Kenya - Olmalaika Home

OUR PASSION 
To advocate for those in need.

OUR VALUES
Show kindness and compassion, promote education and growth, respect and protect the environment, and foster healthy relationships.

OUR DREAM
End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) & childhood marriage, enable healing and create opportunities for self-sufficiency. 

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 Dental Clinic, a safe home for young girls and babies, as well as a sewing tent where they make fabric menstrual kits to sell.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

The mission of THE OLMALAIKA HOME is to house and protect young girls who have experienced trauma and are in need of a warm, nurturing 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.

The Olmalaika Trust Dental Clinic - The Dental Clinic is a busy part of the Trust where dentists from around the world can come and spend a week or more as volunteers providing free care to all in need.
 

Days for Girls Olmalaika  - Days for Girls is an organization that makes fabric menstrual kits and we have our own enterprise where the staff sew kits in order to help us be self-sustaining. 

Average Fundraising Cost
Approximately $5,000 for 10 month (2 semesters) - which would not include flights, visa  etc.

Timeline
3 - 9 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 room 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 Spoken
Kenya's official languages are Swahili and English.  At the home we speak English as the girls need to learn for their schooling.

POSITIONS: 

We are looking for young adults who would be willing to:

• Lead out in the entire spiritual program - which would include morning and evening worship, Friday night vespers, Sabbath School, Church and Sabbath afternoon programs as well as community outreach.

• 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.

• Working with our lady staff - cooking, cleaning, laundry, helping with the babies 

• Misc. things as needed in the office, with computers etc.

Extras
While here you might enjoy-

• Visiting the coast and enjoy a week soaking in the sunshine, white sand and  warm turquoise waters.

• Spending time on safari in Kenya's incredible parks and reserves

• Climb Mt Kenya (16,500ft) 

• Volunteering on one or more of our medical/dental "giving safaris"