What will the living accommodations be like in Kenya?

    For the majority of the program volunteers will be camping in a remote village with tents and access to clean water. Three meals a day will be provided by local women working in the village.

Are there any health concerns I should be aware of?

   It is important to prepare yourself before traveling to any developing country where health risks and health care are very different then here. Malaria is prevalent in most areas of East Africa, however antimalarial drugs can be taken over the course of your travels in Kenya to prevent you from getting it and it is mandatory for all volunteers to bring. Volunteers will also be required to make a travel appointment with their doctor to arrange for any vaccinations that are needed prior to travel. Click here to see more health information for travelers to Kenya from the CDC.

Why should I pay to volunteer?

   Most short-term international volunteer programs have a program fee which covers the expenses of operating the program. Like most not-for-profit organizations that operate international volunteer programs, The Samburu Project’s operations and community projects are also partially financed by volunteer contributions.The Samburu Project is an independent not-for-profit with no governmental or religious affiliations.

Below is an excerpt from a book on international volunteering that helps to explain the necessity of this fee.

      How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas

      Authors Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher. ©Penguin

      Putnam, Inc., 2002.

      Prospective volunteers are surprised to learn that many programs charge their volunteers a fee to participate. At first, this can seem ridiculous —Why should you pay money to work for free? Aren't you already forgoing income you could be making? Here are a few things to keep in mind while trying to understand why the vast majority of programs charge international volunteers a fee:

          o The local organizations and projects with which you volunteer overseas have limited resources and are seldom able to subsidize your trip or cover the costs of hosting you. (These costs include housing, feeding and transporting you, among numerous other things.) [...]

          o Identifying appropriate host organizations overseas and working with them is time-consuming, takes resources, and requires an experienced and professional staff.

          o The process of preparing, training, transporting, housing, feeding, and supervising volunteers is not cheap. Additional services such as health care, re-entry assistance, travel medical insurance, and more, all add to the expenses of a program.

          o The costs of recruiting volunteers, producing literature, answering the phones, sending mailings, developing a website, and interviewing potential volunteers are significant.