THE FEEDING PROGRAM

 Feeding program is an outreach program that was established after a health assessment on street children was conducted by our volunteers. It revealed that most of the illnesses suffered by street children were caused by food poisoning. Since most of these children get their food from garbage bins, it clearly verified the course of their illness. With thanks to the donations from volunteers/well wishers we have completed construction on our own kitchen/workshop where we will be able to run this feeding program regularly. Apart from providing a descent meal to these children, the feeding program reduces the risk of food poisoning and also makes it easier to get to know the children and therefore establish a relationship. 

Volunteers willing to participate in this program get involved in everything. That’s from going to the market to buy food, preparing, cooking and serving food, cleaning utensils, suggesting and drafting nutrition menu.

The feeding program takes place near a soccer ball field and it starts @ 8:00am with volunteers serving breakfast at around 9:00am, after breakfast some kids jumps on the field to play soccer with other volunteers as they wait for food to be ready, while other bigger kids chose to stay and help volunteers with cooking.

 

 

TRACE n” REUNION 

The Trace n” Reunion  is an outreach program that works with street girls rescue center (approved schools) and street children who have been displaced and disconnected from their families with the aim to reunite them. This work involves developing honest and open relationships with the children through regular visits to the girls rescue centers and on the streets through various activities such as sports, music, dance, drama, creative art and friendly discussions. This way we can establish where they come from and what caused them to leave home. The work sees volunteers travel with the team to the previous homes of the children, meeting their family and investigating and assessing whether the environment is suitable for the child's return. Depending on the outcome the case management team may reunite the family or find an alternative which includes providing a safer placement and educational opportunities for the child.

Volunteers are involved in all aspects of this work such as administration, helping to assess each child and their needs, and preparing reports on the findings. Volunteers are also involved in the field work, which involves conducting interviews, immersing themselves into the child's environment and travelling to the areas where family members live. The Trace Program is an ideal project for short-term volunteers..

NOTE: Trace n” Reunion is an outreach program and is a volunteer sponsored initiative and its not covered in your placement fee. Trace is a three days mission, and volunteers willing to go for this amazing and life changing missions will pay an additional fee of  US$135 which covers transportation, food and accommodation for those three days. All volunteers who have gone for this missions had an incredible experience that they live to tell. 

TEACHING

 Volunteers are placed in street children rehabs (approved school) orphanages, rescue center for both boys and girl, and schools in poor and marginalized communities. Many of the schools

And centers we work with are constantly understaffed and are always in need of new volunteers. In this program,

Volunteers can work by themselves or alongside other teachers and volunteers. Typical subjects taught

Include – English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and Physical Education. School in Kenya runs for

three terms a year (Term One – January to March, Term Two – May to July, Term Three – September to

November). There are short breaks between these terms (months of April, August and December)

during which time volunteers can take a break, travel, engage in tourist activities such as safari, trace missions or participate in another placement. N.B. Volunteers DO NOT need to be a qualified or experienced teacher.

 ORPHANAGE WORK 

Streetlife care works closely with various children’s home around the country. This partnership is very important to us since we refer some of street children to children homes as an alternative placement if the home is not safe or conducive for the kids return. There is always a high demand for more volunteer assistance. Volunteers who work in an

Orphanage help with general work and daily chores. This work ranges from cooking and cleaning to farm work, assisting with feeding programs, caring for children and babies and teaching.

 

HIV/AIDS WORK

In many cases, HIV/Aids is responsible for the deaths of parents of many children who are on the streets, orphanages and rescue centers.

each and every year. In an effort combat this deadly disease, many hospital and local NGOS are

presently running HIV/AIDS testing, counselling, and an awareness campaigns in Kenya. Our HIV/AIDS

volunteer program is aimed at giving care and support to the HIV infected parents, to prevent their children ending up on the streets, and also creating awareness

to vulnerable groups about the dangers of HIV/Aids through HIV/Aids outreach programs. These

Outreach programs are generally done through schools and community groups while work consists of;

visiting patients in their homes, helping with medical care and food, conducting lessons to educate

people on the dangers of HIV and how to prevent themselves from getting infected. Our program is

organized in collaboration with Government institutions, NGOs, and community based organization

CBOs who are working very closely with the communities and HIV/Aids patients. A large part of this

program for volunteers is assisting with the Feeding Program which involves taking food to communities

in need and distributing food to HIV/Aids infected patients. NB. While there are no prerequisites for this

program please note that the work you will be doing is relevant to the qualifications and experience you

have.

 

MEDICAL PLACEMENT /MAASAI LAND

Healthcare is neither easily accessible nor affordable for many Kenyans living in the rural villages,

Slums, and in many marginalized communities such as Maasai Land. Poverty creates a large barrier to the acquisition of healthcare in general, but in

rural areas in particular. The Kenyan Government has authorized our program partner to place medical

students and professionals in their clinics and hospitals. Volunteers are placed in a hospital or dispensary based on previous medical

training and experience. NB For the medical placement, volunteers need to be training or qualified in a

relevant medical field. Therefore, volunteers are required to present a copy of their qualifications and

certificates to our medical program coordinator on arrival in Kenya. It is important for medical and nursing students.

MUSIC AND CREATIVE ART PROGRAM

This is a special program designed to help street kids and orphans rebuild their damaged social life by helping in developing and nurturing new talents. 

Volunteers gets kids to participate in fun and creative activities such as art, painting, dance, music, acting, modeling, storytelling, and fun games

Through music, dance and art, children are able to see through the shroud of suffering and sorrow to a life worth living. Music is their passage to a better life, the music and art program is designed

to give the children on the streets, rehabs, orphanages and rescue centers a chance to let their voices and songs be heard. Those taking part in this program will also provide students a basic understanding of musical theory (note reading, etc.) as well as instrument and vocal training in addition to current school curriculum. Current classes include guitar, flute, piano, introduction to music, and traditional music lessons where students share and learn from each other cultural and tribal songs. Music has proven to one of the most powerful tool that helps the children recover from past abuse and also give them confidence and courage to face the society and the world in general.

On this program, It is also important to note the volunteer may be required to take other classes (such as Math or English).

 

SPORTS PROGRAM

Sports program co-exist with the teaching program. Sports takes place on lunch breaks and in the evening after classes but the main events takes place on weekends. So volunteers signed up for this program can help with teaching as well.  

On this program volunteers gets involved in coaching new games, helps with planning tournaments, or as a team doctor. Sports program usually takes place both on the streets and rehabs.

 

STREET LIFE AWARENESS PROGRAM 

 This program was established after our volunteers conducted a research as to how and why the kids ended up on the streets…

The research showed that some of these kids are on the streets as a resort of bad influence ampere pressure among other reasons.

 

Volunteers who sign up for this program gets involved in visiting schools and orphanages to create awareness and sensitizing school children about the dangers involved in the life on the streets. Volunteers and field officers will prepare presentation materials such as photos, documentaries, testimonies from street children and action aids to help them drive the message.

Volunteers can also fundraise to purchase stationary’s to be donated in schools and orphanages. 

 

GIRLS EDUCATION PROGRAM

 The girl’s education program is a developing initiative designed to bring sanitary supplies and

HIV/Aids and sex education to young women in need through out Kenya and mostly in Maasai land where most young people have no access to peers education or media. Further inquiries revealed a general lack of knowledge

young women, many without proper

sex education being given at their homes and schools left with no choice choose to take council from their peers, often resulting in

unplanned pregnancies and/or the contraction of STD’s. The women’s education programs has been

established by past volunteers and local staff to provide a safe environment in which young

women may be able to receive correct sex education and counseling. The program will focus on

HIV/Aids education, sex education and general health classes and providing supplies to women in

schools and institutions in Maasai land and within the greater Nairobi region who otherwise would not be able to access this. NB: This program is run on Saturday’s, volunteers who have signed up for the girls education program will be working in other programs of their choice during the weekends.

 

BEAD WORK PROJECT 

This project aims at supporting street mother earn an income which otherwise they would have earned through prostitution.

Women meet at the workshop where they are provided with materials whereby they make all type of beads commodities such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, belts, among other beautiful crafts and souvenirs.   

When their products are ready, our sales/marketing team helps out in securing market for their products.Volunteers are encouraged to visit the workshop to support the street mother by buying their products, or help in marketing.

SLUM CHILDREN OUTREACH VOLUNTEERING REQUIREMENTS. 

Registration Fee: Registration fee of $200 USD is used to cover SLUM CHILDREN OUTREACH.

program promotion costs, administrative costs, and travel costs to inspect and develop new & existing programs and pre-trip communication and support costs for volunteers Program Costs Program costs cover transportation from and to airport in host country, initial transportation to your volunteer placement and transfers back to the city if required at the completion of your placement, host family accommodations including 2 meals a day (breakfast and dinner), orientation, and in-country 24/7 support and supervision.  SLUM CHILDREN OUTREACH.

also guarantees that part of every volunteers program fee will go toward supporting various ongoing projects established by SLUM CHILDREN OUTREACH.

Program Period Program Cost (US $)

1. 1 week $300.00
2. 2 weeks $380.00
3. 3 weeks $440.00
4. 4 weeks $550.0

WHY PAY TO VOLUNTEER?

As a volunteer you are giving up your time and your skills to help those in need, therefore many people fail to see why they should also have to pay to volunteer. The program fees you pay go directly to an organization in the country you will be volunteering in and are used to pay for expenses associated with your stay such as food, accommodation, airport pickups, orientation and staff salaries to ensure your volunteering stay in the host country goes as smoothly as possible. All our partner organizations are funded almost entirely by volunteer fees and therefore in order for the program to continue it is imperative we charge volunteers for their board, meals and airport pickups. While in the perfect world, these costs would be funded by a large NGO such as UNICEF, every organization has priorities and cannot be everywhere at once.

  FAQ

Can I get my own room or do I need to share? We will do our best to accommodate your preference; however, this will depend on the number of volunteers at a given time. Please indicate your preference during registration and we will do what we can to accommodate you.

Will I be useful? In your day-to-day work you'll be helping impoverished people. Ultimately, though how useful you are depends on you! Many volunteers choose to undertake additional "side projects" while working. If you see something missing or not working correctly while volunteering, make it your mission to fix it while you're there. It doesn't need to be huge! Maybe its a leaky tap, a broken gate or a chicken coop that needs to be built. Whatever it is, it will be your legacy after you've left! Ok,

what about my visa? While SLUM CHILDREN OUTREACH Volunteers' pre departure packages include information on visa requirements each traveller is responsible for checking and confirming the visa requirements for their specific type of travel. The best way to do this is to regularly look at the following sites: Other countries have their own sites. As well as the most recent information on visas, passport requirements and work permits if required, there is a lot of information available on these sites including addresses for embassies and consulates, health and vaccinations, driver’s licenses, laws and Smart Traveller enrolment programs. There are some basic general principles: 

You will need a current passport and we recommend that you travel with a passport that has at least 6 months validity. 

You should make sure you have at least 2 free pages for visas. 

Always check that for any country that you are making connecting flights through (refer to the above websites or your airline) to see if you need a transit visa. 

Always travel with your passport and documentation available to you plus have a copies in your bags and to be really sensible have copies available to you in your email account. It is the responsibility of the traveller, not SLUM CHILDREN OUTREACH Volunteers, to make sure that the relevant visas and/or permits are in place.

Can I come with a friend, or as a group?Yes, we welcome individuals, couples, family, small and large groups, students and experts, as well as senior and young professionals to make  great contribution and bring changes by getting involved in our volunteer programs.

What can I do when I'm not volunteering?There will be plenty of time to relax in the evenings and weekends. In general volunteers tend to visit the local countryside, play sports and visit local attractions. Most weekends volunteers arrange a get together to celebrate the end of the working week. If volunteer desire, our local team can often organize weekend excursions to visit various historical sites around the place. These may incur additional costs, but can be arranged locally.

Are there more expenses once I arrive? You'll need money for travelling and shopping on days off. Other costs include your flights, visa, shots, travel insurance, departure tax. Once you've arrived you may need to pay for local buses to and from your project, which can cost about USD 1-2 per day depending on your destination and program type. You may also need to pay for bottled water, but this is usually very cheap.

What about Malaria? For travel to India and most African counties make sure your doctor knows exactly where you are travelling so they can prescribe the right anti-malarial medication. Malaria prevention medication should be taken according to your doctor’s instructions before, during and after a visit to affected areas. Malaria is a serious tropical disease, which is spread by night-biting mosquitoes which transmit a parasite. Avoiding getting bitten is important and usually the most effective means to prevent the disease. Long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn in the evenings and insect repellent can be used in areas with mosquitoes. If the area where you are volunteering has mosquitoes, use a mosquito net at night. The most effective nets are those infused with an insect repellent With a little common sense and some precautions the chance of getting Malaria are very small. If you suspect you have malaria, see a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms include chills, fevers, headache, nausea and vomiting.

If I have friends or family to visit can I get time off?We make every effort to be flexible. Advance notice helps a lot in ensuring time off. Some programs may have guidelines for extra time off, which is usually discussed during our orientation. Will obtaining cash, e.g. from an ATM, be difficult? As with internet access, the proximity of a good-sized town or city means that, generally speaking, banks are accessible if visits are timed to coincide with opening hours. ATMs exist in all the major towns associated with our placements. We'll ensure that you know of any local quirks regarding these type of services well before you leave, but if you have any specific questions, just ask.

Is access to the Internet going to be available on a regular basis? In the vast number of cases, the locations where our volunteers are placed are close to a sizeable city where internet cafes abound. The opportunity will arise at least once weekly to visit one of these. The volunteering centres themselves are in some cases equipped to enable a limited amount of access.

Will mobile phones work, and will there be a signal? Mobile phones are now widely used almost everywhere. To give one example: Those volunteering in Kenya will discover at Jomo Kenyatta Airport that a mobile phone can be easily rented for the length of their stay for around US $30 per month. Mobile phones can be bought, or a SIM card purchased for use in an unlocked phone brought from home. The reliability of phone signals will vary, of course, but the team at the placement will be only too willing to give advice regarding which networks function best and where on site to get the best signal. Equally, advice on phone cards to use in payphones is provided for volunteers. Lastly, depending on local conditions, the family with whom the volunteer is staying may well have a landline to which incoming calls will normally be welcome.

What are meals and accommodation like?Volunteers are hosted by local families whom we have trained to work with volunteers, this setting was established to help volunteers understand the local community and their culture..you will likely have Ugali, vegetables, chapattis, rice, porridge.