Volunteering in Kenya
Karibu! Welcome to Kenya. A beautiful land in the heart of the savannah.
We've been in Kenya since 1959 making positive changes in education, health and livelihoods.
People like you can change the world. Stand out and be counted. Do you fancy a big challenge?
Kenya is an exciting place. Kenya’s innovators are using technology to tackle the country’s most pressing needs in a variety of fields. Some have dubbed Kenya the ‘Silicon Savannah’. New startups appear every day.
The Kenyan economy has been growing steadily with GDP at over 5% since 2013. There are ongoing reforms in governance, justice and access to basic services.
But the gap between the rich and poor is widening. Access to economic, political and social services is still difficult for a majority of the population.
Kenya is the place to be and achieve your dreams. Here, you'll bring positive change to the lives of marginalised youth, children with disabilities and women, whether you are from Kenya or from elsewhere.
With over 50 years’ experience supporting volunteers, you’ll be in good hands.
Our experienced staff and partners will do all that they can to help you settle, and enable you make the biggest difference possible. We will work together to learn and understand the complex nature of poverty, design appropriate interventions, and constantly improve our programmes.
It is my desire that your experience in Kenya is rich, fulfilling and rewarding. You will make lasting friendships. Life after volunteering will be full of meaning and you will hunger for more.
I do wish you all the best,
George Awalla
Country Director
Youth volunteering in Kenya
©VSO/Martijn Roos
People aged 18-25 can apply to do fully-funded placements lasting three months in Kenya, through the International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.
We have youth volunteering opportunities in Loitokitok, Machakos, Makueni, Nandi and Taita Taveta. Volunteers work with young people and people with disabilities to support secure livelihood projects, agriculture and to increase active citizenship in the community.
For example, in Machakos the volunteers created kitchen gardens in schools to generate food and income. They also worked alongside the Kenya Red Cross to plan and deliver events for World Aids Day.
If you ar a Kenyan citizen, you can join the fight against poverty, volunteering alongside young people from the UK. Find out more about this opportunity and download the application form
Contact us
If you have any questions about volunteering in Kenya with VSO you can contact our local office directly via vsokenya.comms@vsoint.org
Thinking of volunteering in Kenya?
Below is a list of all our current volunteer opportunities. Some of these jobs are available to nationals only. Others are available for candidates from anywhere in the world.
The application process at a glance:
Simply search for a role, click on the title and fill in our application form. Once we’ve received your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email explaining next steps.
Please note that our capacity does not allow us to accept CVs via email or to contact unsuccessful applicants personally.
| Title | Town | Apply by |
|---|---|---|
| Resilience Advisor- ACTIVE | Kakuma, Turkana County | 9 Jun 2023 |
| Youth and Volunteer Engagement Advisor | Nairobi, with frequent travel to the counties | 9 Jun 2023 |