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American Friends of Kenya, INC.

Work/Pleasure Trips

Next Trip- Summer 2011

2011 Application form will soon be posted- Thank you for your interest!

The Work/Pleasure Trip is an unforgettable experience and an opportunity for those that support AFK to see the fruits of their efforts, meet our partners, see firsthand the needs of the Kenyan community and get to see the beauty of Kenya!

The trips are not your typical tourist experience. They are a humanitarian project for the benefit of the people of Kenya.  They are not a restful vacation and you need to remember that you will be in the Developing World working in the trenches with your Kenyan counterparts.

The Working part of the trip is a direct response to the needs identified by our partners in Kenya, therefore it is not like a package tour that remains the same.  The trip destinations, locations of service, amount of time spent and a great many other details are quite fluid.  The safari portion of the trip is an option available to the traveler but not part of the regular mission trip. We separate the two to limit the expense for those that just wish to work rather than tour.
 
 
           
 
 
Details:
 
Cost: The cost of the trip is variable and depends on the teams and locations inlcuding transportation costs.  We are not able to anticipate the cost for the 2010 trip but you can anticipate at least an expense of $3,000.  Those who wish to also go on safari will have to pay for that portion separately but AFK can help with your safari plans through our travel agents in Kenya.  In Nairobi the stay is usually at the Hotel Boulevard.
 
Flights: Flights are arranged by us through our travel agent to get the Missionary discount from British Airways. We fly from the US to Heathrow in London and from London to Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi.  We are picked up at the airport in Nairobi and taken to our hotel by our drivers in the Land Rovers which we will board the next moring to start out to a variety of destinations.
 

 Rooms:  Rooms are based on double occupancy unless an individual wishes to have a private room, which usually costs more, depending on the hotel.  If a person is traveling alone but wishes to share a room, AFK will make the arrangement based on the information provided on the initial application.
 

TEAMS:  

Medical-    There is no way to tell up front the specific needs at the time we will travel.  Our Medical team must submit their credentials to us for clearance in Kenya.  AFK is in the process of re-defining our medical missions with a much greater emphasis to be placed on Health Education and Community Health Education in combination with our Kenyan partners.  We are seeking dental professionals not for restorative work but to go in to the schools we serve to do dental check ups and do dental health teaching to children and parents.  We will be taking a nurse mid-wife to work with the women in the slums that normally assist in deliveries in the homes of the slum women.  The highest rate of death for women in Kenya is as a result of child birth.  We will take a couple of doctors and nurses to do physicals in the schools, an HIV/AIDS specialist to work with our teams, a nutritionist with knowledge of Kenyan diets to work with Diabetics, an optometrist to do vision screening, and health workers to teach first aid (each school will be provided with a comprehisive first aid kit.  An a nurse to teach breast self-examination.

Library- These are individuals with experience and training in library and media center activities.  Many have experience in Public Libraries, School Libraries, or any other type of facility and be familiar with Dewey Decimal System and general library procedures. People on this team may be setting up school libraries, putting in a regional library, teaching local librarians or doing a variety of professional development activities.


Education- The team is made up of teachers and school support staff as well as counselors, school psychologists and special education teachers.  They work with their counterparts in Kenya and initiate early reading and literacy programs.   Also included are IT inidivuals who can help the teachers in Kenya with IT issues and assistance with computer usage.  Some of the schools are in more populated areas, but others are in remote villages.  Potential travelers must know that the Kenyan school system is in line with the British system and be able to be flexible in their approach.  We are guests in their country and we don't try to change their approach.  AFK'S MAIN EMPHASIS IS ON EARLY LITERACY.
                   
General-  This group is made up of individuals who would like to visit some schools, orphanages, hospitals and others but are not going to be doing "hands on" work.  More time is spent meeting with AFK partners in Kenya.  The General Team plays an especially valuable role in spreading the word and promoting the mission of AFK in their home communities.
 
AFK SELECTS THE TEAMS BASED ON THE NEEDS THAT KENYA HAS COMMUNICATED.  MANY WANT TO GO, BUT WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE THE GROUPS BASED ON THE MOST NEEDED SKILLS AS IDENTIFIED BY OUR HOSTS IN KENYA.
 
VISAS:  Visas are obtained upon arrival in Kenyatta Airport and all information regarding their preparation is provided once the teams are set.
 
Application process:
  1. Potential travelers are asked to fill out an application that identifies next of Kin, US contacts and skills and abilities of the traveler.  Pertinent licences and certifications are submitted at a later date. 
  2. Once the team is set, the individuals who are to be invited to go on the trip are notified and they then must submit a $150 non refundable processing fee to AFK.  This covers the cost of all the international money transfers, postage with itineraries, name tags and other information.  It is also from this fund that we send our partners who will be hosting us the funds to provide us with meals and care for us while we work with them.  It would be unfair to go to work in poor areas and be a burden to our partners.  The up-front money you provide, allows us to take care of the expenses.
  3. Once the fee is received, it assures the traveler of a spot on the team.  At that point, the team member will begin to receive information from AFK on a regular basis. 

***More details will be posted as the planning and travel dates get closer.***

 
What to bring?  July and August is winter in Kenya so a sweater or windbreaker and some long pants.  One nice outfit for ceremonial purposes.  Additional information will be provided on a regular basis by AFK regarding items to bring and travel issues and immunization.
 
 

         
 
 
Policies:
  • AFK will make the arrangements for all travelers departing from the US.  Team members from other countries need to arrange to meet the teams in Nairobi. Payment of air fares is done directly to our airline agent.
  • AFK will not take an individual under 21 years of age and traveling alone.
  • AFK will have a Board member or officer in the US with all contact information for the travelers and maintain daily contact with the teams in Kenya.
  • AFK will delete a team member from the trip if they miss a scheduled deposit or balance payment since we do not have a travel fund and immediately forward travelers monies to the travel agency.
  • AFK reserves the right to disqualify a member of a team if false or incorrect credentials are submitted.
  • It should be noted that AFK is an inclusive organization that encourages all peoples of all faiths to join our teams.  We often get individuals asking to join our mission who have an agenda of a religious nature and wish to go to Africa to act as a missionary. Kenya has many missionaries and AFK works with all religious groups- our partners inlcude Kenyans of all denominations.  We are there for educational, medical and library initiatives specifically and we honor all religious groups equally.

 




 
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