Profile information
Host rating
Not yet rated
Feedback
-
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Karibu Dala! Welcome home- My name is Eltrud (Elty). I started living with my grandmother at the age of 11. Her daily presence and wisdom shaped my identity and destiny. It was through her that I came to value hard work, community, and education from lived experience.
Even though we had little, her stories, care, and life lessons gave me the confidence and direction many children today lack. I admired her strength and positivity in life. Little did I know that soon she will be treated like an outcast. She grew too old; she could not take care of herself and people around her felt she was a burden. But to me she was always my number one teacher.
She faced isolation neglect and even abuse. But was it her fault that she grew old? Seeing so many elderly people going through the same challenges as my grandmother, I was inspired to start the organization in 2021. And after an interaction with over 100 elderly persons, I noticed many of them were having grandchildren who were not going to school and so I founded the intergenerational school in 2023.
What we do.
We work with the elderly people of 60 years and above and children between 3 -12 years with an aim of promoting intergenerational learning. Our vision is to see a world where children and elders learn together to build resilient communities.
Our main programs are:
Intergenerational Learning & Shared Meals- where seniors share wisdom through oral storytelling while young teachers deliver the national Competency-Based Curriculum. Children, in turn, teach elders digital skills like mobile phone use.
Child–Elderly Pair Visit Program, In which during school holidays, children are paired with elderly mentors for home visits. These visits focus on emotional support, storytelling, and practical skills.
Tech in the Garden, where children and the elderly persons work together in various technologies including vertical farms, sacks, raised beds, solar driers and even Mandela with an aim of learning and also ensuring vegetables are available with focus on indigenous vegetables.
How you can get here
Fastest: Fly Nairobi to Kisumu International Airport (45 min), then a short drive to us.
Cheapest: 7–8-hour scenic bus ride from Nairobi to Kisumu.
We can help arrange pickups (small transport contribution welcome), or guide you on public transport options.
Karibu Nyumbani! Oruaki Dala! Welcome Home!
Eltrud
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Events & social
Self development
Videography
Sustainability
Culture
Farming
Charity work
Animals
Writing
Plant care
Music
History
Photography
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Books
Blogging
Cycling
Adventure sports
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Beach
Dancing
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
My community, kathing village has been farming, creating, and storytelling for generations and if you are curious, there is so much to learn here.
The elders and artisans around us carry knowledge that is rarely written down anywhere. You will find someone who can teach you to weave a basket, twist sisal into rope, shape clay into pottery, or select the right seeds before the rains come.
We are located in kano plains, so rice planting, rice milling, and the whole cycle of growing food the traditional way are living skills that the people around us practice every season.
Beyond the farm and the homestead, we are surrounded by schools, churches, and community groups. If you want to teach, preach, sing, or simply show up somewhere new you will just tell us and we will make the connection.
We will be glad to receive what you bring. Your music, your language, your recipes, and your way of seeing the world feel free to share with us what you have.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
The activities here vary with the seasons.
When schools are running, you will find yourself in the classroom, sitting with children, supporting a lesson, or simply being a new face that sparks curiosity.
In the garden, we do planting, weeding, watering, setting up new growing spaces, or drying vegetables for the lunch program.
You will also help with seed saving and composting, cooking and sharing meals with children and elders, and supporting documentation, photos, or social media when needed. Sometimes you will be sitting with an elder, listening, laughing, or helping them navigate technology use.
During school holidays, we do paired visits which involves accompanying children to spend time with the older persons they are connected to. And when funds allow, we renovate homes for elderly community members, restoring safety and dignity to them.
We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for people who show up, pay attention, and care. If you see something that needs doing, just do it. That kind of initiative means everything to us.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Luo: Fluent
Swahili (Kiswahili): Fluent
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We would love to welcome Walkaways' who are interested in language exchange. Many of my community members use Luo and swahili, with others being able to speak in little English. And always feel free to interact. Mostly, the people will always offer a smile as a gesture of greetings. And they are always very happy to learn a new language more so the greetings.
Accommodation
We are located close to bot my grandmother's home. The home has amazing rooms where I do host my guest.
Equally my parents who are Christian are also living close by and they also have rooms where I do have the privileged to host my guest as well.
The buildings within the school are semi permanent but for those who feel comfortable can spend in one of the rooms or pitch a tent.
The electricity is in all the homes though we do experience a lot of black outs. We do have solar back up at my parents home.
We do share the meals as a family for dinner. While we take breakfast and lunch in school with the children and the older persons.
During festive seasons like Christmas we cook as a big team in the village and share as a people.
What else ...
We live simply and community is important to us. We value respect, modest dress in the village, and being on time for agreed activities.
The center is alcohol free and we ask for quiet nights. We also expect everyone to help with small daily tasks like tidying shared spaces, washing dishes and keeping the compound clean, so the place feels like a shared home.
And being that we experience heavy rains and floods in the months of February to around May we request that you carry with you rain courts and gumboots for easy of movement.
We use bodaboda( motorcycle) for transport to the main road and from there one can take public vehicle. We can always organize for this at your cost to make it much easier.
During your free time, one can visit amazing sites like :
Kit Mikayi — a sacred Luo cultural site about 30 km from the city, built around a towering rock formation.
Dunga Beach — right on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Kisumu Impala Sanctuary — a small wildlife sanctuary just a kilometre from the city centre, where impalas and zebras roam freely.
Kisumu Museum — a great place to go deeper into Luo culture and history.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Digital nomads are welcome, and we understand you may need focused online work time. We would appreciate if you share with us your schedule so that we plan with that in mind. Being located in the interior village electricity is not so constant and so with this, we might have to look for a back up to put at our center. Just let us know in advance.
Space for parking camper vans
We are located in the interior village. And currently we do not provide tents or camping gear, so campers are requested to carry along their own tent, and sleeping bag. You can pitch your tent safely inside our fenced compound and still use our shared bathroom, kitchen and common spaces. This way you have your own private space but remain very close to family and community life. We would offer the mattresses.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Photos
