Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
9 Apr 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
49
Facebook verified
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (5)
Details
Description
Regeneration Permaculture Kindergarten – Mfangano Island, Kenya
Hello and welcome!
We are Florence and Gabriel, a family living on beautiful Mfangano Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya.
We are creating a small Permaculture Kindergarten where children learn, play, and grow in connection with nature. Through gardening, creativity, storytelling, and outdoor learning, we help children develop confidence, curiosity, and care for their environment and community.
We are starting small with about 15 children to create a calm, nurturing space focused on hands-on learning and personal attention.
Volunteers become part of our daily life and can support in many ways—playing with children, helping in the garden, sharing creative skills, contributing to small projects, or helping document and share our work. No teaching experience is needed—kindness, openness, and willingness to learn are what matter most.
Life here is simple and peaceful, offering a true village experience. You can enjoy nature, local culture, lake swims, and beautiful sunsets.
We welcome open-minded people who love nature, enjoy working with children, and are interested in sustainable living.
If you are looking for a meaningful cultural exchange, simple island life, and a chance to make a positive impact, we would love to welcome you into 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
How Volunteers Can Help
Volunteers support our Permaculture Kindergarten through simple, meaningful daily activities that help children learn and the land grow.
You may help with:
Playing and learning activities with 15 young children
Storytelling, art, music, and creative expression
Gardening, tree planting, and caring for our food forest
Basic animal care (chickens and small systems)
Environmental awareness and nature-based learning
If you have special skills, you can also support with photography, social media, fundraising, or basic computer learning.
What Matters Most
No special experience is needed—kindness, patience, and a willingness to learn are what matter most. We value respect for local culture and openness to simple island living.
Your time here helps nurture children, care for the land, and support the community—while creating a meaningful cultural exchange.7
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 (10 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.
