Hi.  My name is Karina, I am 29 years old and come from Newcastle, Australia.  I currently live in Edinburgh, Scotland and have done so for the past 5 years.

Volunteering at CRC Kenya is the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.

I had been looking to volunteer for about five years, but always put it off as other things came up. In January 2006 I decided it was time to take action and began the search for a volunteering organisation. Finally, in December that year I found CRC Kenya. Reading the experiences of previous volunteers, I made an instant connection with their stories and made contact with Aafje. I thought it  might be difficult to get more information and to organise my stay, with me being in the UK, Aafje in Holland, and the centre in Kenya, but I was happy to be proven wrong. Aafje was very helpful and in no time at all, everything was organised and I just had to book my flights!

I arrived at CRC on a Sunday afternoon in December 2007. Nelson came to Nairobi to meet me and take me back to Thika with George, the taxi driver. I was quite nervous and had little idea about what to expect, but the guys made me feel welcome and excited about what was to come. When we arrived, the children were playing happily and welcomed me immediately with a game of cards.

Life is busy at CRC. As a volunteer, the day starts at 05:30, by which time the children are already up. Showers, breakfast and some chores for the children start the day, then it’s off to school for the older ones. The younger children spend the morning playing with the volunteers. In the afternoon the volunteers pick the children up from school, after which there are more chores, dinner, then bed. The days are so busy that in the evenings, I spent most of my time reading or just relaxing. On the weekends when all of the children are home, they tend to occupy themselves, so the opportunity can arise for volunteers to go into town.

I enjoyed my time at CRC so much, and my only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer. Even in the short time I was there I noticed the development in the children which is very satisfying. One little boy who was rescued from a slum could not even stand when he arrived at CRC, but after physiotherapy and a lot of effort from all of the volunteers, he was beginning to walk (with support) when I left. I visited other children’s’ homes, attended church with the children, and visited the slums where we delivered food parcels to families who were in desperate need. I also visited some of the projects that have been set up by previous volunteers to CRC.

You really get involved in the lives and culture of the children while you volunteer at CRC. I feel privileged to have had this opportunity and along the way I have made friendships that I am sure will last a very long time. I will always remember my time in Kenya, and hope very much that I will be able to return before too long.