Kenya Voluntary Development Association

KVDA is an indigenous, non-political and membership organization which is non-sectarian and non-profit making started in 1962 as a work camp organization registered under the Societies’ Act. In 1993, KVDA was registered as a Non-Governmental organization by the establishment of the NGOs Coordination Act. Vision Statement: KVDA envisions a more peaceful and connected world through International Voluntary Service. Mission Statement: The mission of KVDA is to promote peace, and understanding through international volunteerism combined with locally-driven, sustainable development. We believe that powerful personal and global change happens when people work together, build cross-cultural friendships, and mobilize their resources to support development against dependence. Philosophy: Development Against Dependence Core Values or Operating Principles • Promotion of voluntarism. • Transparency and accountability. • Participatory evaluation of projects. • Local community ownership of projects: • Continuous research and development. • Regular follow up of projects. • A learning organization. • Documentary evidence of processes and events. 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 • Erasmus Plus 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 • Conference and accommodation facilities, i.e. hospitality. EU Program Year PROJECT IDENTIFICATION OR CONTRACT NUMBER APPLICANT/BENEFICIARY NAME Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the field of youth - EAC/S11/13" - Key Action 2 - Erasmus+.-JAMBO Young Women Empowerment to Improve Quality of Youth Work and Volunteering in EU and Partner Countries 2014/15 EAC/S11/13 LUNARIA Italy Erasmus+ ERASMUS + KEY ACTION 2: CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH: Gender Equality Through Global Capacity Building (EFC) 2015/16 N.-001 PINA Slovenia Erasmus+ ERASMUS + KEY ACTION 2: CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE FIELD OF YOUTH: To be or not to be formal 2015/16 n. Informa-Giovani Italy Erasmus+ GO_PRO! - Regional Programming Centers 2-EPP-1-2016-2-PL-EPPKA2-CBY-ACPALA Stowarzyszenie Edukacji Pozaformalnej "Meritum" [SEP MERITUM] Erasmus+ Volunteer P.A.T.H. - Partnerships Actions and Tools for Heritage 2017 Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service based at UNESCO House Paris France Erasmus+ Volunteering Meets Media : MediAfrica 2-EPP-1-2016-2-FR-EPPKA2-CBY-ACPAL Solidarités Jeunesses / SJ France Erasmus+ KA2 Permaculture and bioconstruction 2-EPP-1-2017-1-FR-EPPKA2-CBY-ACPALA Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) based at UNESCO House in Paris France Activities and experience of the organization Mandate KVDA has a 60-year history of working to “develop against dependence” while cultivating trust and friendships with volunteers and partner organizations all over the world. The three mandates of the organization are as follows: ■ The Association shall be a non-profit, non-governmental, non-religious and non-political Association, whose inspiration is the furtherance of peace, friendship, understanding, development, democracy and equality among peoples of different cultures and backgrounds. ■ The Association is dedicated to seeking opportunities for young men and women from diverse national, cultural and educational backgrounds to live, work and share life and experiences in order to improve their world, to provide voluntary services to marginalized communities, to acquire alternative education, to gather information and build international cooperation. ■ The Association is further dedicated to mobilizing resources within and across national borders to support community development initiatives whose aims are to eradicate poverty and human suffering as well as to promote democracy and justice among peoples. Bright Spots International Partnerships - KVDA has a long history of successfully partnering with organizations around the world to deliver programs. Successful recent partnerships include CCIVS, Alliance of European Voluntary service organizations, successfully implemented Erasmus+ projects funded by the European commission, implemented Germany Government funded “Weltwaerts” program, worked with Lunaria Italy on series of EU bilateral projects, and in partnership with the Dobrudzha Agricultural and Business School in Bulgaria implemented Climate change project under the auspices of Youth in Action program sponsored by the European commission. KVDA served on the Executive Committee of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) based in Paris France from 2004 and 2014 under the patronage of its Executive Director Mr. Isaac Oneka Munanairi. This history of successfully partnering and assuming leadership positions with international organizations demonstrates KVDA’s aptitude for working cross culturally. Network of Past Volunteers - KVDA has worked with thousands of Kenyan and international volunteers over the years since inception in 1962. Dissemination: KVDA’s presence on social media channels for information dissemination is legendary. We have interactive Website, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Google and LinkedIn handles. Community based organizations play the pivotal role for outreach. The mass media and folk media are equally powerful tools for dissemination. At the national level: • Workcamps are the flagship of KVDA. • KVDA promotes equal opportunities for all, with particular attention given to marginalized groups; • KVDA integrates ethnic groups on transnational projects taking into account the multilingual character and inclusion of under-represented groups in society; • KVDA promotes inter-cultural dialogue, exchange of knowledge and best practices. • KVDA empowers youths with focus on civic education, promotion of youth participation, inter-cultural learning and community-centred approaches through non-formal education methodologies. • KVDA recognises non-formal education to de-school society submerged by identity crisis to the detriment of sustainable development. Skills and expertise of key staff/persons. KVDA staff is versatile and endowed with the following skills: • Leadership and mentorship. • Organizational management. • Cognitive and problem-solving. • Advanced communication competencies. • Computer literacy. • Conflict management and Transformation. • Resource mobilization. KVDA staff has vast professional experience, in organization and participation in 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 different countries. 59-year legacy has enabled KVDA to work with volunteers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Togo, South Africa, Burundi, DRC, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Madagascar, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Algeria, Mauritius, Egypt, Zambia, Ghana, Namibia, Tunisia, Seychelles, Cameroon, Senegal, Libya, Rwanda, Morocco, Denmark, Netherlands, Nepal, Belgium, Switzerland, France, India, USA, Israel, Azerbaijan, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Estonia, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, Ukraine, Armenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, UAE, China, Hongkong, Slovakia, South Sudan, Vietnam, Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia. Argentina, Greece, Portugal, Macedonia, Moldova, Sweden, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Belarus, Finland, Norway, Ireland, Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Sri Lanka, Georgia, Qatar, Bahrain, Cyprus, State of Palestine, Philippines, Pakistan, Cuba, Canada, Barbados, Bahamas, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Mongolia, Jordan, Burma, Oman; among others. Isaac Oneka Munanairi • He is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization • He is a Social Scientist with vast experience in the third sector spanning for over 35 years. • He has a wealth of experience on social movements and has served in various capacities in international organizations. • His experience has ensured the successful implementation of previous Youth in Action projects and Erasmus +program with exemplary results. • He has great exposure on the international stage, globe-trotter, having travelled to over 100 destinations, served as a member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service for a period of 10 years from 2004 to 2014 rising through the ranks to become CCIVS Vice President for Capacity Building and Quality Improvement. • He is a founder member of Network of African Voluntary Organizations (NAVO) based in Nairobi, Kenya. Volunteers • Volunteers as key KVDA stakeholders have vast experience in the fields of community service, non-formal education, inter-cultural learning and sustainable education. • Our volunteers are experienced in international projects as participants, group/team leaders or/and facilitators. • Usually, KVDA deploys experienced staff to disseminate results on behalf of the organization. • Upon return, the staff shares the results inside of the organization, helps to organize follow up events and continues the relationships as replication is a key concern in sustainable development. • Our volunteers are experienced in community service using social networks for outreach and other tools for dissemination, enhancing international cooperation. • It is important to note that KVDA is affiliated to major networks, Network of African Voluntary Organizations, Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service and Alliance of European Voluntary Service organizations and this affording it the opportunity to host hundreds of volunteers on its projects. • KVDA equally recruits volunteers from Kenya to serve on short-term and long-term outbound projects overseas.