
• It is important to note that due to the stringent regulations by the Ministry of Education, we do not accept volunteers to join the project during the 3rd term that begins in September 2021 as the term is fully dedicated to national examinations and the Government has imposed restrictions that would not allow the participation of volunteers on the school program.

Financial contribution

• The project participation fee is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to the cover costs stipulated for the entire duration of the project.
• Monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
• Volunteers accepted on MLTV project for one month will pay Euros 300 for the one month placement.

What is included in the participation fee?

• Return transfers from the airport
• Full board at the project (Accommodation and meals provided at the project)
• Orientation, evaluation, monitoring and Volunteer mentorship

What is not included in the participation fee?

• Travel to and from the project. The volunteer will be required to pay for the bus tickets
• Refreshments outside the project
• Air ticket, excursion, Visa and Insurance, Local travel and personal effects

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

• Home stay and the volunteer is entitled to private room but will share other amenities and meals with the host family. 
• It is convenient for the volunteer to carry sleeping bag, mat and personal effects.
• KVDA has a memorandum of understanding with the host project regarding the project costs with appropriate procedures, checks and balances.

Terminal 

• Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is the port of arrival and KVDA will designate a driver for the airport pick up. 
• We strongly advice volunteers against getting taxis on their own without reference to KVDA due to the obvious risks and in case of any challenges on arrival kindly contact KVDA via mobile telephone 0721650357

KVDA RESIDENCE

• Volunteers will be driven to the YMCA South hostels located 15 Kilometers away from the airport where they will be accommodated ahead of their placement to the project. 
• The residence is situated in the serene environment with amble space for recreation and spectacular setting as the inauguration of volunteering to make a difference in the world.

Leisure time

• Kenya is replete with a lot of interesting and natural spectacular sites of interest that would capture the imagination of volunteers. From the tour to the renowned Maasai Mara Game Reserve to visits to local community beholding sights, the volunteers have the previledge to make choices that would fundamentally make the difference. 
• The project also offers a perfect opportunity for people who enjoy being close to nature and are interested in the spectacular setting that traditional way of living in the heartland of the African culture would enrich your cultural heritage

Laundry and water:

• Water is available at the hosting house from springs and it is important to preserve water at all times due to its scarcity and cooperation with the hosts will be highly appreciated

• There are no washing machines in the institution and the volunteer will be guided on how to wash clothes

Medical:

• Volunteers are expected to have their own medical insurance and other personal expenses and it is important to carry your own medical and travel insurances.

MENTORING:

• Mentor for the volunteer from the hosting organisation: KVDA will designate its staff to play the role of mentoring and this is the vital link between the volunteer and the organization. The Mentor has the responsibility to enable the volunteer to efficiently execute their tasks with diligence.
• Function of mentor: advise, educate, be a role model to the volunteers; providing problem solving, collaborative support, positive and non-evaluative feedback and emotional support for volunteers; to provide comfort, exposure, visibility and challenging assignments which directly support the volunteer’s personal and professional development; to provide counselling and friendship to support the volunteer’s self-image and competence and thus to listen, guide, advice, teach and offer professional support to the volunteers 
• The mentor will be available for the volunteer as a constant supporting person. However, he/she should not be directly involved in the daily work of the volunteer.
• Mentor’s Experience with international volunteers: More than 3 years’ experience with international volunteers

Project participants: Maximum 5 volunteers from different nationalities recruited through KVDA partner organizations

What to carry: This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch, flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others

DONATION AND GIFTS: These are usually symbolic gestures to enhance the solidarity of volunteers and the hosting community. Kindly contact KVDA for details in case you are willing to support a worthy cause in the community either by offering a donation or long-term intervention on the project.

APPLICATIONS: Should be done at least one month in advance through KVDA partner organization in respective countries. KVDA does not accept direct applications by volunteers