Laikipia, Kenya

Though Kenya is a leading economy in East Africa, 2019 World Bank statistics found that 33% of Kenyans and 46% of Laikipia residents live below the national poverty line. Most homes in Laikipia are built with low-quality makeshift materials such as sticks and mud. Poor home construction is often coupled with unsafe or lack of access to water sources, where 56.5% and 54%of communities would benefit from rainwater tanks and latrine installations, respectively.

Habitat for Humanity Kenya is working with all levels of the Kenyan government, community-based organizations and other nonprofits to respond to the housing need. Volunteers will assist a building contractor and local volunteers in several possible housing-related projects, including repairs, renovations, new home construction, latrine construction and more.

Some of the construction tasks include:  

• Fixing doors and windows.
• Plastering.
• Constructing floor slabs.
• Painting.
• Putting up walls.
• Excavating the foundation.

Volunteers will stay in double-occupancy rooms at a hotel. Single-occupancy rooms are available by request for an additional charge. Please contact your team leader to request a single-occupancy room. Meals will vary slightly from day to day. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Lunches will be served on the build site on workdays and dinner will be at the hotel, local restaurant or arranged by the country program.
 

Since Annette Holdman’s first Global Village build to El Salvador in 2011, international builds have become a way of life for her. She loves the tangible nature of the work — the satisfaction of seeing walls go up, the excitement of helping a family move closer to a decent place to live and the connections formed among team members and the families and communities they work with during the build. To learn more about this build, please contact Annette at [email protected].