And there I was, ready for the next adventure during my half year off in the fall of 2009. This time I took a plane from Mozambique to Kenya to volunteer in an orphanage. The Dutch family where I was going to stay for the next three months waited for me at the airport.
The orphanage “DECIP” (Dagoretti Early Child Education Intervention Program) is located in the neighbourhood of Dagoretti, an outskirt of Nairobi. It’s a shelter for minors (until the age of 18 years) who lost their parents, whose parents are unknown or children who are left by their parents or family. But also neighbourhood kids whose parents don’t have enough money to cook them a decent meal can come over to DECIP at daytime for a meal and to play with the other children. In 2009 DECIP took care of about 50 children. The orphanage totally depends on sponsors. I found this project via Wings of Support, the independent volunteering organisation of KLM.
It was shocking to see the shelter: there’s no electricity, running water, no beds and there are not enough school tables and chairs… In short, there’s almost nothing. Nevertheless, the children are very cheerful! DECIP bought a new plot in 2009. At that place there was already electricity, a water hole and a small vegetable garden. But there was not enough money to build a new shelter here.
DECIP raised just enough money for uniforms for the older children to send them to school. Since September 2009 25 children could finally get education!
I volunteered here from October until December 2009. In this period I’ve taught the younger children some English, I’ve washed them and played with them. The Dutch game ‘Anne-Maria Koekoek’ (Anna-Maria, Peekaboo!) was their favorite, but they taught me a lot of African games and songs as well.
Furthermore, with the money raised from sponsoring, we were able to buy bunk beds for DECIP, made by the local carpenter. The beds made a big difference for the children. Usually when I arrived at the orphanage in the morning, the children were cold as ice. From the moment they slept in the beds and not on the ice cold concrete floor anymore, they felt warm in the morning!
I also organized a day to Nairobi National Park for all the children with the money I raised. The park is very close to the orphanage, but most of the children had never left the neighbourhood; or seen a zebra or giraffe. With a touring car full of super excited children, we took off. Seeing the animals and being in a different environment for once, the children were incredibly happy. we gave the children our cameras to take photos of the safari.
Location:
DECIP
Riruta/Kabiria Road, Dagoretti, Nairobi
(NB. The location in Google Maps isn’t correct!)Unfortunately the website www.deceip.org is offline, but you can find information on this link from Wings of Support.
You could donate via the website https://www.liftthechildren.org/project/degoretti-child-intervention-program/ (NB. I don’t know this organisation myself!)
If you’re going to visit the orphanage, DECIP is always grateful for basic needs like soap, clothes and school supplies. Sometimes I brought bananas which I bought at a local fruit market stall on the way to the orphanage.
The neighbourhood where DECIP is located isn’t very safe. I couldn’t go there at times because there were violent gangs active sometimes. Don’t go to the orphanage by yourself and without confirmation from DECIP.
Continue reading for more inspiration for a trip to Kenya or choose another destination in Africa.
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