Would anyone like to volunteer in Kenya?

Are there organisations in Africa where I can volunteer for free?

• MY boyfriend and I are looking to volunteer in africa for 3 month beginning september this year. We are both professional people, he is n experienced joiner with qualifications and I am a youth and community worker. We hope to go to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda or somewhere else in that area of Africa which speaks english. I do not have a problem paying for my own food and board (ideally I would like that for free but i understand if organizations cannot offer that) However, I do object to paying hundreds of dollars a month, way over the amount food and board costs, I didn't mind giving my time for free, but i do not have time to raise thousands of dollars and I dint have much money. We are not gap year students but skilled people who can be of use. I cannot do VSO because they expect a longer commitment than I can give. I have written to tonnes of independent orgs in Africa but all come back with huge prices to pay. Has anyone been to this area of africa volunteering and has some tips?

• Answer:

  I know that you are actually looking for East Africa, but perhaps my answer will help you still: Contact [email protected]. These people set up an organization in South Africa (I assume near Johannesburg / Pretoria) to look after orphans whom lost their parents due to aids. The organization is called something like Beat the street. I got the impression they'll love some skilled people to come help them out. Albert is a personal friend of mine from a long time ago when I was in South Africa myself as a student. I know that this will be an honest cause. Also try something completely different: Sri Lanka http://www.hellabeem.org/Index_english.html. Contact Jan or Helene (also friends of mine). I've been there and it's a great place to work as a volunteer, very rewarding! I'm certain they wont ask for any money besides for some food perhaps. All people mentioned above know me as Jeroen Beltman (from Holland) Now why do most organisations ask for loads of $$$? I'm one of the directors of http://www.leoproject.org and we do ask $$$. With the money we earn by organizing what is called responsible holidays we pay for your accommodation, food, inland transport etc, but much more important we contribute most of the money to the projects we run within the country. I have been on such a paid volunteer program myself and don't mind paying the high fee as long as I know it is invested in local projects. Good luck and I hope you can do a lot of great things out there! JR