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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to volunteer as an occupational therapist in Kenya? Our Travel Roots occupational therapy program is designed to restore independence, support lives and build resilience in Nairobi.
Occupational therapy plays a vital role in helping individuals regain or develop the skills they need to lead fulfilling lives. This program places you alongside local therapists in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, special needs schools, or elderly homes—supporting people with physical, cognitive, or psychological challenges.
You’ll work with children and adults facing a range of conditions, from cerebral palsy and autism to stroke recovery and spinal injuries. Your support will focus on building fine motor skills, improving coordination, and helping patients adapt to daily tasks with confidence and dignity.
This is a powerful opportunity to use your knowledge in a deeply human, high-impact way—offering care that empowers people to regain control over their bodies, minds, and routines.
Key Activities:
Assist with daily living and task-based therapies for patients of all ages
Help children develop motor skills, coordination, and handwriting
Support stroke and injury recovery through guided movement routines
Engage in therapeutic activities to build self-confidence and independence
Help patients develop adaptive techniques for home, school, or work life
By volunteering on our Occupational Therapy program, you will:
Support children and adults in regaining independence through skill-building and therapy
Assist patients with physical or cognitive conditions like cerebral palsy, stroke, or schizophrenia
Work in hospitals, care homes, and special needs schools alongside trained local professionals
Help improve daily life functions—from mobility to handwriting to emotional regulation
Gain meaningful experience in a cross-cultural healthcare setting that fosters personal and professional growth
What to Expect: A Day in the Life of a Occupational Therapist Volunteer
Each day brings new challenges, new connections, and countless small victories. You'll work closely with local therapists and patients in clinical or classroom settings, offering practical support that makes a real difference in daily life.
7:30 AM – Breakfast & Daily Prep
Start your morning with a nourishing meal and review your goals for the day—whether it's patient sessions, school support, or assisting with therapy routines.9:00 AM – Morning Therapy Sessions
Join your local supervisor in delivering one-on-one or group therapy. You might guide stroke survivors through motor coordination exercises or help children improve fine motor skills through creative play.12:00 PM – Lunch & Midday Break
Return to your homestay or take a break at your placement site. Use the time to reflect or prepare for the afternoon.1:30 PM – Afternoon Engagement
Assist in school-based sessions, helping students with handwriting, hand-eye coordination, or focus-based activities. In care homes, you may help elderly patients with mobility routines or memory stimulation.4:00 PM – Wrap-Up & Planning
Debrief with staff, write notes on patient progress, and prepare materials for the next day’s sessions.Evenings & Days Off
Unwind with your host family, explore Nairobi’s culture, or enjoy quiet time after a fulfilling day of work.Your Impact as a Volunteer
For many patients in Kenya, consistent occupational therapy is a luxury they can’t access. Your support offers more than rehabilitation—it offers a chance to regain confidence, reconnect with daily life, and reclaim independence.
Whether you’re helping a child write their name for the first time or assisting an adult recovering from injury to re-learn how to cook, your presence directly enhances quality of life. These moments—small to some, life-changing to others—are the foundation of long-term empowerment.
You’re not just guiding physical movements—you’re helping people move forward emotionally, mentally, and socially. Your impact is felt in every smile of progress, every new skill mastered, and every barrier overcome.
Your Home in Nairobi
During your stay, you'll live with a welcoming local host family in a safe residential area of Nairobi. This is a unique chance to immerse yourself in daily Kenyan life—sharing meals, stories, and traditions that give real depth to your experience.
Rooms are simple, comfortable, and shared with one or two other volunteers. All homes are vetted, secure, and located within commuting distance of your school placement.
What’s Included:
Shared room with a mosquito net and bedding
Access to a private or shared bathroom
Three home-cooked meals daily (vegetarian options available)
Filtered drinking water, tea, and snacks
Access to laundry facilities (self-service or for a small local fee)
Basic Wi-Fi or internet access nearby
Evenings are often spent relaxing with your host family, playing games with the children, or learning how to cook a traditional Kenyan dish. It's a true cultural exchange and a warm place to return to at the end of each meaningful day.
History
Born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, this grassroots initiative began as a local response to growing hardship in Nairobi’s most vulnerable communities. As job losses and economic instability swept through the area, the founders stepped in to provide food parcels, clean water, and hygiene essentials—mobilising quickly through local networks and international support.
What started as emergency relief soon evolved into something deeper: a platform where people could offer their time, skills, and compassion to lift others up. By 2023, the initiative was officially registered as a nonprofit organisation, opening the door to long-term development and volunteer-led projects that continue to grow each year.
Mission & Vision
The mission is to empower communities by providing practical, affordable, and sustainable solutions to local challenges—through volunteering, training, and shared resources.
Their vision is to create self-reliant individuals and resilient communities by equipping people with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities needed for lasting transformation. Every project is built on a foundation of respect, accountability, compassion, and local collaboration—ensuring that change comes from within, and stays long after the volunteers have gone.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fees
Duration Fee (EUR) Daily Equivalent
1 week €252 €36.00/day
2 weeks €354 €25.29/day
3 weeks €475 €22.62/day
4 weeks €586 €20.93/day
5 weeks €698 €19.94/day
6 weeks €810 €19.29/day
8 weeks €1,024 €18.29/day
10 weeks €1,257 €17.96/day
12 weeks €1,490 €17.74/day
Payment Terms
Program fees are due 30 days before your start date
If applying within 30 days, full payment is due within 48 hours of confirmation
What’s Included
✔️ Homestay accommodation with a vetted local family
✔️ Three traditional meals daily
✔️ Airport pickup and drop-off
✔️ Orientation, placement, and in-country support
✔️ All volunteer activities
✔️ Pre-departure support and cultural guidance✔️ Welcome pack with all the essential and helpful information
✔️ Certificate of completion at the end of your placement
✔️ Full support before, during, and after your program
✔️ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✔️ And so much more...
Your Investment in Healing, Hope & Human Dignity
Occupational therapy transforms lives by restoring independence and functionality. Your program fee supports therapy placements across Nairobi, allowing you to contribute directly to recovery journeys that matter deeply.
Your program fees help directly support:
Placement in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, or special needs schools
Therapy tools, materials, and patient resources
Supervision by experienced local therapists and coordinators
Safe accommodation, meals, and in-country support
Long-term investment in therapy access for underserved patients
Where You’ll Be – Nairobi, the Beating Heart of Kenya
Your teaching placement will be based in Nairobi, Kenya’s dynamic and fast-growing capital city. Known for its unique blend of modern life and cultural tradition, Nairobi offers a rich, immersive experience for volunteers. From busy markets and street vendors to lush green parks and cultural centres, the city has a rhythm that is all its own.
You’ll be staying in a quiet residential neighbourhood, a short commute from your school placement. Despite the fast pace of the city, the area where you'll live is calm, welcoming, and perfect for soaking up day-to-day life in Kenya.
Nairobi also provides a gateway to wildlife and adventure—you’re never far from national parks, giraffe sanctuaries, or local cafés serving Kenya’s famous chai and street food.
Kenya – A Nation of Culture, Contrast & Community
Kenya is known across the globe for its dramatic landscapes, world-class safaris, and deeply rooted cultures. But beyond the wildlife and wilderness lies a country full of warmth, resilience, and vibrant community life.
You’ll find a rich blend of languages, traditions, and daily customs—from the Swahili phrases spoken in the streets to the generosity of a shared meal. Kenya’s people are its greatest strength—welcoming, curious, and eager to engage.
Whether you're wandering through Nairobi's Maasai Market, hiking the Ngong Hills, or learning to cook chapati with your host family, every day brings something new to discover. With its tropical climate, friendly communities, and growing social initiatives, Kenya is an unforgettable place to live, learn, and contribute.
When you’re not teaching, Nairobi and its surrounding regions offer a mix of cultural, urban, and nature-based experiences. Whether you want to explore the city’s vibrant heart or get away to the wilderness, there’s something for every type of traveller.
Giraffe Centre – 30 mins away
Meet and feed endangered Rothschild giraffes at this conservation centre in Lang’ata.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – 30 mins away
Visit orphaned baby elephants and learn about their rescue and rehabilitation journey.
Maasai Market – 20 mins away
Shop for local crafts, beadwork, textiles, and souvenirs while practicing your Swahili bargaining skills.
Karura Forest – 25 mins away
Take a walk or bike ride through this peaceful urban forest, complete with waterfalls and picnic areas.
Nairobi National Park – 40 mins away
Spot lions, rhinos, and giraffes against the city skyline in one of the world’s only national parks located within a capital city.
Cultural Food Tour – within Nairobi
Taste Kenya’s favourite dishes—like ugali, sukuma wiki, and nyama choma—at local eateries and markets.
Day Trips to Ngong Hills or Lake Naivasha – 1–2 hours away
Enjoy sweeping views from hilltops or relax by a crater lake, perfect for weekend escapes.
Live Music & Arts – Nairobi city centre
Catch an evening of local music, theatre, or spoken word at creative venues around the city.
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