It’s Fly time

So an hour into the car journey to Kingston, I realised I had forgotten my CAMERA! (THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING TILL THE LAST MINUTE)…

With no choice but to carry on, as I needed to be there by 11. After a 2 and a half hour journey to Kingston, which spontaneously included a trip to John Lewis to buy another camera, we finally reached the VSO meeting point, late.

I met up with the other UK volunteers, whilst we undertook some more ‘training’ and got our passports. At 2 o’clock we finally got on the coach to Heathrow.

We reached the airport and went through check in, security and all the rest before we headed to out gate in good time for our 6.25 flight.

I am currently sat on the plane, playing 8 Ball pool (well done to Kenya Airways for that- highly recommend), awaiting for lift off…

The next time I’ll update I’ll be in KENYA!

KWAHERI

X
HUSSEIN

Last Minute…

To pack for three months a sensible person would probably be well prepared and have mostly everything ready and packed a day or two in advance. But I’m not sensible and have an annoying habit of leaving everything last minute.

The last 48 hours have been pretty manic with multiple trips to Tesco as every so often I remember something I need to take which I don’t have; medical stuff, shaving stuff, toiletries, gifts for my host family etc. I was up until 2 am last night, then up again at 5 am this morning… I was finally ready and packed by 7.30 am, having managed to cram the next 3 months of my life in to 2 rucksacks… just about.

I said my last goodbyes last night and this morning and am now on my way to Kingston, where I will meet up with the rest of my team, before setting off for this big adventure!

From Application to The Day Before Departure (Part 2)

Just 4 days after the assessment day I got an email to say that I had been successful and would be offered a placement to go volunteering for the summer!

I was offered a placement to Tanzania… however I couldn’t do the dates as it would have meant missing a month of University. So instead I was offered to go Nepal… however, again I couldn’t go due to the dates. Upon finding out I was possibly going to miss out over a few weeks I was pretty disappointed… until I got a phone call the next day.

On the 13th of April I was told there maybe space on a placement for an early June departure. Without consulting anyone about it I thought I couldn’t miss out and took it not even knowing where and when exactly I would be going.

After waiting around, I finally got a phone call to confirm that I would be going KENYA for 3 MONTHS on the 1ST of JUNE… less than 2 months time! I was so buzzed, but there was so much that needed to be done, first of all I needed to send documents over so they could start processing my Visa and Work permit, which meant I had to leave University and go back home.

I sent the required documents, but now I had to start thinking about fundraising. To show my commitment to the programme I had to raise £800 for VSO, which helps them to continue being able to send and support volunteers for the future. Usually, volunteers get over 6 weeks to raise the money, but as I had been put on a ‘last minute’ placement, my deadline to achieve my target was in just 4 weeks. I set up my JustGiving Page and spread the word through social media and word of mouth to begin my fundraising… I was incredibly overwhelmed by the support I received and managed to surpass my fundraising target by the deadline!

Meanwhile… I needed to sort out vaccinations, Yellow fever; Rabies; Cholera etc, apply for a DBS Certificate, send more documents and go on a training weekend!

The training weekend was in Slough and lasted from the 30th of April to 2nd of May. I had no idea what I was expecting in terms of the training, but on arrival at the Holiday Inn I realised there was a lot! Three long, at times fun, days going through lots about the VSO volunteer placement. The weekend gave me my first real idea as to what I should expect on my placement and everything was beginning to feel real… The training would not have been the same had it not been for the other awesome volunteers I had met there and I wish them all an incredible experience, and hope to meet up with them again when we’re all back!

So from applying at the end of March and now sitting here typing away just over 24 hours till departure, I am now so so excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to get on that plane… but first I should probably pack…

X

Hussein

From Application to The Day Before Departure (Part 1)

On course to completing my first year at University I had been looking for volunteer opportunities, searching through various potential programmes… until I came across this incredible, unmissable opportunity.

Without hesitation, I made my application to International Citizen Service (ICS) towards the end of March and awaited for a reply for this chance to spend my summer abroad doing something productive and useful (!). I was initially rejected, with no placement opportunities for my available dates, but just a few days later I got a call from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) suggesting there may be some openings for a summer placement.

Following from the telephone call I was then invited to an assessment day on the 8th of April in Kingston (London). I travelled down from Birmingham for my first step towards going on this experience. The day consisted of various team based activities to assess the following:

• Positive and Realistic Commitment
• Working with Others
• Commitment to Learning
• Sensitivity to the Needs of Others
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Practical Problem Solving Ability
• Self Assurance

I then had a 45 minute interview, followed by a presentation to end the day. It was an insightful and informative, yet tiresome day, but made all the more better by the wonderful people I had met on the day.

As the day drew to a close and I made my way back to Birmingham, it was now just a waiting game to find out if I had passed the assessment criteria and find out where and when I could potentially be going…

Voluntary Service Overseas

So this is what I’ll be doing for the next 3 months, and a little info about the organisation i’m working with…

On the 1st of June 2016 I will be travelling to Kenya for a volunteering project with the VSO ICS programme.

VSO is the worlds leading independent international development organisation that uses volunteers to fight poverty and reduce inequality. Their simple vision is for a “world without poverty” and their mission to “bring people together to fight poverty“.

Myself and other UK volunteers will be teaming up with counterpart volunteers from the host country in order to make a positive and lasting impact to struggling Kenyan communities.

During my 3 month placement I will be part of a team which will focus on improving the everyday livelihoods of the community through business and income generation. In this role, as a volunteer, I will be involved in activities such as:

• Conducting training around agri-business activities; clean energy and value addition
• Supporting business innovation or improving the systems, processes of income generating activities
• Creating and managing online engagements including social media an websites
• Raise awareness on issues of gender based violence

By volunteering in this way I hope that my teams’ actions can help pave a way out of poverty for the local community.

X

Hussein

2 Days to go…

With Just 2 days to go before I fly off to Kenya, I thought I’d start blogging to keep you up to date with my volunteer journey in Taita Taveta for the next 3 months… (hopefully i’ll have internet there to keep posting!)

…the first few blogs will be about the process so far, how I got involved and the prep before I leave

X

Hussein