We hope these FAQs help you prepare for the Volunteer Engagement event on the 16 March 2024.
Event programme
Saturday 16 March 2024
Kenyatta University, Main Campus
Language and Cultural Centre (also known as Confucius Institute)
Thika Road
Nairobi
9:15 to 16:00 East African Time (EAT)
| 9:15-10:00 | Guest arrival and registration | Main Reception/ Main Campus |
| 10:00-12:00 | Virtual volunteer engagement event | Lecture Hall/Conference Hall |
| 11:45-12:00 | Q&A | Lecture Hall/Conference Hall |
| 14:00-15:00 | Focus groups - VSO Ambassador Programme | Lecture Hall/Conference Hall |
| 15:00-15:45 | Build your campaign session | Lecture Hall/Conference Hall |
| 16:00 | Farewell and end of the day | Lecture Hall/Conference Hall |
Our speakers
The virtual section of the event will feature the following speakers plus many more:
Susan Kiamba
Susan Kiamba is an experienced Leadership and Career Coach who supports managers, executives, and professionals when they need clarity for their career, job, leadership, or personal circumstances.
Susan has a broad coaching and consulting experience across various industries including banking, retail, insurance, international NGOs, hospitality and education.
Given her passion for equipping young professionals with skills to help them succeed in the workplace, Susan is also an adjunct lecturer.
Lucy Asewe
Lucy Asewe is a teacher and co-founder of Y-ENACT, a community-based organisation championing diversity, inclusion and gender transformative approaches in education and health services.
She currently is the Inclusive Education Advisor at VSO. Lucy is a passionate inclusion specialist with over eight years’ experience in implementing different programs supporting inclusion.
Lucy is a Youth Friendly Service (YFS) provision provider and technical advisor. She holds expertise in livelihood skills, entrepreneurships and employability. She has offered technical support in policy development to county and national governments, working closely with the Ministry of Health, Youth State Affairs and the Ministry of Education in various counties.
Hilary Lyons
Hilary is an award winning trainer who knows how to bring out the best in people. She has twenty years’ experience in communication skills.
She is passionate about giving individuals the tools and techniques that will enable them to step out of their comfort zones and fully express themselves.
Marina Illerhues
Marina has a background in Industrial Psychology and has been working for Randstad since 2014.
She started as a consultant in the Netherlands and after a six months volunteering assignment with VSO in Tanzania, where she contributed to the development and implementation of a career centre for students seeking jobs, she was promoted to Corporate Citizenship Manager at Randstad Global.
In this role she is responsible for all programs that have an impact on local and global communities, including the long partnership between Randstad and VSO.
Currently she is taking on another volunteer assignment with VSO Kenya as Business Development Advisor.
Mbaire Kamau
Mbaire Kamau works at the African Wildlife Foundation as the Senior Youth Officer in the Global Leadership team, where she leads the curation of the Charles R. Wall Youth Leadership Program.
She currently coordinates the leadership fellowship that aims at equipping young professionals who are passionate about the environment, with knowledge, skills and networks to lead systemic change in sustainable development.
Mbaire volunteered with the International Citizen Service from 2016 to 2017. She later extended her active citizenship as a programs manager with Amani Institute, Kenya from 2018 to 2022, where she led, developed and facilitated social impact training programs for individuals, enterprises, NGOs and leadership development programs.
Gerishon Were
Gerishon Were is an experienced Trek Leader at GivePower with a demonstrated history of fostering impactful projects and cultural facilitation
Gerishon has held many roles at VSO, as a volunteer, Social Inclusion Facilitator, ICS assessor, and Team Leader, among many more.
As the Business Development Manager at Tropical Lush Limited and the co-founder of Eneza Products he has honed recruitment and strategic planning skills, embodying ethical business practices.
With a commitment to active citizenship, his career journey seamlessly connects leadership in impactful treks, volunteering, and business management to contribute to global and local well-being.
Host: Fridah Okomo
Fridah Okomo is a Youth and Climate Champion who's helping to strengthen community resilience by standing shoulder to shoulder with local communities.
As a climate champion she has worked on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy actions and mentored national climate champions in Kenya.
Additionally, through her campaigning and advocacy efforts, Fridah is playing a pivotal role in ensuring that climate change policies and legislation are on policymakers’ agendas in Kenya.
FAQs
If you have additional questions, reach out to us at recruitment@vsoint.org. We are looking forward to a fantastic event together!
When and where is the event taking place?
The event will be held on 16 March 2024. There are two parts to the event.
- The virtual event will take place from 10:00 to 12:00 on Zoom.
- The in-person event will take place from 14:00 to 16:00 at Kenyatta University, Main Campus.
Participants will join both sections of the event at:
Kenyatta University, Main Campus
Language and Cultural Centre (also known as Confucius Institute)
Thika Road
Nairobi
Please arrive at least 45 minutes early (9:15 EAT) to ensure we can get started on time.
Allowance and expenses
A flat rate allowance to cover travel and other expenses based on the town of origin indicated in your application is available to each participant attending the event in person. Please refer to the table below for the amount of allowance to be paid. Only participants whose participation has been approved will be paid an allowance. No other expenses will be paid.
To facilitate the timely processing of this allowance please ensure you bring a valid identity source (ID card or passport) and be ready to show this to VSO event staff. You'll also need to sign the participant's form and payments form during the event.
The allowance will be paid out through the POPOTE system, which will send the amount directly to the MPESA number you provide at the event. We aim to process payments on the same day (16th March 2024) but some delay may occur.
The allowance will be as follows.
|
Town |
KES |
|
Bondo |
5000 |
|
Bungoma |
5000 |
|
Busia |
6000 |
|
Doldol |
5000 |
|
ELBURGON |
4000 |
|
Eldoret |
5000 |
|
Homabay |
5000 |
|
Isinya |
2000 |
|
Isiolo |
5000 |
|
Juja |
2000 |
|
Kakamega |
5000 |
|
Kapsabet |
5000 |
|
Kenol |
3000 |
|
Kericho |
5000 |
|
Kiambu |
2000 |
|
Kibwezi |
5000 |
|
Kilifi |
5000 |
|
Kisii |
5000 |
|
Kisumu |
5000 |
|
Kitengela |
3000 |
|
Kitui |
5000 |
|
Kyuso |
5000 |
|
Laare |
2000 |
|
Litein |
5000 |
|
Machakos |
3000 |
|
Migori |
2000 |
|
Mombasa |
5000 |
|
Nairobi |
2000 |
|
NAKURU |
3000 |
|
Ngong |
2000 |
|
Nyeri |
5000 |
|
RUIRU, KENYA |
2000 |
|
Siaya |
5000 |
|
Thika |
2000 |
|
Vihiga |
5000 |
|
Voi |
5000 |
|
Wangige |
2000 |
Please, contact recruitment@vsoint.org if you have any questions.
Can I expense my travel costs for getting to the event?
VSO Kenya will provide a flat allowance to cover travel, any lunches on the way and all other related costs. See ‘allowance and expenses’ above.
Accommodation for attendees traveling to the event venue
Half-board accommodation for an overnight stay for two nights (15 and 16 March) will be provided at Kenyatta University Conference Centre (KUCC) to volunteers travelling from outside of Nairobi and its surroundings, to attend the event.
You will receive confirmation from VSO that accommodation has been booked for you via email prior to the event.
KUCC is located on the Kenyatta University, Main Campus along Thika Road, a short distance from the event venue. No additional accommodation or related costs will be refunded.
Please contact us at recruitment@vsoint.org if you have any questions.
Are meals provided and are there dietary options available?
Lunch will be provided at the conference facility. We've considered dietary preferences, but if you have specific dietary requirements, please inform us in advance at recruitment@vsoint.org.
For residential participants, dinner and breakfast will be provided at KUCC.
The flat rate allowance will cover other reasonable meal expenses incurred outside of these.
How do I find the venue?
The event will take place at Kenyatta University Main Campus, situated 20km from central Nairobi:
Address:
Kenyatta University, Main Campus
Language and Cultural Centre (also known as Confucius Institute)
Thika Road
Nairobi
See a map of where the venue is located below:
Map: Nairobi to Kenyatta University Main Campus (PDF, 510 KB)
Do I need to prepare anything for the workshops?
Bring your creativity and enthusiasm! Please bring your phone/ mobile device so you can engage online on social platforms.
Can I bring a friend or family member to the event?
The event is for VSO volunteers only, if you know of other volunteers whom we have missed from the invite list, please ask them to contact us at recruitment@vsoint.org.
What technology will be available for participants?
The venue will be equipped with excellent audio/video equipment and Wi-Fi, ensuring a seamless experience for both virtual and in-person participation.
Is the venue accessible for people with disabilities?
Yes, the venue is accessible, and accommodations will be made to ensure a welcoming environment for all participants. If you have specific accessibility concerns, please contact recruitment@vsoint.org for further assistance.
How can I connect with other volunteers before the event?
Connecting with fellow volunteers is incredibly important in our journey as active citizens. Make sure to join in the conversations using the #WeVolunteerFor hashtag on social media, and in the meantime, please join our official VSO Volunteers group on Facebook.
When will I receive confirmation of my registration for the virtual event?
Confirmation emails, including detailed virtual event information, will be sent after completing the registration process.
If you have additional questions or need further clarification, please contact us at recruitment@vsoint.org.
What if I can't attend?
All participants attending in-person must experience both the virtual and face-to-face sections. If for any reason you cannot attend, please contact recruitment@vsoint.org.
Last updated: 12 March 2024 11:00 (GMT)