Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Charles
Hometown: Hever
Destination: Jora, Kenya
Project type: Conservation
Organisation: Africa and Asia Venture
What were your impressions of your destination?
Over the four months that I spent in Jora I fell in love with the village and its community. The village is in the most stunning location (at the foot of a 2000m mountain) and the people are warm and welcoming.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
We were very much left to our own devices to decide what projects we got involved with in the village and as a result we were involved in development work at the school, occassional teaching and establishing income-generating projects in the village. The conservation work we were involved in on the nearby Rukinga ranch was - especially for those with an interest in wildlife - interesting but, at times, seemed rather pointless and more like a glorified game drive. Working in the community was, by far, the most rewarding aspect of the experience.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
Accommodation was in the form of a simple banda - a round building with stone walls/floors and a cone shaped thatched roof. With two small bedrooms and a living area for relaxing and cooking, it was comfortable and cosy.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
I would say that the way the whole "AV Experience" is organised is one of the most influential positive factors of the experience. Significant emphasis is placed on volunteers being independant, responsible for themselves and for organising their own activities. However the staff that were responsible for you were only ever a phone call away and visits every month or so - usually bringing supplies of chocolate etc - were always looked forward to.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
The experience has had a profound impact on my life - I have subsequently set up my own development project at the school in the village I was based - so an unequivical yes!
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
