Outdoor office cafe.
Goats avenue.
Whose right of way?
Adult education class.
Stay by me.
NECT FAQ's - Volunteer work Camp
- In the world of today safety cannot be guaranteed. We do however make every attempt to ensure that your time with NECT is as safe as possible.
- We utilise people who live in Kenya and have a good understanding of what issues it is facing
- We keep up to date with the political climate and on any changes in situations in areas
- We put in place back up plans should any changes be required.
- We ensure that the work you are involved in is done with the correct safety precautions
- The biggest indicator for safety, we believe, is the experience that people visiting, touring or volunteering have had. The experience that our groups and volunteers have had to date has been positive.
- Personal travel insurance is compulsory when travelling with NECT. The extent of your insurance is up to your discretion. We suggest that you take a package that includes repatriation to your home country should there be a medical emergency.
- Different countries have different (and consistently changing) visa arrangements/requirements with Kenya. The validity and visas for Kenya is your responsibility.
- The clothing and equipment you take will vary according to each trip (you could be in snow on Mount Kilimanjaro or in the heat of Mombasa. Prior to departure we will issue you with a full itinerary as well as a comprehensive kit list of things to bring.
- Prior to departure we will issue you with a full itinerary, a comprehensive kit list of things to bring and details on how you should plan to bring your spending money.
- The type of vehicle you travel in will vary according to your itinerary and the type of trip you are on. Our transport fleet ranges from mini buses and land rovers to large 29 seat overland trucks and 60 seat coaches.
- The HIV/Aids pandemic is a major issue facing the whole of Africa. A solid understanding of HIV/AIDS and how it is contracted is vital when visiting Africa. All precautions should be taken.
- We recommend that you visit your local travel clinic or Doctor for advice on health (malaria, yellow fever,etc.) while travelling in Kenya
- We recommend that you visit your local travel clinic or Doctor for advice on health (malaria, yellow fever,etc.) while travelling in Kenya
- We need to know if you have any specific medical conditions as well as any specific dietary requirements that you might have.
- Our response to your sickness will depend on the severity of your illness. Many of the places that you will visit will have a basic medical service that will be able to help with a diagnosis. Whatever the illness may be you can be sure that we will look after you as best as we can and also ensure that you receive the appropriate medical treatment.
- 18-80. To date the youngest we have had is 15 (accompanied by parent or guardian) years and the oldest has been 72 years. Age is not the important part of being a volunteer. Your enthusiasm, servant heart and open mind is what is key!
- Kenya and indeed Africa is the poorest continent in the world and there is essentially no budget to run the conservation and educational volunteer programmes. Your payment gets broken into two: the first section goes towards meeting the costs of your stay (airport transfers, meals, accommodation, etc.) and the second part goes towards the capital and operating costs of the programme you are involved in.
- The specific jobs that you are asked to do are very dependent on the needs at the time and vary from week to week. Our website contains more information on the different projects and kinds of things that you will be involved with.
- A member of NECT team will be at the airport when you arrive in Kenya and will transport you to your project.
- The journey time is two hours to your project base in Mbaruk Field Studies Centre near Nakuru.
- The first 48 hours are spent in Kenya's capital Nairobi as orientation time. We normally go for a game drive, do sight seeing and have a meal together as part of the orientation programme.
- Yes, or the facilities for you to do your own hand washing at projects that are more remote. We also organise community laundry service for a small fee.
- The holiday trips that are available vary but as a general rule you can budget between £250-£350 for a 5 day holiday.
- The amount of spending money that you need will vary according to how much you want to shop, eat (outside your regular meals) and drink (aside from tea, coffee and cordials). As a general rule you could budget on £100 per month.
- Parks fees are fees that are paid to the National Park and may vary from £5 to £10.
- We have an Internet service at most locations but some of them are in quite remote areas and can be unreliable.
- We have telecommunications at all our locations but due to the location of some of the projects the phones are not always available. We have 24 hour numbers should there be an emergency.
- Your daily routine is very seldom the same and will vary from day to day. We suggest that you look at the website as the project descriptions will give you a clear idea of what you will be doing.
- The food you will be eating will be predominantly western food (potatoes, beef, vegetables, etc.). We will also make available some of the local African foods, which you are encouraged to try.
- Yes, please read more about each on our website.
- Yes. We have a number of plans in place should you ever be in a crisis (medical, family, political, etc.).
- To be a volunteer you do not need to have any qualifications. The majority of volunteers at schools are not teachers and do not teach at the schools but instead rather get involved with extra mural activities, administration and general help.
- The possibility of you doing some teaching in the schools we partner with is very much appreciated. Your teaching interests will be taken into account.
- We do have a few standard itineraries that can be obtained from our website. We do however encourage you to tailor make your itinerary with the NECT team to sort your specific requirements.
- NECT works closely with the staff members on an expedition for students to uphold the law of the land, the name of their school and the reputation of African Impact. We ask for the staff members to assume the ultimate responsibility of the pupils but are always ready to assist the staff members. Our guides will also be on hand to help with understanding the local laws, customs and cultures.
- Your accommodation will be at the community house or with host families.
- The activities in the evenings vary. We always try and have one or two evenings of social interaction and entertainment with the host community. We also eat out at least once a week. The weekly programme is flexible and subject to change by consensus.
- Yes, any gifts to the schools and community groups you are visiting are more than welcome. We do ask though that you would give these gifts to the schools through NECT so that we can keep these groups accountable for the efficient use of the precious resources.
- This will vary from activity to activity and will be communicated with the group prior to departure.
- Yes. Seeing some of the awesome sights that Kenya has to offer is encouraged. When your itinerary is being developed the NECT team will be able to advise you on your safari options.
- The fee would be divided into two amounts that will be kept entirely separate. One will be a fixed amount paid to NECT to cover all travel costs and logistics for the trip, including accommodation, food and travel in Kenya. 'NECT Community' funds are kept separate and this amount will fluctuate, depending on the projects that the Field Studies Centre is engaged in.
