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#open-mindedness, change in mindset #practical experience, cultural understanding #self-cultivation, a relaxed life
My Gap Year Experience: Volunteering in a Community Village in Kenya
Want to explore a new continent and gain valuable experience? Contact us today, and we’ll create a personalized program just for you! Whether you're volunteering or interning, this journey will be a life-changing and unforgettable experience. Many students have chased their dreams without hesitation—now it's your turn! Don’t be afraid to shape your own itinerary; we’re here to support you every step of the way. Take a gap year and make a meaningful impact in the community of your choice!
Here is So-young's experience!
Coming back, I feel more relaxed than before I left. I think I can try to understand various perspectives with an open mind now at any given situation. I wanted to gain practical experience in my field of interest.
Hello, I am Lee So-young and I am a college student majoring in tourism management. I volunteered for 8 weeks in a Kenyan village. I usually like to travel and I am interested in ecotourism and fair trade tourism in the tourism industry.
I have dreamed of going to Africa since I was young and I am interested in the tourism industry on the African continent.
Outside of my major, I am interested in nature conservation and animal rights issues as I have been practicing a non-strict vegetarian diet for about 3 years.
Before graduating from college, I wanted to experience my interests in Africa in person. So I took a leave of absence and saved money to prepare for an internship or long-term volunteer work in Africa. However, my plans fell through and while I was looking for another way I remembered a professor at my school who mentioned an organization called “KoreaGap Year” so I decided to participate.
I had several experiences traveling abroad so I had no worries before leaving. Also, I was able to get used to the atmosphere in Africa through a three-week educational service in Tanzania before going to Kenya. However, I was a little worried about whether I would be able to communicate well with my imperfect English in a place where there were no Koreans or Asians. I was worried about whether I would be able to quickly become close with people because of my introverted personality.
I wanted to deeply experience the culture of the people of that country.
Before leaving, I searched for related information about Kenya on the internet and borrowed books about Africa from the library to read. It was also helpful to prepare a proposal for a project I wanted to do. I got to know my host family in advance as we arranged two video calls prior to my arrival. I wanted to have a proper local experience through this gap year. My goal was to ambitiously create a proposal and find things I could do related to ecotourism but I also wanted to deeply experience the culture of the people in that country. I also wanted to experience various perspectives on certain situations and problems. I have close African friends in Korea and seeing them made me realize that it is not easy to adapt to a new culture and live there. Also, people in Korea still think of the African continent as a distant continent. I wanted to share my experiences with someone and let Koreans know about the unique charms of each country and not let it be an unknown continent.
The conversations I had with students studying the same major as me were truly unforgettable and valuable experiences.
My daily routine is to wake up at around 7:20 am, eat breakfast, and meet the local coordinator around 9 am to discuss the daily schedule. Sometimes I return home before lunch or sometimes I return in the evening depending if my schedule is delayed.
I usually help out in the kitchen during dinner time and on days when the kids are at home I help them with their English homework. I had many opportunities to talk to people from various groups while working on the project. I loved meeting and talking to new people. The YOUTH and WOMEN group and visiting universities came to talk to students who are studying the same major as me were truly unforgettable and valuable experiences. Even after arriving in Korea, I still keep in touch with the people I met there.
I think it was a process of cultivating the mind.
The biggest lesson I learned from this project was how to control my mind. In Korea, everything is fast and hectic but here everything is leisurely and requires plenty of time. I realized that the stress I feel if I don’t do something comes from a kind of compulsion. I learned how to enjoy time without rushing it.
In Korea, I never pretend to know people I don’t know, but here everyone greeted me, shook my hand, and welcomed me so much which made me happy. I thought that this is what it feels like to live in Korea where it’s not strange to not know who lives next door. I’m actually an introvert. Travel often carries an extroverted energy, but I've always wanted to create a travel experience designed for introverts. Instead of the fast-paced, dynamic approach, I believe that staying in one place for a longer period immersing in the surroundings, gradually connecting with people, and experiencing the culture at a slower, more meaningful pace can be just as enriching and appealing. I also really liked the process of meeting new people, talking to each other, and sharing opinions. I feel like I’ve made good friends who I can keep in touch with even after arriving in Korea. Lastly, living in Korea made me realize how precious the things I take for granted are.
To prospective participants!
There were many times when I was confused because the perspective on the concept of time was so different from that of Koreans. When I arrived at a new place and went to live there, I had to stop thinking only in Korean terms and try to understand and adapt to the culture and thoughts of the local people. If I had free time, my solution was to try to enjoy it as it was. I let go of my impatience and believed that the problem would be solved although it was late most of the time (from a Korean perspective) eventually the problem was solved well. If it is an important problem it is necessary to emphasize it, but it is important to give it enough time and accept it. When the day of my return was approaching, I also enjoyed my free time and made time. It is also very important to plan in advance what you want to achieve to plan in advance what you want to achieve and what you want to do in the place you will be working. At the same time, if the plan does not go as planned or something unexpected happens rather than looking at the situation negatively, it is better to find things you can do positively and solve them one by one.
My own gap year tip!
Language
Kenya has English and Swahili as its national language, but the language most commonly used by people in the Kericho region is a local language called Kalingin. Of course, you can communicate in English as well. The host family and local coordinators are very comfortable communicating in English. However, there are many people you meet while living there who are not good at English. Therefore there are times when the coordinators need to interpret for you during discussion or communication.If you already speak English to some extent, you do not need to worry about the language barrier. But if your English skills are lacking a bit it would be good to study simple conversations in advance. The local people who live with you are very kind and always try to listen to the participants' stories and compared to Koreans they are more patient. So, I don’t think you need to worry too much if you have the will to communicate even if you are not good at English. If you are concerned about English since the internet is slower than in Korea and requires payment to use, it would be helpful to install an offline dictionary app or bring an electronic dictionary for easy access.
Accommodation
If you are visiting during the rainy season, I recommend you bring a sleeping bag. I was given a separate room and it was spacious and very nice. But there were many times when I was embarrassed because they didn’t knock often when coming into my room. So it would be polite to ask them to knock when they come in.
Food
Personally, I don’t eat meat so it was difficult for me to eat locally. I think people who eat meat would enjoy local foods better than I did. If you are sensitive to food, I think it would be a good idea to bring side dishes from your home. Most of the food is made at home rather than bought.
In Korea, I ate different foods almost every day but since the food they made was always the same it was hard for me personally towards the end of the project. It is also a good idea to buy groceries at the market or mart and cook your own food.
I sometimes cooked eggs for breakfast and cooked instant ramen I bought from Korea and shared them. If there is a good that is difficult to eat feel free to tell them. I also helped prepare meals so I got to chat in the kitchen and become friends with local women.
What to bring!
Flashlight - I highly recommend a flashlight. Sometimes the electricity goes out and it gets very dark at night, so I used the flashlight I brought on my phone because it was too weak.
Gifts for local families - I brought a lot of Korean snacks as gifts for local families, but since they rarely eat sweets in order to reduce their sugar intake it would be better to bring other items. Jackets, long pants, rain boots, raincoat, sleeping bag during the rainy season. If you are visiting during the rainy season you must bring long pants and a jacket. Laundry does not dry well during the rainy season so I highly recommend boots. Buying them locally is a good idea which is 600 KSH (seven or eight thousand Korean won).
Mirrors - There are no mirrors in local houses so it is a good idea to bring a small hand mirror in case it becomes an inconvenience to you.
Books/Movies - Depending on what you do your free time may vary but if you’re visiting for more than two months I recommend bringing books and movies.
Wet wipes and Masks - If you’re going during dry season bring wet wipes and a mask because there’s a lot of sand/dush when you move around.
My own African travel destination
If you want to see African wild animals go to Masai Mara National Park. The gas and entrance fees are expensive but I think it is worth it. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to see many animals during the period when animals migrate to Tanzania. It is also a good idea to visit wildlife sanctuaries.
I think I can try to learn about various perspectives with an open mind.
When I came back, I felt more relaxed than before. I think I can try to open my mind to various perspectives, knowing that there can be various perspectives on any situation. I also felt confident in my major and when I go back to school I will take classes and prepare assignments differently than before and really do my best for myself.
My Gap Year Review!
Experience ★★★★★
Looking back, the difficult times were really good experiences, especially living in a completely new place.
Learning ★★★
Learned a lot about diversity and different perspectives on certain situations which helped me experience a new concept and improved my language skills.
Environment ★★★★
Compared to Korea it is far from modern facilities and the environment isn’t very pleasant but it makes it even better. If you are someone who loves nature like me you'll enjoy the scenery here.
Safety ★★★
Capturing the growth journeys
of our participants.
