Abandoned Children’s Foundation logo Abandoned Children’s Foundation

Volunteer in Kenya

Show up.
Work together.
Leave connected.

Join community-led placements in teaching, children’s care, health outreach and medicine—with ACF beside you from planning through your return home.

Ask about a placement
Explore programs
  • 1 week to 6 months
  • Starts on the 1st & 15th
  • Airport pickup included
Illustration of a Kenyan classroom with a teacher, volunteer and students learning together

50%of program fees goes back into the local community

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Built by ACF, not brokeredNo third-party placement company between you and the work.

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Accountable in two countriesA U.S. 501(c)(3) and an NGO registered with the NGO Board of Kenya.

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Support from arrival to departureAirport greeting, orientation and 24/7 in-country support.

Choose your contribution

Four ways to volunteer

Placements are shaped around the needs of local partners and the experience you bring. Volunteers must be over 18 and have at least a high school education.

Illustration of a classroom learning session in Kenya

Program 01

Teaching

Support English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art or PE in community, public and orphanage schools. You may lead activities independently or work alongside local teachers and other volunteers; no teaching qualification is required.

School terms run January–March, May–July and September–November. During the April, August and December breaks, ask about tutorials, another placement or time to travel.

Illustration of volunteers and community caregivers preparing food and tending a garden with children nearby

Program 02

Orphanage work

Help with cooking, cleaning, farm work, feeding programs, teaching, and caring for children and babies in homes that may serve 50 to 300 children at a time.

Practical, hands-on support is shaped by each home’s daily needs and local staff direction.

Illustration of a community health outreach gathering in Kenya

Program 03

HIV/AIDS work

Work with hospitals, local NGOs, government institutions and community-based organizations through home visits, care and food support, and prevention and awareness lessons in schools and community groups.

Community partnership, local guidance and respectful outreach are central to the work.

Illustration of a trained volunteer working beside Kenyan clinic staff

Program 04

Medical placement

Join clinics, dispensaries or hospitals in rural villages and underserved urban communities. Facilities may have basic equipment, and each placement is matched to your prior medical training and experience.

You must be training or qualified in a relevant medical field and present qualifications or certificates before arrival.

Program information is drawn from ACF’s Kenya volunteer booklet. Placement details are confirmed directly with ACF before booking.

Know what to expect

From arrival to everyday life

ACF helps with the practical pieces so you can focus on your placement and settle into the rhythm of life in Kenya.

Before you go

Choose a placement and length of stay, share required qualifications, arrange flights, travel insurance and recommended vaccinations.

Arrival

ACF staff greet you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and provide orientation and transfer support.

Your week

Breakfast with your host family is typically around 7:30 AM, followed by project work with tea and lunch breaks. Afternoons are often free.

Time off

Weekends are free for travel or rest. Sunday is commonly a rest or church day.

Heading home

Your program fee includes return airport transfer, with ACF staff supporting you through the end of your stay.

Your stay

A home base, not just a bed

Volunteers usually stay with a vetted Kenyan host family. The arrangement supports local households while offering a grounded experience of daily life.

  • Three meals each day
  • Bedding provided
  • Rooms shared with 1–2 other volunteers
  • Some placements housed at orphanage locations
  • 24/7 in-country support

Inside the booklet

A closer look at volunteer life

The Kenya volunteer booklet sets out the practical rhythm of a placement—from the first airport pickup to meals with a host family and time away from the project.

A typical weekday

Hours vary by project and location, but this is the general schedule described in ACF’s booklet.

Breakfast with your host family.

Leave for the project, walking or being dropped off.

Work alongside local staff, usually with tea and lunch breaks.

Project work generally ends. Use the afternoon to explore, shop or spend more time with the children, depending on the placement.

Dinner with your host family; exact mealtimes vary by household.

Arrive ready

ACF recommends arriving the night before orientation so you have time to adjust. Accommodation is included from that night.

  • Send your flight details to ACF as soon as you book
  • Meet ACF staff at the airport for your transfer
  • On day one, a host-family member or ACF staff member escorts you to the project and introduces you
  • Bring any required medical qualifications before arrival

Home life & meals

Homestays are intentionally simple and give volunteers a direct experience of daily Kenyan life.

  • Most homes have electricity and running water; some rural homes may experience interruptions during drought
  • Tell ACF about dietary needs before you travel
  • Typical foods may include chai, mandazi, ugali, chapatti, rice, meat and vegetables
  • Bedding is provided; the booklet recommends a sleeping bag and mosquito net for overnight trips away

Details above come from ACF’s Kenya volunteer booklet. Daily routines and accommodation conditions vary by placement and should be reconfirmed before travel.

The ACF approach

What guides the work

Programs are built from the ground up, inspected by ACF staff and sustained through long-term relationships with local organizations and communities.

Affordability

Safe, high-quality placements designed to remain accessible.

Quality

Placements and accommodations inspected and experienced by ACF staff.

Support

Guidance before arrival and staff available throughout your stay.

Safety

Trustworthy homes and accommodations that have been vetted.

Loyalty

Long-term, sustainable partnerships—not short-term transactions.

Programs should strengthen the communities that welcome volunteers.

Half of volunteer program fees are reinvested locally to support orphans, schools and health clinics.

About ACF

Local relationships. Direct accountability.

The Abandoned Children’s Foundation runs international volunteer programs and child sponsorship work focused on helping children in East Africa achieve a better life. ACF is not a travel broker: its team stays with volunteers from booking through their return home.

Registered in the United States501(c)(3) nonprofit registered with the IRS.

Registered in KenyaNGO registered with the NGO Board of Kenya.

Practical answers

Before you book

Travel rules and health guidance can change. ACF will help you confirm current requirements before your trip.

Placements begin on the 1st and 15th of each month and can run from one week to six months.

Airport pickup and return transfer, orientation, program supervision, accommodation and meals during the placement, 24/7 in-country support and administration are included. Contact ACF for current pricing before making plans.

Plan separately for your visa, flights, travel insurance, vaccinations, personal spending, souvenirs and optional tours. Bottled water is typically about US$5 per week, and the ACF materials suggest about US$20 per week for basic spending.

Volunteers usually share a room with one or two others in a vetted family home. Bedding and three daily meals are provided. Living is basic: most homes have electricity and running water, though some rural homes may experience interruptions during drought. Tell ACF about dietary needs in advance so arrangements can be discussed.

Yes. The booklet notes that resources can be limited and that useful supplies matched to the placement are appreciated. Ask ACF what the local team currently needs before buying or packing anything.

Weekends are generally free for rest or travel. The booklet mentions exploring Nairobi and other parts of Kenya, taking a safari, or traveling farther with enough time. Volunteers may also ask about joining local weekend visits to children’s organizations. Sunday is commonly a rest or church day; attending with a host family is optional.

Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan shilling. The booklet notes that ATMs accepting international debit and credit cards are widely available and recommends carrying only small amounts of cash. Exchange rates and bank fees change, so check with your bank before departure.

ACF’s booklet describes a three-month tourist visa and notes that staff can help with renewal for longer stays. Because entry rules and fees can change, confirm the current process directly with ACF before travel.

ACF’s materials list Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Diphtheria/Tetanus, Typhoid, TB where relevant, and malaria tablets. Consult a qualified travel-health professional for current, personalized advice.

Mobile and email access are widely available. ACF’s materials note that local SIM cards are inexpensive; Kenya’s country code is +254.

Teaching placements do not require a teaching qualification. Medical placements require relevant training or certification, which must be presented before arrival.

Talk with the team

Your questions deserve a real conversation.

Tell ACF what kind of work you’re interested in, when you hope to travel and how long you can stay. The team can help match you to the right placement and confirm current fees.

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