Spend your summer with us!
The Summer Institute is a highly competitive program that provides deeply motivated college students with on-the-ground experience teaching at The Kibera School for Girls, the first free school for girls in the Kibera slum, Africa’s largest slum located in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Details:
During the Summer Institute, undergraduates and recent college graduates will engage in an intensive, structured volunteer experience. Volunteers will work at the Kibera School for Girls, a school for some of the most at-risk girls in the Kibera slum. In the mornings, Institute participants will provide our Pre-Kindergarten to 3rd grade students with tutoring and mentoring—accelerating their academic performance while forming meaningful relationships. In the afternoons, Institute participants will run a fun, educational summer camp for our students. Each participant will lead several workshops that they design exposing the girls to skills such as sports, arts & crafts, music, drama, and more. Volunteers will be at the Kibera School for Girls Monday through Friday from 7:30am – 4pm. On weekends, there will be optional group activities but volunteers are also free to explore Nairobi and the surrounding area.
Tentative Program Schedule Overview
| June 22nd | Arrival day – arrive at NBO and take shuttle to Nairobi Guest House | |
| June 22nd – 25th | Orientation to Nairobi/Kibera/SHOFCO, lesson planning, and general preparation for time with the students | |
| June 25th -July 13th | Mornings | “Family” groups, Individual tutoring, and literacy workshops with girls |
| Afternoons | Institute volunteers lead personally designed workshops | |
| July 7th | Day trip to Hell’s Gate, Naivasha | |
| July 13th | Final Ceremony at the Kibera School for Girls | |
| July 14th | Official Institute end date—shuttle from Nairobi Guest House to NBO |
You will love the institute if….
- You are an undergraduate student or recent graduate.
- You are looking for a challenging, meaningful experience with real responsibility.
- You are passionate about Shining Hope’s mission and work, with a commitment to learning from local leadership and empowering women and girls.
- You are comfortable working across cultures and in an environment that lacks many “Western” comforts.
- You love young children and enjoy working with them.
- You understand that Shining Hope runs programs that have a tremendous impact on the lives of people in Kibera and that you will make a contribution to that work. As a result you will be able to follow strict guidelines regarding safety and conduct.
- You are interested in getting a sense of what it is like to work at an international non-profit organization.
- You bring maturity, grace, and a belief that young people can change the world!
The Institute is not for you if…
- You don’t like kids and don’t want to work at a school.
- You are primarily interested in partying in a foreign city or going on safari.
- You don’t like structure or group activities.
- There is a specific project that you want to undertake that is not related to working at The Kibera School for Girls
Application Process
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with final applications due March 1st, 2012. A complete application includes the application form, your CV/resume, and a letter of recommendation from someone who knows you in a leadership or service capacity. Please email your completed application with “Summer Institute Application” in the subject line to: alix@shininghopeforcommunities.org and nathan@shininghopeforcommunities.org. Decisions will be made as quickly as possible. If you have questions about the program, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Program Costs Approximation
- All participants are required to undertake their own fundraising of a minimum donation of $1,000 for Shining Hope for Communities. This donation is tax-deductible*—Download Tips for Fundraising
- $900 for room & board in Nairobi for one month. This includes a dorm-style bedroom, shared bath, wireless Internet, transport to/from Kibera everyday, daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner most nights.
- $200 for activities fee, including an all-inclusive day trip to Hell’s Gate – a beautiful national park where you can hike an ancient gorge and ride your bike alongside giraffe, zebra, and water buffalo.
- Airfare – participants are required to book their own flights.
- $50 for Visa to enter Kenya
- We require proof of traveler’s insurance including evacuation insurance. Prices vary.
- Optional Swahili tutoring sessions (approximately $5/hour).
- Other personal costs are at your discretion.
*A $250 deposit towards your fundraising contribution is due within a week of admission into the Institute in order to hold your spot.