Kenya
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15/05/2021
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I am Nicholas Ojwando, 45 years old. Married with two boys. I'm the founder of the Sophia Foundation. My education background is social work and project management. I have over 25 years working with international organization in Kenya, South Sudan and Eritrea with street children, women youth refugees and internally displaced persons.
I had this passion of starting an organization in my own village as away of giving back. Therefore, I decided to leave active employment in 2015 and the following years, the Sophia Foundation was born, with focus on talent development through art and economic empowerment of widows.
So far we have made some little by putting up a community centre to conduct art classes and and gave out 15 small animals (sheep/goats to widows in Pap Onditi community.
We are a registered community based organisation based in Pap Onditi, Kisumu City, at the shore of lake Victoria, Kenya.
We are a community which is open, friendly and loves visitors. We always participate together during cultural functions as a way of solidarity. We are a community which fish is the main dish because of nearest to Lake Victoria but we also have variety of food.
At our project site we grow variety of vegetables, fruits and crops for home consumption and our volunteers usually love to eat.
Pap Onditi is a semi village a quite place and conducive environment for work. We have a flat, building for volunteers accommodation with running water and electricity. It's a place to be.
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
Farmstay help
Help with Computers/ Internet
They will benefit in many ways, like have new friends, learn new languages, cook and try new foods, they will attend community cultural activities to understand our cultures and way of life.
As the founder of the organization, I will be available to help and teach them about our cultures, way of life, our languages, food and show them around, visit some of the tourist sites around. I will work together with them most of the time and share meals together all the time with my family to build a family bond and just connect beyond volunteering.
We will welcome help in the following areas :
-Plan activities together with the centre staff.
-Teach art (drawing, moulding, singing, dancing, painting... or language classes.
-Give talks to widows on development related issues.
-Home visit to children or widows and develop their profiles and situations at their homes.
-Develop documentaries
-Help in the garden to plant or weed vegetables and fruits.
-Help with coming once in a while.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
Knowing different languages is very important in connecting and interacting with different helpers from different cultural background. I will be available to teach helpers different languages spoken here, that is English Kiswahili and Luo (local) language.
We have a flat with rooms where volunteers can share. There is running water and electricity.
We have different types of local foods eaten here. This will be another way of cultural exchange by teaching helpers how to prepare and cook. Through this, they will learn and know how to cook for others. At the same time we will be able to learn to cook their foods.
They can go to local makets, visit different places around, visit even homes of the beneficiaries. Basically they are free to plan their free time and where to go with the knowledge of the in charge and of cause accompanied by a staff.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
