Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
27 Feb 2026
Reply rate
91.7 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
49
Facebook verified
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (5)
Details
Description
Regeneration Permaculture Kindergarten Learning Centre – Mfangano Island, Kenya
Hello and welcome!
We are Florence and Gabriel, a family living on the beautiful Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya. We are creating a small Permaculture Kindergarten Learning Centre where young children can learn, play, and grow in connection with nature.
Our vision is to build a simple, peaceful learning space where children explore the natural world through permaculture, creativity, storytelling, music and play. Permaculture is our classroom, and we believe that when children learn to care for the land, they also learn to care for people and their community.
Permaculture teaches us to start small and slow, observing and learning as we grow. Following this principle, we are beginning with a small group of about 15 young children from the local community. This allows us to create a calm and nurturing environment where every child can receive attention and learn through hands-on experiences with nature.
Life here is simple, community-focused, and surrounded by nature. Volunteers who join us become part of our daily life and help support both children’s learning and sustainable living projects.
What We Are Building
We are developing a small garden-based kindergarten and learning space where children can:
Learn through nature and outdoor activities
Plant seeds and grow vegetables
Develop creativity through art, music, and storytelling
Build confidence and curiosity
Learn respect for the environment and community
At the same time, we are growing a permaculture garden that supports food production, tree planting, and environmental awareness in the local community.
How Volunteers Can Help
Depending on your interests and skills, volunteers may help with:
Playing and learning activities with young children
Garden work and permaculture projects
Creating simple educational activities
Art, music, storytelling, and creative learning
Tree planting and environmental awareness
Photography, video, or social media to share our work
Small building or improvement projects
You do not need to be a teacher — enthusiasm, kindness, and patience with children are what matter most.
Life on Mfangano Island
Mfangano Island is a beautiful and peaceful place in Lake Victoria. Life here is slow and simple, giving you a chance to experience real village life in Kenya.
In your free time you can enjoy:
Swimming in the lake
Exploring local villages and beaches
Hiking small hills with amazing views
Experiencing Luo culture and local food
Watching beautiful sunsets over Lake Victoria
Our Values
Our work is rooted in:
Respect for people and nature
Community empowerment
Learning through practical experience
Long-term regeneration instead of short-term aid
Everyone is welcome here. You do not need to be Christian to stay with us, and any faith-based activities are always optional.
Who This Is Perfect For
This experience is ideal for people who:
Love nature and simple living
Enjoy spending time with children
Are interested in permaculture and sustainable living
Want to experience authentic village life
Are open-minded, flexible, and willing to learn
If you are looking for a meaningful cultural exchange, simple island life, and the chance to make a positive impact, we would love to welcome you to our home and community.
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
Cultural & Faith Exchange
Life here is a joyful blend of service, learning, and fellowship. Guided by our local church leaders and community members, volunteers experience the rich traditions of Mfangano Island while connecting with people from around the world.
You’ll have opportunities to:
Cook local meals alongside our students, church members, and family, sharing recipes and stories rooted in culture and faith.
Learn the local language while engaging in everyday community life.
Join in worship and fellowship with our church family, experiencing music, prayer, and communal celebrations.
Enjoy lakeside sunsets and nature walks, reflecting on God’s creation and the beauty of community.
This is more than cultural exchange — it’s a true sharing of hearts, faith, and knowledge. Volunteers leave not only with new skills but with lasting friendships, spiritual growth, and a deeper appreciation for the ways God works
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
Volunteers support our Permaculture Kindergarten Learning Centre through simple daily activities that help children learn and help our land grow.
Children’s Learning & Activities
Play and assist with learning activities for 15 young children
Support storytelling, art, music, and creative learning
Help children explore nature through gardening and outdoor play
Encourage curiosity, confidence, and kindness
Permaculture Garden & Food Forest
Planting vegetables, trees, and herbs
Helping build and maintain banana circles and keyhole gardens
Supporting our aquaponic fish pond system
Composting and soil care
Animal Care
Feeding and caring for chickens
Cleaning and maintaining the poultry house
Helping develop a small sustainable system that benefits both chickens and soil
Environmental Projects
Tree planting and environmental awareness
Supporting sustainable systems in our food forest
Helping children understand how to care for nature
Creative & Technical Support (Optional)
Volunteers with special skills can also help with:
Photography and videography
Social media and digital storytelling
Grant writing or online fundraising
Website or digital communication support
Computer Learning Support
Volunteers with computer skills can help us teach:
Basic computer literacy
Digital communication and research
Simple administration and documentation
What Matters Most
You do not need special experience. What matters most is:
Kindness and patience with children
Willingness to learn and share
Respect for local culture and community life
Openness to simple living on a small island
Minimum stay: 2 weeks
Your time here helps nurture children, land, and community while creating a meaningful cultural exchange.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Luo: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation & Meals
Volunteers stay in our peaceful family home near the lake on Mfangano Island. You will share a simple house with a kitchen, living space, and dry latrine. Our homestead is surrounded by trees and gardens, creating a calm and natural environment for rest, learning, and community life.
We usually host two or more volunteers, and you will become part of our daily family life.
Meals
We provide three simple meals each day:
Breakfast and lunch are prepared with support from our church community and sometimes together with volunteers.
Dinner is often cooked together with our family using fresh food from our garden.
Volunteers may also help prepare simple meals for the children at the learning centre, and each volunteer usually takes one day during the week to help food exchange cooking for the children. This is a shared activity and a nice way to experience our local food preparations and culture.
There is also a quiet space in our food forest garden where you can relax, read, or enjoy nature after work. The lake is nearby and perfect for swimming or watching beautiful sunrises.
Weekends
Weekends are usually free for rest and exploring the island. You can walk by the lake, visit local villages, hike the small hills, or simply enjoy the peaceful environment.
On Sundays, we attend church and sometimes share meals with the community. Everyone is welcome, but participation is always completely optional.
What else ...
Mfangano Island
Mfangano Island is truly a paradise for nature lovers and those who delight in God’s creation. The island is alive with birdsong, lush landscapes, and scenic peaks offering stunning panoramic views — a daily reminder of the beauty and majesty of our Creator.
Our homestead is on the east-south side of the island, blessed with the morning sunrise. There’s much to see and experience on other parts of the island, as well as on nearby islands, especially on your days off.
Traveling around the island is part of the adventure:
We walk, ride motorcycles, or take small motorboats (cars are no longer used here!)
Motorboats can transport volunteers to different points along the shore
For the adventurous, it’s possible to walk the entire ring road around the island in one day — a rewarding way to witness the Creator’s handiwork from sunrise to sunset.
Whether you seek quiet reflection in nature, birdwatching, or active exploration, Mfangano Island offers abundant opportunities to connect with God’s world and recharge your spirit.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
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
My animals / pets
Dodgy (8 months)
My dog is still young and like playing
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (29)
We’re especially grateful that you connected with our vision and took the time to understand our way of life, the… read more
Accommodation is not on-site but about 200… read more
Another highlight was sharing… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.4)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.2)
We’re especially grateful that you connected with our vision and took the time to understand our way of life, the… read more
Accommodation is not on-site but about 200… read more
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.
