I know, I know, you’ve been reading my blog for the past
three weeks, checking it constantly, disappointed every time I skipped a day
and all the while thinking “What can I do?” (hopefully not followed by “to make
this stop showing up in my newsfeed…”)
Come and Volunteer!
Jambo Volunteers’ motto is “Sharing Knowledge” for a good
reason. You come, you learn a lot, and
you share what you know with the people in the community where you work.
Jambo needs people with all different backgrounds, expertise
and experiences. You’ll have a comfortable place to stay while in Kenya,
rewarding work, beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife! We need people who
enjoy getting their hands dirty, educators, doctors and nurses, farmers and
gardeners, accountants, caretakers, proposal and grant writers, therapists,
nutritionists, event organizers, electricians, paper pushers, mechanics,
inventors and anyone who is interested in helping and educating people and learning
about sustainability and renewable energy.
Buy Jambo Jewelry:
All hand-crafted by Maasai Women’s Groups (I watched them/
tried to make a ring and it took an hour, it’s for real) and purchased by Jambo
at above-market prices, this jewelry helps these women and their families to
expand their homes, buy food and clothes and pay for their children’s
educations. The profits from the sales
all benefit Jambo Volunteers’ projects in Maasailand.
Donate.
The maintenance, supplies (including food and water) and
teacher salaries of both the Kimuka Pre School and the Iyarat School are always
Jambo projects, as is the maintenance and student support of the Kimuka Primary
School’s Shamba (small farm) that USA’s Greenheart Travel helped to create two
years ago. Jambo also sponsors several girls from the Maasai Rescue Home so
that they can attend secondary schools, as free public education is not
provided after age 14 in Kenya. With less regularity, but still rather
frequently, Jambo sponsors groups of nurses and doctors to come and provide
medical “camps” where people can come a receive needed medical care at no or
very low costs. Jambo is also involved with the legal/financial support of
several local women who have been sexually assaulted. The list goes on and on!
Current NEW Jambo projects include: finishing a 2 classroom
addition to the Kimuka Pre-School, getting electricity connected to the Maasai
Rescue Home for Young Women (which Jambo Volunteers wired but has yet to find
means to connect), beginning a shamba for the girls in the Rescue House to
manage and finding sponsors for many of the needy students at the Iyarat school.
NEXT project on the horizon (and my personal passion):
Opening a Children’s Home this year! The proposal for this home includes a
place for at least 30 children and their caretakers complete with a kitchen and
bathrooms. This home could give
stability to many children who currently live on the streets or are being
passed around the homes of family members or local chiefs who do not have the
ability to provide for them. It would also provide emotional support, medical
care, clothing and supplies for these children.
This will be Jambo’s largest undertaking and is so needed in the
community. Sweet Samoreah, who is currently living with my cousin, needs a
permanent home to call his own where he can belong, have stability and routine
and receive proper meals and care. There
are so many more children in need of this in the area.
Help. Help me
think of ways to sell Jambo jewelry, fundraise and increase volunteer interest
in the US.
As you can see, I had a wonderful trip and an amazing
experience. I look forward to finding my
way back to Jambo Volunteers Kenya in the near future and am excited at the
prospect of helping to develop the role Jambo Volunteers USA will play in the
future!
If any of this interests you, please comment below or email
me! jacquelinesherry@gmail.com
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