Make an Impact
Working with young children, you can coach sports, teach English or do art, drama or music with the students – whatever your skills, we’ll make sure they’re put to good use.
As a non-profit, the impact our volunteers can have on the local community is our priority. There’s no end to the ways you can make a difference this summer.
Community
In the community your hard work and efforts will be greatly appreciated. From living like a local within a village to community work through local schools, your time on our summer program will be well-spent to make sure you have a positive impact in the surrounding villages.
The Beach
This means that most days you’ll be able to squeeze in some quality beach time!
Go snorkelling, camel-riding, scuba-diving, dolphin-spotting, kite-surfing… what better way to reward your efforts?
Kenya Summer Program Summary
Date:
10 July 2025
Duration:
4 weeks
Price:
£2,335
Accommodation:
Catered AV house with other volunteers in a rural village.
Kenya Summer Program: The Details
Welcome & Briefing
You will need to fly into Ukunda, where your Kenya-based AV representative will meet you on arrival. After a quick stop at the shops in Diani, you will head straight to your house for a chance to settle in, unwind after the hectic few days leading up to your departure, and get to know the other volunteers. The AV in-country representatives will brief you the following day, once you have rested from your journey to Kenya. We will cover the following:
- Customs and culture of Kenya and its people
- Safety, health and security
- Advice on communicating with your students and tips for lessons, if you’ve chosen to help in a school
- Community projects
- Basic Kiswahili
The briefings for the Summer Kenya Program takes place close to the beach so you will definitely have the chance to relax and enjoy the location! In no time at all, you will be ready to start your village experience and settle in to your new home, but remember they’re never more than a phone call away if you need them!
The Project
Two days with AV in Kenya are rarely the same! Be ready for a variety of experiences to develop your transferable skills.
You’ll start your project supporting classes at local rural school. All lessons are taught in English and the schools appreciate help in English, maths, science, art, drama, music and computers (if they have them). It would be extremely helpful for you to spend time with students who have been left behind at the back of the class, helping them to read, write and speak English in smaller groups. You can run your sessions in pairs or on your own. Outside of this you will spend time planning for lessons or for your one to one sessions, and may have homework to mark!
For those looking to do sports coaching, you can run PE lessons and arrange sports clubs. PE lessons may involve big classes and very little equipment, a game of tag or duck, duck goose are great for their simple rules and mass participation, in general they are a good test of your initiative and resourcefulness. Sports clubs involving football, rugby, athletics, rounders, volley ball, cricket and netball are all actively encouraged – however you can also teach new games. Many AV volunteers arrange fixtures or tournaments between the different AV schools or an inter school sports day.
Outside of the classroom or on the sports field, you can make a big impact by running after-school clubs – these have included debating, reading, French, modern dance, art, music or drama. In the past, AV volunteers have run talent shows, produced school newsletters and magazines, and even started a choir.
During the second phase of your project you will support a community project, where your hard work and efforts will be greatly appreciated. You could brighten up classrooms by painting or decorating the walls with educational murals from the alphabet and numbers to world maps and the solar system – let your imagination run wild and leave behind an inspiring learning environment! You will also support a building and renovating project, getting your hands dirty and learning new skills like plastering walls and concreting floors. You might even have the opportunity to refurbish playground equipment for the children to enjoy at play time.
From living like a local within a village to community work in local schools, your time on our summer program will be well-spent to make sure you have a positive impact in the surrounding villages.
Each day you can spend time socialising with the local community, usually over a cup of chai (sweet tea) or lunch. This is a great chance to get to know your colleagues and learn more about them. They will be keen to learn more about your life at home whilst you can practice your Kiswahili! Support will be on hand to show you round and advice on where to shop, the nearest internet café etc.
Weekends
We have included some exciting weekend experiences for you during your time with us in Kenya.
A day trip to Shimoni, Wasini and Kisite. You will travel in a traditional dhow from Shimoni, heading for Charlie Claws restaurant on Wasini Island. You will have the opportunity to snorkel amongst the huge variety of colourful fish and coral, spot and if you’re lucky, swim with the dolphins and once on the Island have an “all you can eat” delicious Swahili seafood lunch.
Soul Breeze in Diani
A whole weekend of fun and relaxation, right on the beach. There are plenty of watersports available and beach games.
You’ll have one free weekend where you can explore Ukunda or Diani for some shopping, have a meal in a nice restaurant. You could also go in search of the ‘Big 5’ on safari at Tsavo National Park!
Food & Accommodation
In Kenya you will live in a designated AV house with fellow volunteers. An important part of the AV experience is living in local accommodation, so be ready for a fully-immersive experience.
The house itself will have a bedroom(s), a communal/cooking area and somewhere to wash. You will have running water and a flushing toilet but expect electricity to be intermittent. Local cuisine will be provided for you at meal times, but be prepared to pitch in – this would be a great opportunity for you to learn how to cook some local dishes.
24/7 AV representative support: Whilst not living with you, the AV representative will be with you throughout the program, guiding and supporting you.
Kenya Summer Program: The Details
Welcome & Briefing
You will need to fly into Ukunda, where your Kenya-based AV representative will meet you on arrival. After a quick stop at the shops in Diani, you will head straight to your house for a chance to settle in, unwind after the hectic few days leading up to your departure, and get to know the other volunteers. The AV in-country representatives will brief you the following day, once you have rested from your journey to Kenya. We will cover the following:
- Customs and culture of Kenya and its people
- Safety, health and security
- Advice on communicating with your students and tips for lessons, if you’ve chosen to help in a school
- Community projects
- Basic Kiswahili
The briefings for the Summer Kenya Program takes place close to the beach so you will definitely have the chance to relax and enjoy the location! In no time at all, you will be ready to start your village experience and settle in to your new home, but remember they’re never more than a phone call away if you need them!
The Project
Two days with AV in Kenya are rarely the same! Be ready for a variety of experiences to develop your transferable skills.
You’ll start your project supporting classes at local rural school. All lessons are taught in English and the schools appreciate help in English, maths, science, art, drama, music and computers (if they have them). It would be extremely helpful for you to spend time with students who have been left behind at the back of the class, helping them to read, write and speak English in smaller groups. You can run your sessions in pairs or on your own. Outside of this you will spend time planning for lessons or for your one to one sessions, and may have homework to mark!
For those looking to do sports coaching, you can run PE lessons and arrange sports clubs. PE lessons may involve big classes and very little equipment, a game of tag or duck, duck goose are great for their simple rules and mass participation, in general they are a good test of your initiative and resourcefulness. Sports clubs involving football, rugby, athletics, rounders, volley ball, cricket and netball are all actively encouraged – however you can also teach new games. Many AV volunteers arrange fixtures or tournaments between the different AV schools or an inter school sports day.
Outside of the classroom or on the sports field, you can make a big impact by running after-school clubs – these have included debating, reading, French, modern dance, art, music or drama. In the past, AV volunteers have run talent shows, produced school newsletters and magazines, and even started a choir.
During the second phase of your project you will support a community project, where your hard work and efforts will be greatly appreciated. You could brighten up classrooms by painting or decorating the walls with educational murals from the alphabet and numbers to world maps and the solar system – let your imagination run wild and leave behind an inspiring learning environment! You will also support a building and renovating project, getting your hands dirty and learning new skills like plastering walls and concreting floors. You might even have the opportunity to refurbish playground equipment for the children to enjoy at play time.
From living like a local within a village to community work in local schools, your time on our summer program will be well-spent to make sure you have a positive impact in the surrounding villages.
Each day you can spend time socialising with the local community, usually over a cup of chai (sweet tea) or lunch. This is a great chance to get to know your colleagues and learn more about them. They will be keen to learn more about your life at home whilst you can practice your Kiswahili! Support will be on hand to show you round and advice on where to shop, the nearest internet café etc.
Weekends
We have included some exciting weekend experiences for you during your time with us in Kenya.
A day trip to Shimoni, Wasini and Kisite. You will travel in a traditional dhow from Shimoni, heading for Charlie Claws restaurant on Wasini Island. You will have the opportunity to snorkel amongst the huge variety of colourful fish and coral, spot and if you’re lucky, swim with the dolphins and once on the Island have an “all you can eat” delicious Swahili seafood lunch.
Soul Breeze in Diani
A whole weekend of fun and relaxation, right on the beach. There are plenty of watersports available and beach games.
You’ll have one free weekend where you can explore Ukunda or Diani for some shopping, have a meal in a nice restaurant. You could also go in search of the ‘Big 5’ on safari at Tsavo National Park!
Food & Accommodation
In Kenya you will live in a designated AV house with fellow volunteers. An important part of the AV experience is living in local accommodation, so be ready for a fully-immersive experience.
The house itself will have a bedroom(s), a communal/cooking area and somewhere to wash. You will have running water and a flushing toilet but expect electricity to be intermittent. Local cuisine will be provided for you at meal times, but be prepared to pitch in – this would be a great opportunity for you to learn how to cook some local dishes.
24/7 AV representative support: Whilst not living with you, the AV representative will be with you throughout the program, guiding and supporting you.
What's next?
If you’re interested, fill in our application form (approx. 1 minute) and we’ll keep you updated as places fill up so you won’t miss out.
Testimonials
A fantastic experience. Unforgettable and highly recommended…. being immersed in the culture and meeting lots of different people was amazing.
I loved meeting and integrating with the local community through the teaching, building, transport and playing football with the local children and adults.