Description:
Bungoma Orphans HIV/AIDS Poverty Organisation (BOHAPO) is a registered community based organisation.It was started in 2004 to serve the marginalised rural areas in western Kenya.We hope to have an impact in areas not often thought by international Aid.All our international co-ordination and fundraising is done by a United Kingdom volunteer Sara.
BOHAPO's activities are
1.Supporting Orphans, street children and other disadvantaged children by providing cloths, food and medication.
2.Provides home based care for HIV/AIDS patients.
3.Provide HIV/AIDS and malaria awareness in schools, churches and community meetings.
4.Teach the community on how they can increase their income from their farms.
5.Create job opportunities to the community through ecotorism.
6.Talk to street children to make them go to school and find out their parents.
7.Convince people to go for Volunary Counceling & Testing (VCT)
MEMBERSHIP.
Community members, volunteers and other CBO's and groups.
CONTACT PERSON.
Mrs.JACQUELINE S.I.WAMUYA
THE CO-ORDINATOR/SECRETARY
BOHAPO COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATION
P.O.BOX 1449
BUNGOMA
50200
KENYA
TEL +254722707890 (You can call or text)
ceo@bohapo.org
bohapo@yahoo.com
j.wamuya@yahoo.com
You can also check our website www.bohapo.org
This year we have been visited by
1.A Red cross volunteer from Norway
2.A volunteer from Spain
3.A volunteer from Washington D.C.
4.An officer from the United Nations
5.A volunteer from Scotland
6.Volunteers from Wales
7.Avolunteer from France
THE COMMUNITY
Orphans are increasing in this community because people die of HIV/AIDS. The government statistics show that on average, about 700 poeple die of HIV/AIDS daily and 1.25 million people are inffected in the country.In this community people are poor and live on less than a dollar per day.People also go to take local brews and involve in commercial sex after taking the brews.We can not support all the orphans but we support those that our funds enable us to.
We are looking for volunteers who can help us accomplish our mission by volunteering to come and work with us to complete the above activities. We do not charge our volunteers nor pay them to participate in our activities but we help them have a friendly stay in Kenya.
Volunteers can volunteer with us for any length of time up to two years and they should be respectful and friendly.
Volunteers are welcome during any part of the year and our language of communication is English. All volunteers will work with at least two local volunteers and will stay at BOHAPO Centre.We have clean underground pumped water that our past volunteers have never experienced any problem.
Volunteers only need $650 per month for food,accomodation,transport,salary to staff and project assistance.Volunteers should not send there money but give it to the local volunteer who will pick them at the airport on arrival.
Those who can send to our account should be the ones who have visited us since we have a bank account with a swift code.
We pick volunteers up from the airport at no cost and if you need assistance in getting a visa please contact us since our chairman has been working with overseas volunteers for the last three years.Remember Kenya is a commonwealth country so getting a visa is not a problem.We welcome students,people working and retirees to our organisation.
Internet is available in towns and Bungoma town and it is charged at a dollar per hour.
Bungoma town is about 450km from Nairobi city the capital city.
We give volunteers a break on request to tour our country which is rich in wild animals.We have a tour company that we advice our volunteers to contact.Maasai mara,Amboseli,Lake Nakuru,Mt.Kenya are places that most volunteers like and they take a seven day safari.The coast needs another four days.
If you don't have time to come and visit us and you want to donate, you can contact us through our email
VOLUNTEER AND HOLIDAY IN WESTERN KENYA,AFRICA
EXPLORING THE RURAL VILLAGES IN BUNGOMA
The trip can be booked at any time to suit your requirements. We are in link with various schools and community groups in the village that you can be involved in. The projects are according to the needs of the community. While on the trip this will provide a source of employment to the locals. Visitors are required to apply their skills in any field of profession and if with any specific objective then communicate in advance for proper arrangements.
ACTIVITIES
While on the trip it's not all straineous since we include various activities for you to relax and enjoy the quite life in upcountry.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ?
1. Teach in a local school
You don't have to be a professional teacher but if you can be able to communicate in English then you can teach in a local school.
2. Community projects
You can be involved in community projects like assisting in BOHAPO Community library and starting sports in the community for the youth.
3. Relax
If you just want to change your environment and want a break of a few days to relax your mind in a rural, quite place then this is the place to be. You can carry books to read additional to what we have. We also have in door games like chess, checks, scrabble and monopoly.
WHAT WE HAVE FOR ECOTOURISM
KAKAMEGA FOREST
This will take a day .It is famous for it's diversity of bird and insect life. It is also full of monkeys of many species. Has many walking trails and plenty of local guides. It is situated next to Kakamega town and is a two hour drive from your host family. WEBUYE FALLS
They are just situated outside webuye town. It is an hour drive from the BOHAPO Centre. You will be able to view the falls of Nzoia.
LUUCHO HILLS
It's only half an hour drive to the hills. You will be able to view Bungoma town and one of the peaks of Mt.Elgon.Climbing the hill is an exciting activity since you will be in company of a local school's scouts and girl guides. You will also be able to visit a school that supports orphans in collaboration with BOHAPO.This should be a weekend so that you can have enough time to interact with the orphans and the whole school.
LAKE VICTORIA VIEW AT DUNGA BEACH.
This will be a busy day. Lake Victoria has an area of about 67,000 kilometer square and forms a natural boundary between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It is the source of River Nile which flows northwards to Egypt and beyond into the Mediterranean sea. It’s rich in fish. You will view it at Dunga beach where you can have a boat ride and have a talk with the fishermen who will tell you the benefits and challenges of fishing on the lake. From Dunga beach you will visit Kisumu museum which has a display of the local traditional customs and crafts. From the museum you will visit Kisumu Impala sanctuary where you will be able to see lions, ostriches, crocodiles, cheetahs and hyenas.
We also have Kitale museum which is about a two hour drive from the host family. If you want to visit Mt.Elgon we can make arrangements.
TRADITIONAL CIRCUMCISION
This is only done in August of the even year so August 2008 all activities in the community will come to a stand still for circumcision. The locals value it since it is one of the strongest cultures that still exist. It is a very exciting activity. We can only accommodate thirty visitors and the earlier you book the better.
HOW MUCH IS IT?
You will need US $ 500 per week per person for all meals, accomodation and transport.
The minimum days of staying are seven days but arrangements can be made for fewer days.
WHO CAN COME?
Families
Groups
Couples
Individuals over 18 years
NOTE
If you are coming in a group of more than five people you will receive a discount.
You will also be required to pay a fee at the gates but this is only at Kakamega forest, the impala sanctuary and the Kitale museum which are managed by the Kenya wildlife service. It ranges between US $ 10 and US $ 20 per gate.
The transport includes picking you from the airport. When you are less than four you might use public means which the family will pay for you and they will choose for you the safe and comfortable ones.
Air tickets, insurance and any other unmentioned are not included in the fee.
Internet is available in Bungoma and is charged a dollar per hour.
The first day will be arriving and traveling to the host family. You will also have a boda boda ride (carried on a bike) and then a test of our traditional meal.
The second day will be orientation and introduction to the community. You can either visit the poor in the community or relax after the long journey. You can also choose to visit a local blacksmith.
The third day you will visit BOHAPO projects which include sports and a community library.
The remaining days are open and you will decide on what to do. This should be planned on the evening of the third day.
HOW WILL THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT?
• 10% of all you pay for food and accommodation will be put on a community project e.g. buying of balls for the youth, paying staff at the library, paying library rent and buying books for the community library. Any other project that you feel you can
