Is Gathiga Children's Hope Home a governmental recognised Organisation?

GCHH is a registered Kenyan Organisation as a community based self-help-project. Our Registration Certificate number is 13670.

How do I profit from volunteering with Tuwape-Tumaini?

Who volunteers with Tuwape-Tumaini?

Our volunteers come from all over the world. We accept volunteers from all nations and backgrounds. We've had people from Kenya, America, Canada, England, Germany and many other places. Volunteers can be students, retired people or those taking a career break.

What age do I have to be to volunteer?

You must be 18 years or older to volunteer. There is no upper limit for volunteers we only require that volunteers are in good health.

What qualifications and work experience do I need?

Tuwape Tumaini Volunteers are not required to have any special skills or qualifications. All you need is the desire to help others and the patience and flexibility to deal with cultural differences. Things may not work or progress as smoothly as they do in your home country.

Where will I be staying?

(How is Accommodation like?)

Volunteers will be accommodated in a home stay situation. We select host families carefully to ensure that your stay with us is as pleasant and safe as possible. Our host families will make every possible effort to meet your needs and ensure you have a happy stay in their home. However, you should also have realistic expectations. Your host home may not have the same comforts as your own home does.

You can expect to share a room with one or two other volunteers but in some home stays volunteers get their own rooms. The rooms are simple but clean, your bed comes with sheets and blankets, of course, but we do ask you to bring a few extra sheets depending on how long you‘re planning to stay together with towels for your personal use.

In case of problems between you and your host family that cannot be resolved you may be moved to another host family.

What recommendations do you have for clothing?

Though most clothing in Kenya adopts the western style of clothing, we suggest that you stick to jeans/pants or knee length shorts/skirt with tops that have sleeves as you will be working in an environment where you will serve as a role model to children. Comfortable shoes are a must, you will be on your feet a lot. In addition, depending upon the time of year, you may want to bring a jacket or sweater.

Please note: Dark colored clothing is preferred because of dust or mud. Remember that you, your host family or someone you hire will do your laundry by hand.

 What do you usually eat at Gathiga Children‘s Hope Home?

(Can special diets be accommodated?)

The staple food of the people of the country consists of maize, beans, rice, bread, chapati and vegetables. Ugali is the national dish of the country. It is basically a cornmeal porridge eaten with chopped spinach or sukuma wiki (a leafy green vegetable). Potatoes are eaten in plenty over here and form the main ingredient in most of the dishes. We rarely have meat dishes at GCHH, simply because they are more expensive. If you wish to arrange your own food due to special dietary restrictions or preferences, then discuss it with the volunteer coordinator that you will be corresponding with so that this can be taken into account.

Additionally, there are a large number of restaurants in Nairobi with food ranging from African, Asian specialities to fast food.

What about money matters?

What forms of communication will be available for me to access in Kenya?

The country has a well established communication system. In most towns, there are plenty of private business centers and cyber cafes offering email and internet access. Mobile phones are widely available in Kenya. You can buy and activate a mobile phone for 75-100 USD from one of the many shops in Nairobi.

How do I get around?

The most popular form of public transport in Kenya is the matatu. These are privately owned small  buses or vans that usually operate on fixed routes but without fixed schedules. Matatus are a flexible means of public transportation. They are easy to use, cheap and an ideal way of experiencing kenyan life. Car rentals are also available in towns as well as the typical taxi.

How safe is Kenya now?

Kenya is still a safe place to visit. The kenyan administration, authorities and citizens have given assurance that Kenya remains just as safe and enjoyable as ever with daily life going on as normal. With an efficient police force as well as a special tourist police unit with highly trained officers, security is very tight, especially at airports and in towns. Sure, there are sneak thieves and incidents of pickpocketing, just as there are in big cities back in your home country. We therefore recommend you to keep out of dark back-streets at night, not to carry too much money around and to avoid displaying any valuables such as cameras, mobiles or jewellery. 
 
Will I be able to shop?

Apart from the many local shops around, the nearby bigger cities (Wangigi Kikuyu and Nairobi) have supermarkets that meet western standards. Many familiar western brands can be bought there as well as products from Kenya and elsewhere. The prices are still lower, but not so much lower than in most western countries.

What if I get sick?

Visit your local doctor at least a month before you come to Kenya to get all your necessary vaccinations. They will be able to advise you on what is required. Be aware that in Africa malaria is common, so bring the necessary prophylactics (preventatives) with you. If you find you have a medical problem while you are here seek our advice, the director of the orphanage will make sure that you can get suitable medical treatment. We have good and modern hospitals around where you can be treated. It is up to you to decide whether you wish to take out medical or travel insurance before you travel. You should organise your own medical and travel insurance as this is not covered in our program.

Do I have to speak the local language?

No! Kenya's two main languages are English and Swahili. You won't have a problem finding English speakers and even if there are times when nobody speaks English and you know no Swahili, that's half the fun of volunteering: being confused, pantomiming your way through situations. You'll be fine. In our projects the director can understand English and sometimes the kids too. Attempts to speak Swahili are generally warmly received and can often help in conversations. We will try our best to provide you with a few key phrases to assist you in your day to day activities.

Can you tell me more about the partner organisations?

We work with a number of other local organisations and orphanages within and outside Nairobi who provide services to children and families in order to try to improve the home situations of children who have spent time on the streets or it is thought that they might in the future. Many of the families concerned have parents who are alcoholics or have a family member who has a disability. Depending on your interests and availability you will have opportunity to visit or volunteer in this projects for a day or two.

Will I be able to do sightseeing during my time in Gathiga Children‘s Hope Home?

You will be volunteering in one of the well known tourist destinations in Africa. Kenya is a beautiful country which is rich in cultural, traditional and ancient history. You absolutely can't miss going sightseeing or visiting other parts of Kenya on your days off (not necessarily on the weekends).

We request you to reserve your tours before you leave home. Take the time to plan and arrange everything , this way you'll save both time and money, while we`ll be able to make your drop off and pick up arragments in time. But if you wish to wait until you get here, we may assist you in finding tourist organisations and useful contacts.

Can I talk to someone who has been a volunteer in Gathiga Children‘s Hope Home?