Kenya Hope 2009 

     My name is Carolyn Maskens.  I am a Canadian university student and from May 14th-June 15th 2008, I lived and worked at Shelter Children Rehabilitation Centre in Kenya with the assistance of an international volunteer organization, Global Volunteer Network (GVN, www.volunteer.org.nz).  I applied to the Kenya Children Program in September of 2007 and eagerly waited for spring!

   My interest in volunteering and working with children has been a life long endeavour starting at age 12 when I volunteered at Mirabel Morgan Farm in a therapeutic riding program.  In May 2007, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Honduras with a building brigade from Peterborough, Ontario.  As part of the team, I helped build a new house onto an orphanage.  Living and working at the orphanage was one of the most gratifying experiences I have ever had and so in 2007 I decided to pursue another international volunteer placement for the following summer. 

   Honduras 2007

I discovered GVN through a friend and applied for the placement.  GVN assisted me in preparing for Kenya and answered all the questions I had. 

However, nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced.

After 2 days of orientation in Nairobi, provided by GVN's local partner VICDA (Volunteer Internship Community Development Africa), I arrived at Shelter Children Rehabilitation Centre.  Immediately, I was welcomed by everyone's hospitable nature. 

As a volunteer I assisted in any manner that I could.  My daily chores varied depending on the requirements of that particular day.

 Over the course of the month that I spent at Shelter, I developed a deep affection for all of the children.  Their lively, energetic nature was fun to keep up with.

As a citizen of the developed world, I desperately am seeking to do something for these children.  When I set out for Kenya this summer, I did not know what to expect and now having seen the definition of poverty, starvation and hardship, I cannot return to the comforts and vanity of a first world nation while I know the names and faces of desperate children.

In May 2009, I returned to Kenya and travelled back to Shelter Children Rehabilitation Centre.  Please see all the PROJECTS that began as a result of your generous support.  The orphanage was so appreciative of your donations and amazed by the individuals who cared to make a difference in their lives!

"THANK YOU" from all the children and staff at Shelter!

The old kitchen where all of the children's meals were cooked.