Great Humanitarian Trips Around the World

What It’s About: On the outskirts of the Rift Valley town of Nakuru (about two hours north of Nairobi), hundreds of Kenyan street children live in shocking conditions—many without families, in caves or rudimentary shelters on the premises of the town dump. These children spend their days foraging for food among the garbage; most have health problems and little or no schooling. Volunteers who help to build—or teach at—community centers for these children can immeasurably improve their daily lives.

What it Involves: Volunteers are assigned to a range of projects at Nakuru community centers—which may include helping children with basic hygiene, doing crafts and playing games with toddlers, and teaching English and math to older kids so they can qualify to enter schools in their community.

Roughing-It Rating: Medium to high. Although i-to-i volunteers stay with host families in fairly comfortable homes in Nakuru, visiting with children who live in such extreme poverty can be harrowing. Volunteers interested in teaching English (a valuable language for the children) can take a free 40-hour TEFL course online before they travel to Nakuru.

Cost: $1,290 for two weeks

More Information: i-to-i