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Accommodation and all that stuff

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Page Contents

Accommodation
Health Care
What to take
Security


 

Accommodation
(January 2009)		Breaking news..... December 2009 - we think we have found some new accommodation which will offer better facilities.......

Is a ten minutes walk from the centre. It comprises of 4 bed rooms,1 sitting room and 1 kitchen. It is part of the same building that Maurice and his family live in. It provides a high level of security for volunteers and their possessions. There are notes about general security which apply to travellers in developing countries. In some circumstances it may be necessary for volunteers to share. The accommodation is comfortable but luxurious it is not. The toilets are traditional pit latrines with a washroom.
One the staff will prepare meals from the food bought in the market by volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to join in the cooking and preparation and learn something of traditional Kenyan cooking.
Be assured that this place is good for volunteers to live in despite the fact that there is no electricity and flush toilets. We are sure volunteers will really enjoy the African way of living in the rural of Kenya.

Maurice and his wife Evelyn will welcome you and be your main contacts during your stay. They will be the first point of contact in case of any problem arising.

Health Care  
Within Moi's Bridge there is adequate local health care provision. You need good health insurance that will cover any costs which could be potentially incurred in Kenya. The list below of suggested item to bring includes some items that would fall into this "Health Care" category

The Health Centre is open from Monday to Friday all day and Saturday half day. Sundays and Public holidays remains completely closed. There is a Catholic mission dispensary which operates all days and nights, Monday to Saturday, and during public holidays.
What should I take or leave at home?Based on information from Ripple Africa's website - see our links page

Laundry can be done daily at no charge if soap is provided. Therefore, only the basics are needed: a few pairs of shorts, T-shirts, a hat, lightweight long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt for mosquito protection, a fleece or jumper and socks for the evenings, and a good rain jacket and sturdy shoes for the rainy season.

While working at the school or health centre, sarongs or skirts are essential for women and long trousers advised for men. Although poverty is extreme, in general Kenyans pride themselves on dressing nicely and have little respect for ‘slobby’ looking people. In general, having tidy and reasonably clean long hair will get you a lot further with Kenyans in terms of respect than any length of scraggly or dirty hair.

Toiletries are available in Moi's Bridge or Kitale but should ideally be brought from home as the quality and price is questionable, although most things are available, including tampons. It has become somewhat of a tradition in Africa for previous guests, managers and volunteers to leave behind unwanted clothes and belongings for the staff and villagers at the end of their stay. These are immensely appreciated!

We suggest you consider bringing the following items with you:

•

A Petzl Tikka or Zipka series headtorch is a must, together with a supply of good batteries as the ones available locally are of variable quality. (It really isn't worth buying a cheaper make of headtorch as previous volunteers have found that they have broken early on and then they've been left with nothing.)

 
•A Pacsafe Travelsafe in which to keep your valuables
•Mosquito repellent. Malaria is not a major problem in Moi's Bridge but it is sensible to take adequate precautions.
•Sun protection cream - remember you will be very close to the equator.
•All medications, including malaria prophylaxis, and a simple medical kit
•Multi-vitamin supplements (as the local diet can sometimes be limited)
•Special sauces, spices, etc., especially from Asian shops
•

Spare camera battery, lots of memory cards, and a 4GB flash stick to store your pictures on — you will take many more pictures than you think!

•Magazines and books (although you can become a borrowing member of the library)
•Spare padlocks and keys for your chalet and luggage
•A sleeping bag, although not essential for Moi's Bridge, is useful whilst travelling
•An umbrella if you're volunteering during the rainy season
 

All items that are not absolutely essential should be left at home. Although petty crime is rare, items such as radios, walkmans, video cameras, cell phones and laptops — even fancy underwear — seem to create unnecessary temptation in poor countries. If you have such items it is better to keep them out of sight - that includes washing lines!

Online Photo Storage
Kodak Gallery www.kodakgallery.co.uk provides free online storage of photos for up to one year without charge. It, unlike some other online storage site lets you retain copyright to your photos – worth checking before you sign up to a site. Online storage does provide a backup to your photos that could never be replaced should something happen to your camera or memory card.

 

headtorch info site

Pacsafe web site

Security  
Most of what is in this section is common sense and applies to visitors almost anywhere in the world.
We try to ensure that the local people know and understand the role of volunteers in Moi's Bridge and this extends an extra level of security to them. Kenya has a lot of very poor people and Moi's Bridge is no exception, it is part of the reason we are working there. This level of poverty can lead to a low level of petty crime which most Kenyans are horrified by. It is therefore necessary to follow some fairly simple and common sense guidelines to help avoid problems.