Volunteering &
Community Development
in Kenya

Center for International Voluntary Service (CIVS Kenya) exists to empower communities, organizations, and individuals to realize their full potential.

Positively Impact Communities

CIVS Kenya is a Community Development Organization operating in the marginalized and poverty-stricken areas of Kenya to contribute toward the socio-economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities.

We achieve this through two program areas: 

  • International Voluntary Service (IVS) is designed for volunteers who want to offer their time and services as they learn, gain experience, and exposure. We collaborate with local projects to organize short-term, medium-term, and Weltwaerts project attachments.
  • Community Development is run through the Community Resource Centers Approach whereby we have established 3 functional Community Resource Centers in Ahero, Awach, and Awasi areas, and additional field stations in areas like Nyakach. We offer capacity-building programs to local communities.

 

SHORT TERM VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS

Have a Unique Experience

2 to 3 Weeks – Specified Date – Workcamp

Experience community life together with a group of  10 -20 internationals and local volunteers.

MEDIUM TERM VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS

Be part of a Kenyan Community

1 to 6 months – All around the year

Learn new cultures and exchange knowledge and life experiences in the field of volunteering

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS

Improving Lives Together

Community Development Programs 

Discover our community development programs through the Resource Centers approach

FEATURED VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

Short and Medium-term Volunteer Programs allow you to get involved with the Kenyan communities, no matter how much time you have.

We have a wide range of volunteer projects available in rural and urban Kenya including teaching, childcare, environmental protection, agricultural work, healthcare, and supporting people with disabilities.

AHERO RESOURCE CENTRE

SHORT TERM VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM - WORKCAMP

07-24 August 2022

09-26 October 2022

Available also in Middle term 

CHILDREN - FARMING- BUILDING -TRAINING

ST. MICHAEL DAY CARE

MID-TERM VOLUNTEERING TERM PROGRAM

CHILDREN - EDUCATION - COMMUNITY LIFE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

We socio-economically empower the poverty-stricken, local and marginalized community stakeholders through our inclusive Resource Centers approach where several projects are represented. 

FOOD SECURITY

We improve the family well-being in our communities through agro-economic development and environmental stewardship

WATER AND SANITATION

We improve health and economic well-being by facilitating access to safe water, sanitation, and appropriate hygiene practices

ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN (OVC) PROGRAM

We provide free education and daily meals with the Early Childhood Development Education Program and Feeding Program

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

We prepare the local youth for the competitive job market and improve their ICT skills  with the aim to develop opportunities.

EMERGENCY RELIEF

We strive to respond to the direct needs of the affected population with an aim to try to restore the situation to normal.

THANKS TO YOU

25

YEARS in Service

6000+

VOLUNTEERS Involved

90000+

LIVES Impacted

Testimonials

What our Volunteers have to say

One of the best experiences of my life, I built a strong friendship and relationship with all the local volunteers at the Resource Center and enjoyed every single moment that I spent with them. Working closely with them especially in the farm was a lot of fun. Also the time spent all together in the evenings and on weekends was great and I will keep with me many great memories. I already miss Ahero and all the people there. I leave there a piece of my heart!

Federico Canepa - Italy

Ahero Resource Center

My stay here in Kenya was so interesting and never boring. The project in Mukuru Njenga is really interesting especially for nurses or medical staff in general. If time passes by you have to look for work before you might get bored, but the workers there are very open-minded and they trusted me after one month. In the beginning going to the medical Centre in Mukuru all by myself wasn't always easy but I had to learn that I have to get used to the environment and the people there but I also learned that the people in the slum deserve a chance to get used to me. Now I'm walking through Mukuru like a second home.

Lea Huerzeler - Switzerland

Medical Missionary Of Mary, Mukuru

I appreciate the experience I had here in Kenya and I have learned a lot. The people were very nice and I very appreciate the hospitality of the locals. I am glad I had the chance to see traditional life in Kenyan village and try some work there. The children were very nice and I enjoyed to spend some time with them. I felt many times that our group of Kenyans was talking a lot in Kiswahili and even though we talked about it and guys were sometimes really trying to speak English. Overall, I am glad I came, seen and have met all these people, I am sure I will not forget.

Jana Ernekerova - Czech Republic

Khalaba Development Group

I started my stay in Kenya in a workcamp which I really enjoyed. I met so many nice people there, who have now became friends for life. Afterwards I spent my time in St. Vianeey Academy. Thomas welcomed me very friendly and always had an open ear for problems, he was very helpful and interested in how I felt. The children also were helpful and I always had fun playing, dancing or talking with them. I experienced the real life in a community and heard hard stories of the children who get rehabilitated in the school. I made experiences and friends for life. I will never forget my stay here and I am hoping to come back soon.

Tanja Palecek - Austria

St. Vianeey School

I was in Kenya during one month and I really enjoyed my travel. I felt comfortable in my project. I went to the school in the morning and then to the orphanage. I tried to help the teacher and at home the best I could (homework, cleaning, cooking, playing). It was great at Alice's (host) house. The house is not far from school or Destiny home so it was nice to be able to go there by foot. I also travelled every weekend (Maasai Mara, Kisumu/Lake Victoria, Mombasa) and I'm so happy I had this opportunity. Thanks CIVS Kenya for the orientation and all the accompaniment during this experience. Hope I will see you again.

Margaux Rutsaert - Belgium

Destiny's Children Home

The first day for me at the orphanage, my host welcomed me and was so friendly. The children are also very kind and energetic. I was happy to see them and I spent a very good time with them. Accommodation was so good. Host family was kind and warm. Foods are delicious, I enjoyed varieties of Kenyan food.

Chisaki Matsumoto - Japan

Hope for children orphanage

Thank you so much for giving me this wonderful experience. I think I discovered Kenya and its people by the better way - volunteering. I'm happy of being able to help in this project and it's so great to see the ICT students graduating thanks to the few skills I could give them. I came thinking about becoming a humanitarian personnel after my studies, now I'm sure about it. So thank you so much, I'll never forget this experience.

Marion Fouquet - France

Ahero Resource Center
More About Us

WHO WE ARE

CIVS Kenya was registered in 1997 as a Kenya-based non-profit agency that offers innovative and competent support services to empower communities and organizations.
Our organization operates through two main areas which are Volunteering and Community Development Programs.

OUR PARTNERS

Featured Partner

SamburuHilfe

We are pleased to have SamburuHilfe as our partner.  CIVS Kenya has partnered with SamburuHilfe in areas of agriculture and food security, Education, and Provision of Water.

We have helped community groups to set up and manage greenhouses agriculture projects and trained the local community groups in setting up horticultural farming.

Our partnership extends to training the local schools’ teachers and the board of management. CIVS Kenya conducts training workshops for the 4 local schools every year.

CIVS Kenya conducted research on the sources, quality, and usage of water in the community for the purpose of coming up with a provision of clean water project.

Any Question?

If you have any inquiries or comments, please feel free to contact us by email or text. You can also find answers to frequent questions on our FAQ page.

ABOUT US

The Center for International Voluntary Service (CIVS Kenya) is a Community Development Organization working with local marginalized communities in Kenya to support them in their development and fight the poverty through volunteering and community development programs.

REACH US

LOCATION

SOCIAL MEDIA