Project Name: Kebaroti Health Center

Code: KVDA/MLTV/203/13

Location: Kuria, South West Kenya.

Service Sector: Healthcare.

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

PROJECT LOCATION

The project is located Kuria East district curved off the expansive Kuria district in South Western Kenya. The area is highly populated due to its strategic situation and suffers due to poor infrastructure especially the road network which has no tarmac.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION- KEBAROTI HEALTH CENTER

The health center is a community initiative that is currently run by the Ministry of health and has one medical personnel posted by the Government and volunteers who are on and off The center offers curative, preventative and promotion services.

Water is available from streams, rain water occasionally harvested and volunteers have the opportunity to learn to live in adversity and especially when Kenya grapples with the poverty challenge that is the single most obstacle to sustainable development.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to provide health care to the community using locally available resources.

The empowerment program reaches out to ensure that the local community is integrated into the day to day activities and the role of the volunteers is to play the role of the catalyst to re-activate the process.

LANGUAGE OF THE PROJECT/REGION  

Basically, Kuria community occupies a good part of South Western Kenya and the majority of the Kuria speaking people can be found in Tanzania that boarders the district

Ki-Kuria is the common language spoken but Kiswahili language is commonly used due to the cosmopolitan nature of the region that is the gateway to Tanzania through Migori and Isebania townships.

The old folks in the community may appear conservative due to their penchant for cultural and traditional upbringing and may be hesitant to embrace ideas generated by the relatively younger generation. They will stand out as unique by virtue of their command of the local language and folklore. In some cases, those who had no access to formal education can only be communicated to through translators.

Volunteers are encouraged to reach out to this precious generation that is more than a University as they have a reservoir of knowledge that is unmatched and useful for posterity.

Project staff speaks three languages Ki-Kuria, Kiswahili and English.

CHALLENGES

• High poverty levels
• Unemployment
• Drug and alcohol abuse among the youth
• High rural/urban migration especially among the men
• HIV/AIDS pandemic prevalence
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that is rampant in the area due to cultural 
• Kuria and Maasai scramble for resources including the sporadic cattle theft among the two communities.

 

EMPOWERMENT OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)

FGM is a very controversial issue among the Kuria people and the practice remains predominant despite the glaring scientific evidence against the vice. Most parents even among the highly schooled still encourage their girls to undergo the dehumanizing rite of passage that continue to negatively affect the girl child in the area.

There exist lobby groups in Kuria that champion the rights of the marginalized with some specifically training their programs on capacity building to ensure that communities are able to effectively tackle development challenges.

Volunteers are encouraged to work hand in hand with established community structures in order to unravel the mystique of development education and understand why FGM remains closely guarded among some communities in Kenya despite international condemnation and scientific disapprovals of the exercise that has condemned the women folk in society.

Project activities

• Laboratory work
• Observation of patients
• Injection/filter 
• Pharmacy work
• Registration
• Reproductive health
• Child Delivery
• Awareness creation on health issues.

Volunteer tasks

• The volunteers will be assigned duties in the health facility by professional staff
• Record keeping, weighing, and general cleanliness among other duties at the center.
• Submit Project Report to KVDA

PROJECT START DATES

• Volunteers are accepted to join this project at any time of the year and should arrive in Kenya on 20th day of the month. 
• The duration of placement is flexible depending on the availability of the volunteer

• 2-day orientation seminar will be done on the 21st and 22nd of every month 

Financial contribution

• The project participation fee is Euro 200 per month paid upfront on arrival to the cover costs stipulated 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 and monitoring
• 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 and excursion
• Visa and Insurance 
• Local travel 
• 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