Light Up a Life at Green Village 

The Green Village Hope Children Home (GVHCH), officially registered under the Kenyan government Reg. No. EMU/SCSDG/CBO/2017, was established to address the increasing number of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Ipali, Emuhaya Location, Vihiga County. Located approximately two kilometres from Luanda town, along the Kisumu-Busia Road, the institution is committed to offering holistic care and a nurturing start in life to 38 children – many of whom are orphaned, abandoned, physically challenged, or living in extreme poverty, alongside teenage mothers and widows seeking refuge and restoration.

Under the stewardship of Mama Florence, GVHCH operates with the support of two devoted housemothers and a caretaker, all of whom are committed to the home’s mission of offering hope and foundational support to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

What category best describes your hosting arrangement? 🏡

• Organisation/NGO

Location – Where is your volunteer project located?🌏

Our volunteer project is located in Ipali, Vihiga along Kisumu-Busia road County , Kenya

What are you looking for help with?

• Administration 🔑
• Animal keeping 🐓🐴
• Building 🛠
• Charity Work/Fundraising 💰
• Computer/Web 💻
• Farming/Gardening 🌿🐄
• Film-Making 🎥
• General Help 💁‍♀️
• Health/Medical/Assistance 👩‍⚕️🩺

What’s the mission of your community? 🎯

Green Village Hope Children’s Home is deeply committed to transforming lives through holistic care and empowerment.

The key areas of need we hope to work together with volunteers on include:

• Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
  • Providing shelter, food, and emotional support to orphaned, abandoned, and destitute children.
• Support for Teenage Mothers
  • Offering rehabilitation, education, and empowerment to young mothers facing social and economic challenges.
• Support for widows.
  • Through community outreach, the home helps provide food, clothing, and other essentials to widows facing economic hardships and engages them in income-generating activities.
• Education and Personal Development
  • Promoting access to formal education and life skills to help children grow into productive members of society.
• Clean Water Access
  • Implementing borehole drilling and solar-powered water systems to reduce time spent fetching water and improve hygiene.
• Renewable Energy for Lighting
  • Installing solar power systems to provide reliable lighting for study and safety at night.
• Support for Widows
  • Extending care and empowerment programs to widows in the surrounding community.
• Community Outreach and Development
  • Engaging in projects that uplift the broader neighbourhood, including volunteer opportunities and sustainable initiatives.

Volunteers’ age restrictions 🔞

• We can host volunteers of all ages (senior volunteers and minors are welcome) 💪

Volunteers with disabilities ♿

• Volunteers with disabilities are welcome ♿ ✅

All volunteers are highly accepted; underage volunteers would need to be accompanied by parents or student groups.

How many volunteers could you host? 🎎

• Up to 10 volunteers

When do you usually need volunteers? 📅

• All year round

How many hours of help per day? ⏱

• 4-5 hours of help per day

How many days of help per week? 🌒

• 4 days of help per week – 3 days off

Note about the volunteer work and other expectations 📝

Volunteers are expected to feel free to use their God-given talents and skills to improve the facility and programs.

• This being a child-centred institution, the consumption of alcohol and smoking is prohibited on the premises

Are accommodation and food included? 🏠🍜

Yes, we offer food and accommodation

What type of accommodation can you provide? 🏕

• Dormitory/shared rooms 🛌
• Private home 🏠
• Private room for a couple 🎎
• Tent 🎪

Diet – nutrition information 🥗🥤

• Please avoid street food and drink bottled water. Tap water can be used for drinking and washing.
• For breakfast and dinner, we do special meals for the guests.
• For lunch, the guests share the same meals with the kids. Breakfast is nutritious and includes tea or coffee, bread with jam, fruit, and a main dish like eggs, bacon, pancakes, French toast, cereal, or porridge – depending on what’s chosen that day.
• Lunch is usually the main meal in Kenya. Volunteers often eat on-site, with the kids and other staff.
• The guests are also allowed to surprise the kids by preparing a meal from their country of origin.
• Dietary preferences (vegan/vegetarian) are highly accommodated.

Fee transparency 🆓🔍

No, we don’t have any program fees, but we allow the volunteers to make a free-will donation towards any ongoing projects.

We throw a challenge back to you to initiate crowdfunding (if possible) for support of the project, and assure you that all funds raised or donated go straight to the project you’ll be volunteering with.

VISA SUPPORT – Are you able to assist with visa support, information, or provide invitation letters? 🛂

• Yes, we can help with Visa/invitation letters ✅

Volunteers’ benefits 🏆🏅

Your Volunteer Experience Includes:

• Warm Welcome
  • We’ll greet you upon arrival at Kisumu International Airport and ensure a smooth transition into your new adventure.
•  Comfortable Living
  • Enjoy cosy accommodation for the entirety of your stay (minimum 2 weeks), complete with a shared room alongside a fellow same-sex volunteer – each with your own bed.
• Essentials Provided
  • We’ve got you covered with soft pillows, warm blankets, and a treated mosquito net for restful nights.
•  Stay Connected
  • Free Wi-Fi is available at the house, so feel free to bring your laptop and stay in touch with loved ones or document your journey.
•  Local Cuisine
  • Savor three delicious, home-cooked Kenyan meals daily – an authentic taste of the region throughout your stay.
• Cultural Immersion
  • Dive deep into local life through meaningful interactions with the founder’s family, offering a rich cultural exchange.
  • Life-Changing Impact: Make a difference in the community while forging lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories.
•  Reliable Power
  • The house is equipped with a 240V power supply to keep your devices charged and your days running smoothly.

What are the available activities during free time? 🚴🚣🦒

• During free time, the volunteer can engage the kids and local community in sports, eg soccer, volleyball
• Hike the Bunyore hill
• Visit the crying stone kitmikai
• Hang out with the fishermen and Boat riding at Dunga Beach
• Visit a local bar for entertainment.
• Take a 30-minute drive to Kisumu town and learn more about the Luo culture

Language 🗣🇬🇧

• English, Swahili

Geography 🌳

The area is warm throughout the year with occasional rainy afternoons. The temperature rarely goes below 19 degrees c

How to get to your site ✈ 🗺

• From Nairobi to Kisumu by air (45 mins) and a 30-minute drive to the project at Luanda Ipali, or by bus ( 8hrs)
• Our location on Google Maps 📍

Is there internet access? 🌐

Yes!

“Paying guests” Option. Could you accommodate “solidarity” tourists? 🎎

Yes, we can accommodate eco/responsible tourists & paying guests 👌

See more volunteering opportunities in Kenya 🇰🇪