Kenya - Olmalaika Home

Mission
To house and protect little girls (newborns through 10 years) who and are in need of a warm, nuturing and loving environment; guiding them to see themselves as persons of value through God's eyes; fostering respect and appreciation for their peers, teachers, leaders and culture, inspiring them to be a generation of educated, productive, respected and valuable young women.
We believe that no baby/child should be raised in an institution no
matter how nice it is or how much it has to offer.
Every baby/child in the Olmalaika Home is placed in foster care, adopted by Kenyan families, or reunited with their family as soon as home is "safe."

Description
The Olmalaika Trust is located right on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Sekenani, Kenya. It has 4 acres on the side of a hill overlooking the Mara and a small shopping center. The Trust includes a safe home for young girls and babies, a dental clinic, as well as a sewing tent where they make fabric menstrual kits to sell.

The Olmalaika Home is a safe haven for little girls 0-8 years old that have endured trauma in their lives such as female genital mutilation (FGM), childhood marriage, assault, rape, and abandonment. They are able to come and begin healing while getting their education. Within the home are three very special rooms that make up the nursery - where newborns who have been thrown away and abandoned are loved, hugged and kissed every day.

 More Info

• Average Fundraising Goal: Approximately $5,000 for 6 months
• Timeline: 3 - 6 month commitment
• Location: The Trust is located in southern Kenya about 4 -5 hrs southwest of Nairobi. Being that we are located right on the edge of the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, we have wildlife around us on a regular basis - including lions, leopards and elephants. Check out our location on Google Maps.
• Living Conditions: We have two large studio type rooms. Each has its own washroom (toilet, hot shower, and sink), desk, either bunk beds or twin size beds, a chest of drawers and area to hang your clothes. Bedding and towels are provided, but you might want to bring your own as well. The rooms are attached to the Olmalaika Home via a large open breezeway.  Those staying there can either use the kitchen in the Olmalaika Home or our outdoor kitchen pavilion. Wifi is available.
• Language: Kenya's official languages are Swahili and English.  At the home we speak English as the girls need to learn for their schooling.
• Outings: For those wishing to travel, some opportunities are visiting the coast (soak in the sunshine, white sand, and warm turquoise waters), going on safari in Kenya's incredible parks and reserves, climbing Mt. Kenya (the second highest mountain in Africa), or volunteering on one or more of our medical/dental "giving safaris".

Position Info 

We are looking for young adults with interest in a variety of the below needs:

• Tutoring
• Counseling
• Sewing
• Sports
• Guest Host/Housekeeping - keep guestrooms/tents clean, fresh linen on beds, camp washrooms ready and clean. Help with washing as needed for guestrooms. Check on guests to make sure they are comfortable and/or need anything.  When there are no guests, simply keep areas clean and then spend time as needed at the Trust.
• Spiritual programming - includes morning and evening worship, Friday night vespers, Sabbath School, Church and Sabbath afternoon programs as well as community outreach.
• Working with our female staff - cooking, cleaning, laundry, helping with the babies
• Working with the male staff - maintenance, mowing, gardening, building projects
• Misc. things as needed in the office, with computers etc.