BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Letter from a Volunteer
What
are the requirements for volunteering?
We welcome mature, pro-active, self-supporting, adventurous
and independent volunteers of all backgrounds, nationalities
and faiths.
We are a very small and informal organisation so volunteers
MUST meet the following requirements:
Volunteer at MGCCH Orphanage Volunteer to help
orphaned and vulnerable children in Kisii Kenya, Africa. Once
homeless or living in poverty, the children we support are now
preparing for a productive, healthy future.
You can teach and care for children of all ages
in a cheerful, optimistic environment, knowing that your kindness
and attention makes all the difference to a struggling child.
Whether you want to come for a day to play with
the children or stay a week or a month to help with a project
or come for a semester to teach; any of these will be a richly
rewarding experience for you.
PROACTIVITY
Jump in and organize an activity such as a soccer
match, a fashion, show, a dance marathon or some arts &
crafts. Or teach some games from your home-country such as tic-tac-toe,
hopscotch or paper scissors stone. Or organise a “MGCCH
Olympics” and have each child represent a different country.
They can learn about their new “country”, paint
a flag have an opening ceremony, and compete against one another.
We rely on our volunteers to bring new ideas and creative play
into our life.
PATIENCE
Be patient, Things move slowly in Africa (and
indeed even at the MGCCH). Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember
that life here is not as organized and predictable as life in
the Americas or Europe.
FLEXIBILITY
We try to be flexible and we are always happy
to accommodate changes in plan. We do not require specific time
commitments from our volunteers but we do hope that you will
be committed enough to contribute as much as you can in the
way of time and energy. We also ask for volunteers to pay us
some small costs for administrative costs so please appreciate
that all of the information and assistance that we provide to
you is done of good charge and as such we do not have the high
degree of resources that you may be used to.
CONSIDERATION
We have very few rules and restrictions for
our volunteer program. We accept volunteers of all nationalities,
faiths, ages, backgrounds and skill sets. However, we do ask
that you respect the few rules that we do have. We can not allow
any alcohol at the MGCC Home. We are a children’s organization
and are subject to the rules of the Kenya Social Welfare Department
.
RESPECT
The staff, management and volunteers of the
MGCCH work either for no salary at all or for a very small salary.
They do this work because they believe in it. There are times
when you may not agree with or understand our decisions or direction.
Although your suggestions are always welcome, your faith, respect
and consideration for our long term work and commitment will
be warmly appreciated.
FRIENDSHIP
Kenyans are warm and friendly people. Don’t
be afraid to make friends and learn some Swahili, Ekegusii and
many more other languages --- you may learn more about Kenyan
life and culture than you ever thought possible.
TOLERANCE
The food, the culture, the smells and the sounds
will be unfamiliar and foreign to you at first. But we recommend
that you dive in and experience Kenya life head-on. You will
be surprised at how quickly you will adapt.
SENSE OF HUMOUR
The electricity WILL go out. The water supply
WILL cut off and the restaurant service WILL be slow. Keep your
cool and use your sense of humor while still being respectful.
The Swahili word to describe people who handle difficult situations
with patience, tolerance and a smile is
