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Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 14 days
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Details
Description
Welcome to our Permaculture Eco-Friendly Farm on Mfangano Island!
We invite you to join us in an exciting Workaway experience that combines community engagement, sustainable construction, and permaculture farming.
Who We Are
Florence, from the Luo community, and Gabriel, from the Suba community, met over 30 years ago and share a deep passion for nature, sustainable development, and community building. Florence has years of experience managing ecolodges, while Gabriel specializes in eco-friendly construction and permaculture. Together, we’ve created a project that brings together local and international volunteers to build a sustainable and culturally rich future.
Our Vision
Our goal is to establish a permaculture food forest and an eco-friendly farm that empower the local community, particularly women. We aim to:
* Educate women on sustainable farming and support them in building their own businesses.
* Create a space that celebrates the culture and history of the Suba people, including building an aquaponic system inspired by traditional boat designs.
* Promote environmental sustainability and foster intercultural exchange.
What We’re Working On
Currently, we’re at the very beginning of our journey, so flexibility and a hands-on attitude are essential. Volunteers will help with:
* Managing and improving our fundraising campaigns and social media presence.
* Assisting in the construction of a chicken house and an aquaponic system.
* Participating in small-scale permaculture projects, such as creating banana circle gardens, keyhole gardens, and more.
What We Offer
* Free Time: Explore the stunning Mfangano Island by hiking or using a boat or motorcycle to visit nearby areas. The island offers breathtaking nature and a chance to connect with the local community.
* Cultural Exchange: Live and work alongside the Mfangano people, learning about their traditions while sharing your own culture.
What We Expect
We are looking for motivated volunteers who:
* Are passionate about sustainability, community projects, and cultural exchange.
* Don’t mind working in a basic setup and contributing to a project that’s just starting.
* Bring energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to help turn our dreams into reality.
Our Story
This project was born out of years of learning, traveling, and experiencing other eco-projects worldwide. We’ve combined this knowledge to create a place of peace, sustainability, and cultural exchange. While we’re still in the early stages, with just land, big ideas, and a lot of determination, we believe in the power of community to make this vision a reality.
If you’re ready to be part of this journey and leave your mark on a meaningful project, we’d love to hear from you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Hospitality/Tourism
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Sustainability
Culture
Farming
Events & social
Charity work
Languages
Plant care
Gardening
Carpentry
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Animals
Dancing
Sailing / Boating
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Hiking
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Here, the more there is a mixture of cultures, the better off we are.
You will be able to learn at the rhythm of Mfangano life. The on-site project is managed by a Mfangano people who has also lived in Kenya . We knows deeply the importance of respecting everyone's cultural values while transmitting as much as possible so that volunteers can learn and function with respect within the host country: Kenya .
You will be able to learn to cook our food, learn the language, live in an international community and above all enjoy the magnificent landscapes that the Mfangano region offers.
Registered charity
This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
At the moment we would want to join hands and focus on finishing our permaculture poultry house in the food forest . This involves working on our Aquaponic fish pond in the same food forest. Working on our banana circle and key hole garden .
Also we ask help with proposal (grants) and computer technician work.
We kindly ask volunteers to participate and help us fulfilling this mission.
DECEMBER - VIDEOGRAPHER: We are looking for a videographer to support in the filming and creation of a video displaying our local Mfangano Cultural festival which will be taking place in December.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Luo: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
Accommodation
Volunteers will stay in a separate house, which is equipped with a living room, a kitchen, a shower, and a latrine.
Phone network and free WIFI is available.
The house is surrounded by trees that provide shade, and it has direct access to the lake with a beautiful view.
We can accommodate more than two volunteers. Volunteers will receive three meals a day: we prepare two of the meals, and the evening meal is prepared in collaboration with the volunteers.
Weekend Schedule:
Saturday and Sunday are free days, with no work required. On these days, volunteers are encouraged to explore, relax, or enjoy activities on the island. However, on Sundays, we have a Food Exchange Program. This means that volunteers will work together to cook the evening meal for everyone. This includes organizing themselves to shop for the ingredients at the market and preparing the dinner together.
We hope you enjoy staying with us and feel like part of the family. Come and create unforgettable memories with us in Kenya!
What else ...
Mfangano Island is a nature-lovers paradise with plenty of birdlife, hikes and peaks with stunning panoramic views. We are on the east south side of the island and exposed to sun rise, but there is much to see and experience on the other parts of the island as well as the other nearby islands on your days off.
We either walk or take boat and motorcycles around (no more cars on the island !) and there are motor boats to transport people to different points on the island. It is possible to walk the whole ring road around the island in one day (if you start very early in the morning !).
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have good conection. Our WI-FI is steady.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a big space and flat for more cars to pack.
Can possibly accept pets
We have dogs and cats
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (27)
Another highlight was sharing… read more
As you dost pen the feedback, let the words be a reflection of kindness and truth. For even in the smallest… read more
I loved how the workaway functioned. You live in a separate house and when I was there there were loads of volunteers so we would have a great time together in our breaks and weekends. You are just by the lake so you can pop in for a swim or bath when you need!
They have set times to come over for breakfast,… read more
We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the guidance and support you… read more
A sense of belonging settles very… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.2)
Another highlight was sharing… read more
As you dost pen the feedback, let the words be a reflection of kindness and truth. For even in the smallest… read more
I loved how the workaway functioned. You live in a separate house and when I was there there were loads of volunteers so we would have a great time together in our breaks and weekends. You are just by the lake so you can pop in for a swim or bath when you need!
They have set times to come over for breakfast,… read more
We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the guidance and support you… read more
A sense of belonging settles very… read more
They are really welcoming and try to fit you in the community and want you to get to know the historical parts of the island.
It is interesting to see the cultural differences. And it is definitely an… read more
Cultural exchange and learning how to play Oluko very first at our meusium.
With a mixture of luo and Suba cultures, the better off we are.
Màtheus was able to learn at the rhythm of olusuba and luo life.… read more
I was introduced to what they eat (Florence can’t live without her Ugali), but also had the opportunity to… read more
Cultural exchange and learning how to play Oluko
Here, the more there is a mixture of 8cultures, the better off we are.
Martin was able to learn at the rhythm of olusuba life. The on-site project which is… read more
Florence, Gabriel, Christine, Dennis, Happy, and Sesmel—thank you so much for… read more
Love you Florence and… read more
Florence and girls cooked so great food every day so our bellies were happily full.
Gabriel organised a tour around the island by boat and a trip to the top of the mountains and the UNESCO heritage… read more
They had a number of projects they were working on, including their permaculture projects, grant writing and application, house building as well as working with the local school.
We mainly focused on the house building,… read more
Thank you for everything, we will not forget this experience.
Florence and Gabriel… read more
We visited a school one of the days and the main focus when I was there were to spread the word of the project and to make the fundraising going for building the fence… read more
My main task was to open the nursery space at the side of garden
They have many interesting project.like involving the community especially some of neighbor schools. And expanding the farm is also one of nice work.
They… read more
At that time nothing had been started… read more
I travelled solo and it was my first time on Mfangano island so there was plenty to see and discover on the island, especially on days off with the other volunteer I joined, Morgane. The work was simple enough - I arrived at the very beginning of… read more
The oven is doing great. The kids House is also good and prevented from rain . The are very hard work. Sandra your fundraising is good still online. Thank you guys for your help.
We helped to create an oven in the separate kitchen and… read more
See you my dear
Be blessed you my daughter.
