Volunteering

Avaliable Trips:

Kenyan Volunteering Discovery

When it comes to memorable overseas travel experiences, two things come to mind: the beauty of a land and the beauty of the people who live there. Travel to Kenya with your family or friends on a Me to We volunteer trip, and experience a kind of beauty you will never forget. As you volunteer in rural communities and immerse yourself in a new culture, you'll uncover the vibrancy and struggles of a proud, inspiring land.

Me to We volunteer trips offer safe, intimate, trans formative volunteer travel opportunities for individual adults, families and corporate groups.  All of our trip visitors acknowledge that their Me to We trip was life-changing, and the start of many things to come.

Please contact us on 0844 488 1123, or send us your requirements and our staff will contact you.

Trip Highlights:

• Volunteer with Free The Children and help the organization's longstanding commitment to development projects in Kenya: build a new school, plant trees in community gardens, paint classrooms and desks and more.

• Guest speakers, facilitators and in-country staff share their knowledge of Kenya and the issues it faces through workshops, lectures and informal discussions.

• Embark on a wildlife safari and watch Africa's famous "big five" animals: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino.

• Meet the local community and immerse yourself in local culture by learning about the local Maasai and Kipsigis people's rich and fascinating history.

Testimonials

Read the testimonials from our enthusiastic past trip participants, from parents and families, to corporate teams, to university alumni and more.

"It was life changing – beyond anything I could imagine. I can't thank you enough!" -Laleh Rudi, Kenya trip 2009

"Upon returning from Kenya I have been feeling a roller coaster of emotions, and I know I am not alone. Almost a week later, it has been hard to find all the words to express this life-changing "Me to We" experience… I know other people won’t understand. I guess "you just had to be there. -Diane Martin, Kenya trip 2009

"The experience was transformational and I consider this to be one of the greatest blessings of my life. I hope we can harness the positive energy and do much more in the days and years ahead…" -Kyle Winters, U of T alumni trip 2009

"You have educated and empowered each of us to be better human beings and reach out to others to share our experience… Thank you again from the bottom of all of our hearts for showing us what matters." -Megan Taylor, Kenya 2009

"Not a moment in the day goes by without thinking about the mamas and the kids and the community and what they might need right now…" -Kathryn Stein, Family trip Kenya 2009

"This was an amazing experience that I would encourage any of you to add to your "bucket list."" -Mary Nelson, 2009

"Celebrate our future world together, united… never forgetting that "it takes a village” to Free the Children." -Diane Martin, Kenya trip 2009

"All the way on the flights home, we talked about the ways we as a family (and individually) can continue to keep this experience alive in our minds and hearts and how we are going to continue to keep this great effort moving forward and maintain momentum to promote change" -Franks family, Kenya trip 2009

Volunteer Trip FAQ's

Why do a Volunteer Trip?

The Me to We Volunteer trips are different from those provided by other volunteer tour companies. These trips change not only the lives of the participant, but the lives of the communities they travel to and the people they visit. What makes Me to We Volunteer trips so unique is the organization’s partnership with Free The Children. A charity and educational partner, Free The Children has established partnerships with the communities and governments where Me to We trips take place. Because of these partnerships, Me to We  is able to give trip participants the unique opportunity to truly interact and engage with the communities they visit— communities that are welcoming and treat all guests like family.

What is Free The Children?

Free The Children is Me to We’s charity partner and best friend in changing the world. Founded in 1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. The organization’s domestic programs educate, engage and empower hundreds of thousands of youth in North America, the UK and around the world. Their international projects have brought over 650 schoolsand school rooms to youth and provided clean water, health care and sanitation to one million people around the world.

Volunteers on a Me to We trip help build Free The Children schools and have the opportunity to see the organization’s sustainable development model, Adopt a Village, in practice. Every Me to We trip complements and advances Free The Children’s development work. What’s more, Me to We trips are driven by the goal of creating systemic change—both for the participants and the communities they visit.

What do Me to We Volunteer Trips include?

Me To We Volunteer trips offer safe, intimate, transformative volunteer travel opportunities. Each trip encompasses:

• Volunteering: You will be engaged in school building, digging the foundation of a new school or the walls of a classroom, tree planting, fetching water and helping the community.
• Community Connection and Friendships: Through various activities like a medicinal walk, warrior weapon training, evening fires and more, you will have a chance to meet and interact with Free The Children’s team, community members and one another to build meaningful connections and friendships.
• Adventure: Experience the adventure of a lifetime: a safari! This is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the trip experience thus far and, if lucky, see the “big five – Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo.”
• Education:  You will have an opportunity to learn about Free The Children’s Adopt a Village sustainable development model and the history and culture of the community they visit.
  

What are the accommodations like?

While in Kenya, participants stay at the Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp, where you’re not just a guest—you’re family. Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp were designed by an award-winning Kenyan architect and are built with renewable, indigenous material. Rustic, yet luxurious, the cottages and tents boast all the comforts of home , including en suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water. Each cottage and tent is unique in its size and design and furnished with indigenous African fabrics and art. Bogani can accommodate groups as small as four and as large as 30 or more.

Are Me to We trips safe?

Safety and security is our number one priority. Me to We takes serious measures and precautions to ensure that all trip participants are provided with as much safety and security as possible.

These measures include:

• All facilitators are familiar with the country
• Travel advisories are monitored by international and country offices
• Copies of all passports, medical and travel insurance, emergency contact information and dietary and medical requirements are collected well in advance of the trip
• Satellite phone is used at all times, allowing for open communication, 24-hours a day, between in-country team and Toronto office
• All facilitators have up-to-date first aid training and have participated in our extensive training program, which includes emergency evacuation protocols, standard operating procedures and crisis prevention/management training
• Each facilitator carries a comprehensive first aid kit at all times
• On-call doctors are available to oversee all medical attention
• Local hospitals that are on par with Western medical standards are aware of our trips and prepared to handle any minor or major medical situations
• All transportation is manned by Me to We staff
• All travel occurs during the day, as a group and under the guidance of facilitators
• 24-hour security personnel available

Are Me to We Volunteer trips focused solely on school building?

The uniqueness of Me to We Volunteer trips is that they are a holistic, well-rounded experience that goes well beyond the building of school walls. At Me to We, we focus on ensuring that travellers not only volunteer but also understand the context of what they’re helping to create, the culture and history of the community they’re visiting and are given a chance to connect with the people as well as explore the beauty of the land.Trip participants are there to assist local construction workers on the building projects. Free The Children employs many locals who work on the projects year round, including while trip participants are on-site. Building does not stop after the trip leaves, and the community is highly invested in the physical labour of each project.

Am I fit enough to participate in helping to build a school?

Me to We welcomes guests of all ages and fitness levels. All participants are encouraged to work at their own pace and take breaks whenever necessary. If you have any physical conditions that will hinder your participation in any of the activities please let our staff know and we will be happy to accommodate all your needs.

Are Me to We trips considered “voluntours”?

Yes. Voluntourism is travel which includes volunteering for a charitable cause. While participating on a Me to We trip, participants work on Free The Children projects.

Can I bring gifts for the kids in the community?

Please do not bring candy or toys to give away as presents for any Me to We overseas trip. Me to We and Free The Children work together in solidarity with our partner communities, and we request that our trip participants also foster a relationship of respect with community members. We work to be as equitable as we can with our partner communities, and strive not to create conflict or the feeling of want. That is why we believe in giving a helping hand, not a hand-out.

How do I book a Me to We trip?

To learn more and book your trip, please contact