Build an E-Lab in a Rural School
Did you know that half the world still doesn’t have access to the internet or digital tools? Many of these communities live in developing countries, like Kenya, where access to technology can change lives.
The digital divide separates those who can access education, healthcare, and job opportunities, from those who cannot. In rural Kenya, this divide is keeping students and workers from reaching their full potential.
Join DWC this June in Naro Moru. Together, we’ll build an e-lab at Macharia School, giving students the skills to succeed in today’s digital world. When they learn to use technology, they gain access to better education, better healthcare, and better jobs.
By volunteering, you’ll help break the cycle of poverty, enable children to complete homework assignments, and empower adults with the skills they need to thrive in a digital economy. Together, we can bridge the digital divide and give students in Naro Moru the tools to succeed.
In Kenya
- Agriculture supports 75 % of the Kenyan population
- Nationwide enrollment in primary education is 93% in Kenya, but secondary enrollment is closer to 53%.
Volunteer to make a difference in rural KenyaA Typical Workday in Kenya
DWC’s Kenyan partner, ACCESS (Action Crew on Community Environment for Sustainable Services) Kenya, is a non-profit group based out of Naro Moru village at the base of Mount Kenya. This organization is focused on education and protecting the environment, as well as raising awareness of the problems that come with deforestation. ACCESS Kenya strives to safeguard water that is much needed for people and wildlife to survive. DWC volunteers will be immersed in the village culture, with many locals jumping to lend a helping hand.
In general, expect to work 6-8 hours per day. Breakfast starts at 6:00 or 7:00 am. After breakfast, the team is transported to the project site (by private bus) and the workday begins, between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. There will be lunch in the middle of the day, which is either provided by our host partner. Your workday will end around 4:00 pm. You will be transported back to your hotel for an evening filled with a dinner out, cultural experiences, team bonding or R&R.
Your group will be led by a trained DWC team leader and will be working with a local site supervisor, translator and laborers to complete this project. The worksite will have various types of task to support all skill and strength levels of your team. No building experience is necessary, but a desire to connect with the locals and pitch in as you can is one of the best parts of DWC projects.
This trip includes all accommodations, airport pickup/drop off, in-country transportation and 3 meals a day for the duration of the trip dates.
It's Not All WorkVisit the Maasi Mara National Reserve on a Safari
Kenya is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife watching destinations, home as it is to the Big Five (African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and white/black rhinos). The Maasai Mara National Reserve is located in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. The huge expansive grasslands specked with flat topped acacia trees, conjure the spirit of adventure.
While you are here, trek Mount Kilimanjaro the awe-inspiring landmark of Tanzania. You don’t need to climb it to experience its full beauty and the captivating terrain that surrounds it. You can get a sneak peak of Kilimanjaro on a day trip that gives you the opportunity to scramble up the first leg of the famed Marangu Route.
Trip Details
Each trip is coordinated by DWC with the help of a Team Leader, who has travelled with DWC previously, is First Aid Certified, and has completed a Criminal Record Check. Your Team Leader will liaise with DWC and ensure all your questions are answered. Your Team Leader will handle all team finances through the trip and travel with you to ensure the best possible travel and volunteer experience for their team! They also facilitate fun, cultural experiences where possible, ensuring group cohesion. See your Team Leader Biography here:
Marty France
Marty is a retired US Air Force officer and university engineering professor with extensive international experience, having served in Europe and traveled to 81 countries, including many in East and West Africa and throughout Southeast Asia. He’s a former Fulbright Scholar who taught at Singapore’s top science and engineering university. Marty coordinated his first service trip with DWC in 2014 when he led a team of students working in Cambodia to build sanitary latrines in villages and then did the same in Nepal in 2019. Since then, he’s led teams to Costa Rica in 2022 and 2023, back to Nepal in 2023 and Cambodia in 2024, Kenya (2023), Guatemala (2024) and Peru (2024). For 2025 he’s planning to lead trips to Sri Lanka (March), Kenya (June), and a third trip back to Costa Rica (Nov). He currently lives in Colorado with his wife of 44 years, Becky, who’s also an avid DWC volunteer. He has two sons, four grandchildren and enjoys hiking, cycling, photography, and helping at his son’s craft brewery.
Travel Light Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Carbon offsets are used to compensate for the greenhouse gasses that we create through certain activities, such as flying. For every tonne of carbon released into the atmosphere, an ‘offset’ is a carefully designed project that absorbs or stores the equivalent CO2 emissions. You can choose to offset your own flight, your whole family’s, or do this as a gift for a friend.
Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Joy
Volunteer Program Manager