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Become a Volunteer

Hekima Place welcomes volunteers at our home and campus in Kenya and in our United States administration office.

Volunteer in U.S.

Please contact:

Lorraine Bridy – Volunteer Coordinator

Offices at Baum
5607 Baum Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 745-8400

Volunteer in Kenya

Please contact:

Lorraine Bridy – Volunteer Coordinator

Hekima Place welcomes volunteers to Kenya year round. For volunteers traveling to Kenya, we recommend applying and planning your trip at least several months in advance. We strongly recommend 14 day stays. Our volunteers provide supplementary support to the housemothers (mums) and other staff, helping our girls grow socially, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Sponsor

How to Apply

We recommend volunteers to Kenya be at least 18 years of age and in good health.

Once we receive your initial application and contact you, you will need to submit:

  • Child Abuse Clearance from the state in which you reside*
  • Criminal Record Check from the state in which you reside*

When the above documents are received, you will be invited to a live interview. If approved, you will be asked to sign a volunteer agreement, hold harmless agreement and provide a COVID Vaccine verification.

*Security documents must be valid within one year of travel. Passports must be valid for six months after planned travel.

Documents must be received and approved no later than 4 weeks prior to travel dates. Groups of 5 or more must designate a lead person to coordinate documents, correspondence, additional questions or information needed. Please direct any additional questions to our Volunteer Coordinator, Lorraine Bridy.

Volunteers contribute a great deal to Hekima Place. Hekima Place is home to a large extended family, and our staff and children enjoy welcoming volunteers into our community. Most volunteers will find the time they spend here with the children to be a fulfilling and life-changing experience.

There are a variety of tasks available for volunteers. Remember, volunteers are not replacing our Hekima staff, but assisting the staff and enhancing their experiences with the girls. For example:

  • Manual labor – assisting with property maintenance, cleaning and gardening.
  • School help – teaching, working as a classroom aid, organizing, supervising children’s activities (academic, sports, arts, crafts) both at Hekima Hills Learning Centre and at Hekima Place; assisting with homework, reading/playing with small children. Extracurricular program/activity ideas could include computer training, photography, music, drama, cooking, sports, etc.
  • Housekeeping – assisting staff and children with cooking, cleaning and chores.

Hours of assisting the staff vary but volunteers should interact with the Hekima staff and children at least five days per week. Mutually agreed upon free time will be arranged; however, it is generally expected that volunteers will be present on the weekends when the children are not in school. Volunteers should confer with the mums who live in the houses with the children, who will have plenty of suggestions on ways to spend quality time with the children.

Free time can be spent shopping or visiting local cultural venues. Many volunteers enjoy a safari at Maasai Mara National Reserve at the end of their stay at Hekima Place.

Jessica

If I’m ever in need of a smile, I think of my time at Hekima Place. The girls treated me like family and taught me that the best things in life truly are free; kindness, love & compassion.

Jessica

These wonderful relationships that we have made have given us so much joy and countless blessings. I am proud to have been a part of Hekima from its early days to the development of the Kiserian property and the lovely Hekima Hills Learning Centre. We are so blessed to be a part of the Hekima family.

Margaret

There are no words or pictures that can capture the experience of being a part of a different culture. In sharing time together you make human connections that touch the heart. It allows you the opportunity to understand another’s way of life with deeper compassion.

Sarah