Volunteer Information
Most Kenya Health volunteers arrive ready to give almost anything a go and are comfortable “going with the flow.” Due to potential changes in the areas we visit and the time it can take to travel to them, schedules and clinic times may vary. Things don’t always run exactly to plan, so adaptability and the ability to improvise are valuable skills. Our outreach medical clinic trips generally run for 3–4 weeks.
Clinics are run in various locations around Nakuru. During some trips the team is away for several days doing outreach clinics further afield. This provides a good opportunity to experience some other areas of Kenya.
What can I expect when volunteering for Kenya Health?
Let’s work together
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A Typical Clinic Day
Daily Schedule
A typical clinic day starts around 8:30am after breakfast
8:00am
2:00pm
Breakfast at accommodation
8:30am
Travel to clinic location, pick up supplies and local helpers
10:00am
Clinic opens - patient consultations begin
1:30pm
3:30pm
Late lunch provided by locals
Continue clinic operations
4:00pm
Clinic closes, pack up equipment
Stop in town for late meal or supplies
Evening
Re-supply, planning, washing, connecting with family and viewing photos
Free Days
Free days are spent relaxing, sightseeing, souvenir hunting at the local markets and visiting Bagamoyo bags or on a Safari
Accommodation
Accommodation is shared basic western style with onsuite shower, toiler and electricity
Medical and General Volunteers
Most Kenya Health volunteers are nurses, though volunteers from any health field will find their skills useful. We always need 1 or 2 other helpers to assist with dispensing medicines, setting up, packing up and a multitude of other tasks.
Medical Volunteers
Nurses and healthcare professionals providing direct patient care
Medical license required
2+ years experience preferred
3-4 week commitment
General Volunteers
Assist with clinic operations, setup, and various support tasks
No medical background needed
Adaptable mindset
Team player attitude
We facilitate opportunities for Australians and people around the world to provide life-changing care
Kenya Health is committed to financing medical consultations and surgery for people who otherwise would have no chance of receiving this much-needed treatment. Opportunities exist for doctors and nurses with an interest in women’s health and paediatrics or general medical care, who can travel to Kenya to help operate health clinics, provide medical treatment, and take part in health promotion and health education activities.
We need people who can donate time, expertise in the medical or nursing fields, or funds for medical supplies. We would love to have you along!
Denise Brown
“I had the privilege of working with Kenya health on a volunteer basis. Our team leaders Ivan and Judy were great to get along with both personally and professionally. Now that I have been home for 3 weeks and have had the opportunity to reflect on my time in Kenya, it was definitely a great experience. I would certainly recommend any RN wanting to volunteer and in a position to do so, to give it a go!”
Tagisia Krouse
“Going to a faraway country on a mission trip was a childhood dream of mind. Late last year after meeting Mary Budulica (co-founder of Mission in Action) that dream reignited. She put me in touch with Lyle Burgoyne (founder of Kenya Health) and the rest as they say is history. Initially, coming over in March seemed impossible, both financially and getting the necessary leave approved. Yet each prayer was answered and 6 weeks later I found myself on a plane bound for Kenya with three people I’d never met before. Was I nervous? You bet! Did I have doubts? Yes! For despite 18 years of nursing what I was entering into was totally new territory. Literally. Have I any regrets? Only one: that I didn’t do this sooner!
Over the past four weeks we’ve run clinics at the Pondamali slums, a women’s prison and the remote communities of Nginyang and Riong-o, as well Nukuru’s rubbish tip for the dump dwellers. Each place has had it’s own set of challenges and it’s been a huge learning curve. My assessment skills alone have improved tenfold and I’ve experienced things I never thought I would. The people’s need in general is great but it’s been so good to be a part of making a difference in the lives of those we met. Working alongside Lyle, Mary, Ivan and an ever-changing team of volunteers from all over the world, in addition to Rosemary (the local nurse) as well as local youth and clergy – as our interpreters- has been awesome.
I realise that a lot of hard work, fund-raising, planning, dedication and prayer occurs behind the scenes and I thank Lyle, Mary and Ivan for the vision and absolute privilege of being a part of this, even for a short time. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all work and no play, for we managed to squeeze in not one but two safaris. Furthermore, enjoying the cuddles and playful antics of the children at M.I.A. has been a perfect way to begin and end each day – as well as overcome home-sickness. I will miss them all greatly.
Since my first trip to Kenya, I have been back four times and also served as a board member. Each trip has been very different and the Kenyan culture is a fascinating one, every experience has been both rewarding and a huge learning curve. I count it a total privilege to be part of the team and the children and people of Kenya are now knit to my heart!
Please support in any way that you can, even a little can make such a difference and I’ve seen first-hand what can be done! And to anyone contemplating volunteering for Kenya Health or M.I.A., I say DO IT! You will not regret it, I guarantee :-)”
Sue Anderson. (Registered Nurse / Midwife)
“My trip to Kenya in 2009 was full of challenges, surprises – mostly nice ones, and rewards – big ones. Helping out with all the day to day activities at the amazing M.I.A. orphanage was a highlight in itself. Using our health qualifications to expand on the existing work that Mary and Ivan do in the surrounding community was indeed a memorable experience.
Most of what we did was simple stuff; teaching mothers that wrapping their feverish babies in layers of clothes and wraps was not helpful and could result in these babies becoming quite dehydrated; providing some sachets of re-hydrating powder to mothers of children with gastroenteritis while teaching them how to nurse their children through the illness; empathising with women who struggled through each day with painful backs from heavy manual tasks such as carrying water for very long distances – sometimes we were able to offer some anti-inflammatory medicine to make things a little easier for them for a short time; helping mothers look after their own health so they could continue to breastfeed their small babies; providing antibiotics for mastitis and chest infections.
At times we were working alongside local health workers in permanent structures immunising babies. At other times we worked in a hastily erected tent at the rubbish dump. Occasionally one of us could be found in a quiet corner of the orphanage seeing someone who just turned up as word had spread. A willing interpreter was never too far away.
One may ask whether our work made a difference in the big picture. I believe it did. I know I connected with some of these women. The fact that we spoke a different language did not seem to matter. The language of caring and kindness is universal. To these mothers who trusted the mzungu with their beautiful children I say asante sana.
Since my first trip to Kenya in 2009, I have done 2 further trips and served both as a board member and volunteer co-ordinator. Through these roles, I have seen and experienced the effects of this wonderful work. I have yet to decide who benefits most from the outreach clinic trips run by Kenya Health. It may be the Kenyan people who are so humble and grateful for our help. Or it may be the volunteers who somehow find the time and money to go back time after time.”
