Short-Term Volunteering

Have a Unique Experience

2 to 3 weeks duration

Short-term volunteering, from 2 to 3 weeks, is a great opportunity to commit yourself to social change even if you only have a short period of time.

A short orientation session is given before the project begins to help you get acquainted with the project aims.

These projects are supervised by a CIVS advisor who will help you to make the project a success.

group of international and local volunteers

Our short-term volunteering projects can accommodate between 10-20 volunteers.

Volunteers join forces towards a collective goal, such as building a new classroom or raising awareness on a certain issue.

This close collaboration between volunteers and the local community is an enriching and unique experience.

A unique environment

The unique environment of short-term volunteering will allow you to:

  • Immerse yourself in community life in Kenya, learn about the people and their culture, and the different development challenges they face.
  • Live and work with other volunteers from around the world will be an opportunity to make new friends.
  • Reveal new skills and strengths as you discover that you can do things you have never tried before.
  • Add value to developing your career.

EXPLORE KENYA THROUGH OUR TOURS AND SAFARIS

A WORKCAMP EVERY MONTH

Key Information

ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION

Pick up at the airport

One-Day orientation

ACCOMODATION & FOOD

At the Project

Local Food (3 meals)

TOURS AND SAFARI

Go on a Safari and see the BIG 5. 

General Information

All volunteers taking part in this project will be picked up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. CIVS will arrange accommodation before and after the workcamp in a host family.

There will be a one-day orientation for all participants the day before the workcamp starts.

300 Euros

The workcamp fee includes the following:

  • Airport pick up upon arrival & Airport drop off after the workcamp
  • Up to 3 nights’ accommodation in Nairobi
  • Introduction to Kenyan life through a Nairobi City Center Tour before the workcamp
  • Workcamp Orientation at the CIVS office in Nairobi or the workcamp site
  • Food (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Workcamp facilitation and mentoring of volunteers by an experienced workcamp leader
  • Certificate of participation for the volunteer
  • All administrative costs 

The following costs are NOT included:

  • Flight ticket & Visa costs
  • Local travelling : from the office to the workcamp
  • Cost of drinks like soda, beer, mineral water etc
  • Cost of sightseeing
  • Direct donations to the project

Accommodation will be at the project in this workcamp and it is important that you have your own sleeping mat and a sleeping bag.

During the workcamp, volunteers will get food from locally available foodstuffs and will share the responsibility of preparing the food.

CIVS Kenya organizes tours and safaris to spectacular sites of interest in Kenya. Volunteers, who wish to participate, should let us know as soon as possible in order to enable us to make proper arrangements. The fee charged is all-inclusive of meals, transport, park entry fees, accommodation and tour guiding.

ETA Pass

Kenya has transitioned from visa requirement to Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) from January 2024. The official link for eTA application is https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en. If you already applied for the normal visa, you will still use it during this transition period. Below is your eTA application procedure:

  1. Log in to the website above, create an account, agree to terms and conditions, and select your country of residence.
  2. Upload your passport biodata page, then your selfie picture or passport-type photo
  3. Enter your contact information
  4. Enter your travel itinerary information
  5. Choose your reason for travel as tourism and enter your accommodation address in Kenya as follows:
    • Full Name and Physical Address of accommodation: CIVS Kenya, Mumias South Road, Buruburu Business Center, Nairobi Kenya
    • Host Telephone Number: 254722210968
    • Host Email: info@civskenya.com
  6. Upload the invitation letter in place of the accommodation booking confirmation
  7. Confirm and proceed with payment (34 USD)

A yellow fever certificate will only be a requirement if you are first traveling to other countries in Africa or Latin America before entering Kenya. In some instances, later during the processing, our ID or CIVS registration may be required, and you can contact us in case this issue arises. ETA processing can take up to 3 days but if it takes longer, then usually there is an error on the side of the application and the immigration department will contact you by email. CIVS will offer assistance in case of a problem.

Extension of ETA Pass

The ETA pass is valid for 3 months and can be extended for 3 more months online on the electronic Foreign Nationals Services portal (efns) upon expiry.  Below is the procedure for visa extension.

  • Click on Apply now, go to the dashboard and scroll down to Foreign Nationals Services.
  • Click on the extension of the visitor’s pass, and complete your application. Upload a copy of your visa and passport data page.
  • Pay a fee of 50 USD online.
  • Go back to the notifications tab on the dashboard, download the official extension notification and print it out.
  • Present the printout alongside your passport at the immigration offices in Nairobi/ Mombasa. Have your passport stamped. (You might experience a long queue at the immigration)

The online forms can also be easily filled out at a cyber café at a fee. CIVS will offer assistance with this as well.

INTERNSHIP PASS

For volunteers who will stay in Kenya for more than 6 months, CIVS will support you to apply for an internship pass upon entry into Kenya. This document costs 100 USD and covers you up to 1 year. You will first need to have applied for an eTA before we help you to apply for an internship pass.

There are usually long delays in processing and issuance of internship passes, but once your application has been received, you are allowed to use the “received” notification to extend your visa even after 6 months.

The following documents will need to be ready before the commencement of the internship pass application: All documents in a foreign language must be translated into English, certified, and stamped.

  1. Applicant’s School Certificate
  2. Applicant’s Police clearance certificate
  3. Applicant’s Current Passport-size color photo
  4. Applicant’s Passport biodata
  5. Applicant’s visa if they are already in Kenya
  6. Commitment letter from sponsor and proof that the applicant will be funded (We will guide you on how to write this letter)
  7. CIVS Cover letter
  8. CIVS Registration Certificate
  9. Applicant’s CV
  10. CIVS tax certificate

Choose a Project that suits you best

Several themes are available: Supporting People with Disabilities, Sustainable Community Development & Empowerment, Child Care, Environment Conservation, and Permaculture.

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2024 Work Camps

08 - 25 NOVEMBER 2024

NOVEMBER

LUANDA COMMUNITY EMPOWEMENT

THEME: PROMOTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The project aims to empower the community to realize their potential through local initiatives like farming, brick making, environment conservation, community banking, childcare, informal education, and health and sanitation programs.

06 - 23 DECEMBER 2024

DECEMBER

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CODEP)

THEME: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SOCIAL WORK

The CODEP project was started to empower the local communities to improve living standards in areas of agriculture, education, water, shelter, and environmental conservation.

2025 Work Camps

04 - 23 JANUARY 2025

JANUARY

MASOGO RESOURCE CENTER

THEME: Promoting Community Resource Center as a means to development

The Masogo Community Resource Center is a project initiated by CIVS in collaboration with the local community in 2019 to build and strengthen the community’s capacity to be self-reliant and to improve their living standards.

08 - 24 FEBRUARY 2025

FEBRUARY

MIKONO PAMOJA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

THEME: Promoting Community Development

Mikono pamoja community development project is located in Rodi Homabay County. ‘Mikono pamoja’ means holding hands and it is based on the notion of people working together to do more.

08 -29 MARCH 2025

MARCH

COMMUNITY HEALTH VOLUNTEERS-VIRHEMBE

THEME: Promoting Community Health and Environmental Conservation

The mission of this CHV is to spearhead implementation of community health and conservation projects in order to create a better life for communities in Western Kenya.

10 - 29 MAY 2025

MAY

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CODEP)

THEME: Environmental Conservation and Social Work

The CODEP project empowers the local communities to improve living standards in agriculture, education, water, shelter, and environmental conservation.

06 - 23 JUNE 2025

JUNE

HAPPY ME HAPPY YOU CHILDREN PROJECT

THEME: Supporting orphans and vulnerable children

‘Happy Me Happy You’ is a non-profit organization established in 2017 to empower women, youth, and men from vulnerable and poverty-stricken backgrounds to realize a sustainable community.

04 - 21 JULY 2025

JULY 1

BADILISHA ECO-VILLAGE

THEME: PERMACULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Badilisha Eco Village promotes permaculture farm design techniques and ethics to bring change to the lives of people on Rusinga Island. 

12 - 29 JULY 2025

JULY 2

AHERO RESOURCE CENTRE

THEME: Promoting Community Resource Center as a means to Development

Ahero Community Resource Center is a project initiated to build and strengthen the community’s self-reliance capacity and improve their living standards.

05 -26 AUGUST 2025

AUGUST 1

COMMUNITY HEALTH VOLUNTEERS-VIRHEMBE

THEME: Promoting Community Health and Environmental Conservation

The mission of this CHV is to spearhead implementation of community health and conservation projects in order to create a better life for communities in Western Kenya.

11 - 31 AUGUST 2025

AUGUST 2

MIKONO PAMOJA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

THEME: Promoting Community Development

Mikono pamoja community development project is located in Rodi Homabay County. ‘Mikono pamoja’ means holding hands and it is based on the notion of people working together to do more.

06 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2025

SEPTEMBER

MARIANNE CENTER FOUNDATION

THEME: Supporting young adults with mental disability

Marianne Center Project is a training center for young people with mental disability with the aim of having them get the same opportunities and inclusion in society.

09 - 30 OCTOBER 2025

OCTOBER

AHERO RESOURCE CENTRE

THEME: Promoting Community Resource Center as a means to Development

Ahero Community Resource Center is a project initiated to build and strengthen the community’s self-reliance capacity and improve their living standards.

09 - 30 NOVEMBER 2025

NOVEMBER

ESIKOMA COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT

THEME: Promoting community Health

Esikoma Community Health Project was established by the Esikoma Community Health Self-Help Group in 2022 to offer health services to the local community.

26 NOV - 17 DECEMBER 2025

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

NYAHERA COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE

THEME: Promoting Community Resource Center as a means to development

Established by Bengi Investment Group (BIG) in collaboration with CIVS, Nyahera Community Resource Center is a hub for business development, community banking, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation.

Any Questions?

We will respond to any questions as soon as possible.

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. 

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