AGAPE CENTRE OF HOPE

Agape Centre of Hope (ACoH) is a community development organization fighting poverty through various Volunteering and Community Development programs in Kenya, is a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization established in 2013 in Kenya to promote peace, global citizenship and community development and cultural exchange through international volunteering programs by empowering young people to advance community development and strengthen multicultural understanding increase cooperation between Kenyan communities and people living in developed world through a range of development programs to foster peace and understanding in the world through the exchange of youth. (ACoH) promotes youth mobility, intercultural learning, and international voluntary service, in more than 40 countries around the world. ACoH goals are to foster peace and understanding in the world through exchanging our youth. ACoH volunteers live and work in countries throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe, helping to support local community-based projects as they experience the culture of the hosts of their choice. As part of a federation, (ACoH) ensures excellent training and support. OUR UNIVERSAL MISSION To build the spirit of volunteerism which provide integral sustainable and human development and encouraging partnership in caring of environment by inspiring voluntarism and enabling nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising the future generations. OUR UNIVERSAL VISION Envision a community living a life of dignity and hope through voluntarism ACoH envisions a world where which volunteers services by people of all nations is common strategy in meeting pressing challenges in education, health, environment, agriculture and more. We seek foster an international and innovation culture of races, ethnicities and religious beliefs together in a common purpose. OUR OVERALL OBJECTIVES To provide and organize voluntary service activities in cooperation with local communities as well as other local national and international organizations as means of fostering greater confidence between people of different social cultural and religious background by working learning and living together. Volunteering with ACoH will warm your heart year around by exposing you to inspiring locals, new friends, and stories of forgiveness and resilience ACoH offers programs in different stunning locations in Kenya each with its own distinct tale and personality. You will make a real impact by participating in volunteer projects that address the location’s unique, real – time needs. And along the way, you will meet incredible people, do unbelievable things, and positively affect the lives f others. Strategic Objectives • Afford voluntary service opportunities to young people. • Mobilize communities to action. • Supplement formal education with experiential learning. • Create awareness amongst Kenyan communities about development issues. • Foster global peace, friendship and understanding. • Mobilizing all-purpose resources to promote grassroots development. Products and Services • Work camps and international Voluntary service placements • Medium and long-term placement of volunteers • Outbound voluntary service exchange program • Educational tours. • Development education and empowerment of communities. • Enterprise development training. • Languages teaching i.e. Kiswahili • Inter-cultural education and use of non-formal education to enhance cultural diversity OUR NATURE ACoH is an international and non political non profitable, education organization; ACoH does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation creed, or ethnic origin. MISSION STATEMENT To build the spirit of voluntarism which provide integral sustainable and human development and encouraging partnership in caring of the environment by inspiring voluntarism and enabling nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising their future generations. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Promotes and organize voluntary service activities in co-operation with local communities as well as other local. National and international organizations as a means of fostering greater confidence between people of different social cultural, political or religious background by working learning and living together. Specific Objectives 1. To improve youth and women enterprise capacity through training 2. To develop and promote viable voluntary service opportunities for both local and international volunteers thus actively contributing to the development of the society 3. To develop and support a national volunteering infrastructure that ensures best practice in volunteering 4. Supporting development of experimental projects and programmes to try out new and innovative ideas and to exchange good practices 5. Enhance the mobilization of resources in realizing sustainable community development initiatives 6. To create awareness and sensitize local communities, especially women and youth concerning environment friendly development. 7. To assist community resource centers to overcome their challenges and establish viable activities 8. To promote responsible attitudes for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care by increasing the level of awareness especially among the youth 9. To assist community institutions and organizations to Promote and Deliver sustainable services in education, skills development, health, leadership training, ICT development, entrepreneurship and agriculture 10. To assist young people in their personal and social development so as to encourage growth in self-esteem and confidence and help young people to learn from their experiences and cope with positive and critical feedback. 11. To help young people to participate in the life of the Unit, to express their views and play an active part in their planning and management of their own activities. 12. To help young people to gain a greater understanding and respect for their own traditions and those of others by engaging in programmes that reflect the principles of equality, diversity and inter dependence. Skills and expertise of key staff/persons. Our staff has many years of professional experience, organization and participation in providing preparatory visits, job shadowing, work visits, training courses, language courses, study visits, cultural visits, tours, meetings, round tables, workshops, business and professional s and work placements in many private and public organizations, for participants and volunteers from many different countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Senegal, Ghana, Cote d'ivoire, Egypt, Denmark, France, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium, Ukraine, Armenia, Bulgaria, Nepal, Thailand, Turkey; among others WHAT WE DO ACoH is involved in various major activities. These are: 1. i) Organizing international voluntary services which involves cross- cultural exchange between Kenya and abroad in remote and needy community in parts of Kenya 2. ii) Mid and long term voluntary services and projects 3. iii) Inter – Cultural exchange through home visits, discussion and social interactions by local and overseas campers. 4. iv) Participation in community e.g. environmental cleaning health work, water and sanitation, advocacy in HIV/Aids campaigns, access roads, improving schools and bridges in remote communities. 5. v) Group volunteer programme for family,school,college,university and corporate groups and travel and education tours 6. vi) Networking in partnership with local grass root non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in education, community building health care, agricultural reforms and economic development and initiative projects to alleviate poverty. 7. vii) Helping disadvantaged and the less privileged children in the communities. 8. viii) Initiating sports activities among both male and female youth by identifying untapped talents and energies. 9. ix) Participate in the activities of the membership by attending annual meetings, workshops and conferences of members and other partners in development. 10. x) To promote proactive opportunity for women groups, the disabled, community leaders and those from minority groups to exchange information, experience and knowledge in order to develop leadership excellence and act as role models across the sector. We're Looking For Project Hosts Are you in need of volunteers? (ACoH) is a not-for-profit youth exchange organization that fosters intercultural understanding through exchange of youth, promoting youth mobility, intercultural learning. Volunteering in Kenya Our exchanges are either long-term or short-term varying in duration from six months to a year from August to August for long-term exchanges; and all year round for periods of between 2 to 16 weeks for the short-term programs. Volunteer Abroad With (ACoH) Provides challenging intercultural learning experiences to young people, enhancing their social and personal development through international volunteer programmes. You too can become part of this exciting experience! Volunteering With (ACoH) Kenya (ACoH) main programme is the long term exchange of young people, aged mainly 18 to 35, with or without qualifications, who want to live in another country with a host family or within a residential project and work as volunteers in a wide variety of voluntary work placements. Opportunities for older volunteers are available in most countries. Living arrangements Volunteers will be living with a host family (this is to allow the volunteers to experience real Kenyan culture and way of life in Kenyan families) and live-in projects. In-country support (ACoH) staff will: • Pick you up at the airport and provide you with an in-country orientation. • Take you and introduce you to your host family and voluntary service placement. • Stay in touch and provide assistance throughout your stay – emergency numbers provided. • Evaluate your project and drop you off at the airport at the end of your stay. Selection, camps and training Our worldwide network of ACoH staff and co-workers carefully select and prepare programme participants before departure. Each ACoH national committee organizes information and recruitment days and pre-departure training where you can meet fellow volunteers and share excitement and fears about the experience abroad. Programmes duration The STEPs program can last between 2 and 16 weeks – all year round and placements are open to all persons aged 18 years and older – no maximum age limit. The Short-Term Exchange Program The Short Term Exchange Program (STEPs) is designed to offer you a combination of reliable and meaningful volunteer work with a direct exposure to the rich cultures of the host countries. All volunteers participating in this project will be expected to meet in Nairobi for one-day orientation before going for the project. All volunteers will be expected in Nairobi at least one day before the orientation. The ideal participant 1. Are you interested in other cultures and languages? 2. Would you like a unique opportunity to live with a host family and volunteer with a local NGO – and become totally immersed into the local community? 3. Are you thinking of taking a gap year? 4. Would you like a career break? 5. Have you recently graduated and hoping to volunteer before finding work in Kenya? If you answered YES to any of the above questions, then (ACoH) has a unique solution for you. Our long term programme provides volunteers with the unique chance to get to be a real part of the culture and language both locally in Kenya and in another country; as well as develop exceptional interpersonal skills. Volunteers do not need to have any formal qualifications or language skills to take part in the long term programmes Departures for the Programmes Departures take place in August and January every year. Volunteers from Kenya, as well as other (ACoH) partner countries, will arrive together at their destination during set ‘Window Dates’. This is to enable all volunteers to receive training and language lessons provided by the (ACoH) host country, before starting their individual projects. (ACoH) Kenya's programme requirements • Age 18-30 (with some flexibility on the upper age limit) • Pay the participation fee (find out more here) • Have a valid passport • Be willing to volunteer for 6-12 months Please note that (ACoH) volunteers do not need formal education requirements, foreign language skills or prior international travel experience. Volunteers with disabilities are asked to submit applications early – at least six months prior to the start of the programme. This enables (ACoH) to make appropriate arrangements with the National Committee in the country of your choice. Please note that Personal Assistants must be recruited and funded by you, or an appropriate organization. To find out about the type of voluntary service opportunities offered in the distinct countries, have a look at the ACoH Database of Long-Term Voluntary Service Placements, where you can browse through more than 600 available organizations. Types of projects and accommodations ACoH sends volunteers to work with local NGOs, which are run by local staff. Projects include Teaching, Human rights programmes, HIV and AIDS awareness and other health related projects, Environmental conservation, Disability support NGOs, Indigenous community and Women’s Rights groups and much more. For a full list of projects available in each of our programme countries, please the ACoH office and let us know which country profile you would like to receive. Long-term volunteers can choose their project preferences and it is the projects themselves who decide if they are able to host the volunteer, based on the volunteer’s application form, particular skills and interests. ACoH will organize for the volunteers’ accommodation during the duration of the stay. However, this depends on the preference of the volunteer (living alone or with a host family). It is very common that volunteers stay with a host family as they volunteer as this enables them to gain a unique cultural experience and also have a ‘home away from home’ experience. They also get to practice the local language. Many of the host families have had their own children or family members also volunteer abroad on the ACoH programme. Selection, camps and training Our worldwide network of ACoH staff and co-workers carefully select and prepare programme participants before departure. Each ACoH national committee organizes information and recruitment days and pre-departure training where you can meet fellow volunteers and share excitement and fears about the experience abroad. Long term ACoH volunteers are entitled to a number of training sessions, all included within their programme fee. Your stay abroad and returning home Upon arrival, you will attend a one-week “orientation camp” during which you will have the chance to learn more about the people and culture of the host country, the local ACoH and your work placement. You will also receive an introductory language course to help you get by. After the orientation, you will be off to work and to move into your new home. You will be either living with a family or in a shared living situation and work as a volunteer in a local project, for 6 or 12 months. The “mid-year camp” is a chance to catch up with other volunteers and join with your ACoH hosting committee to evaluate your first six months. Sometimes this may be combined with a conference on an issue relevant to your host country. We usually combine our mid- term camp with a work camp (camp at which community work is done, especially by young volunteers for one week). The last official meeting for the volunteers is the “Final Evaluation”, where you will discuss your experiences and prepare to return home – which is often the hardest part! After the evaluation, you have a free month before returning to your home country. Most volunteers take this opportunity to travel and see more of the country. Upon your return home, your sending national committees will organize a “Returnees Day” together with other returning volunteers. You will also be invited to join ACoH’s membership scheme in your country that will give you access to national and international events, meetings and seminars. Person Name: Mohammed Said Omar Position: Executive Director Email: / Website: https://agapecentreofhope.wordpress.com Mobile No:+254(0)/+254(0)