Volunteer Teaching in Kenya

This project is perfect for anyone who enjoys working with children, and wants to help those in need. This is also a great way to add teaching work experience in Kenya to your CV, which could help your future career.

You’ll work as an assistant to a local teacher at a public school. As you develop confidence and prove your capability to the teacher, you may also be able to lead your own classes.

No teaching experience? No problem! On your arrival in Nanyuki, you’ll receive a full induction from Projects Abroad staff. You’ll have support from local teachers, and you also have access to our online database to get ideas. Your supervisor is also available to answer your questions and provide guidance. In addition, we also run regular workshops for all Teaching and Care volunteers. You can exchange ideas and discuss challenges during these sessions.

Please note that you need to have intermediate English skills to join this project.

The project runs throughout the year, and you can join at any time. We encourage you to stay longer, so you can have a bigger impact at your school.

Each day you’ll eat breakfast with your host family, and spend time with them before your day of teaching begins. Dressed smartly, you’ll travel to your school using transport organised by Projects Abroad.

A typical day at a school in Kenya begins at 8am and ends around 4pm, Monday to Friday. You may have shorter days depending on your schedule.

On arrival at your primary school, you’ll either lesson plan with a fellow teacher, or you’ll head straight into the classroom to begin classes. In the beginning, you’ll support the teacher during English lessons. As you gain more experience, you may be asked to take the lead.

You can make English fun by singing songs, chanting the ABCs, or role playing a story. Do all of this to get your young students’ speaking and gaining confidence with English.

During lunch, you’ll eat a packed lunch from your host family. Use this time to play with your students’, or sit with teachers and get to know them. This is also the perfect time to ask teachers questions about the education system in Kenya, or how you can improve your teaching methods.

Weekends and free time in Kenya are yours. You can get together with other volunteers to climb Mount Kenya. You can also plan a trip to the capital, Nairobi, for a day of souvenir shopping and food tasting.

The aim of this project is to provide Kenyan children and teachers with educational support as you teach English.

In 2003, Kenya made great strides towards ensuring that all children have a chance to access their right to an education. In that year, children were finally able to attend public primary schools for free. However, with a large influx of young students, public schools and staff are feeling the pressure. Classrooms are overcrowded, and there are too many students for teachers.

This is where you are needed. At your volunteer teaching placement in Kenya, you will offer local teachers additional support in the classroom, while gaining teaching work experience. You will also help your students’ gain confidence with speaking English. You’ll also focus on improving the safety and cleanliness of the classrooms. This could be something as simple as giving a classroom a fresh coat of paint.

To ensure the work we do positively benefits the community, you’ll work toward these long term, sustainable goals:

• Improve English levels
• Improve the safety and cleanliness standards of the learning environment
• Encourage learning through creativity

Help us work towards these goals by volunteering as a teacher in Kenya.

You’ll work with children at public primary schools. You’ll get involved with the following activities: