Get Involved-Volunteer with us
ANAW currently offers volunteer opportunities to English speaking people. The main languages in Kenya are English and Kiswahili. The volunteers' work with Africa Network for Animal Welfare cover research, education, animal welfare, habitat restoration, proposal writing, accounting, editing, writing and analyzing legal documents, reporting, artwork, website updating and maintenance, ecotourism, journalism, newsletter, desnaring and afforestation. The Volunteer is intended to provide practical experience for people interested in making a difference through contributing towards animal welfare and conservation activities for a better world.
Skills and qualifications required The organization requires as many different types of skills as possible. Website design and maintenance, languages, teaching, drama, journalism, photography, art, fundraising, publicity, marketing, business, reporting, research and other academic training. What we require may not be limited to this as the needs are project tailored. Be clear in your application on the qualifications, skills and experience you have to enable us to place you in the most satisfactory area.
The volunteers will be allocated specific duties dependent upon their individual experience, skills, interests and openings in the organization, however, all volunteers should be willing to help out in any aspect of the organization's work when required and change topics if necessary. Volunteers should also be able to undertake strenuous and sometimes tedious work in a hot tropical climate under primitive living conditions. Some of the volunteer activities include:
a) Desnaring and Conservation Campaigns Desnaring is the removal of snares or traps that are set by poachers to kill animals for bush meat in and outside wildlife areas. It involves carrying out anti-snaring patrols. ANAW works closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service rangers who provide security for our teams, during anti-snaring patrols. Volunteers may accompany desnaring teams and help in the removal of snares, collection and documentation of data from the field and in report writing. Desnaring projects are funding dependent and volunteer participation will depend on whether we have the projects on schedule at the time of visit.
b) Research on Wildlife and Community issues Research projects include forest surveys, human wildlife conflict, hyacinth study and desnaring. The research projects change regularly due to the prevailing needs of the organization. Volunteers will be assigned projects according to their individual skills, experience and interest. The volunteers on research should expect to spend full days in the field. Volunteers are also encouraged to develop their own personal projects that they can work on.
c) Community Education and Conservation Through the partnership between ANAW, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service, volunteers can spend scheduled days giving talks to the public on elephant baby orphans at the Trust and on various other conservation issues at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and at The Nairobi Safari Walk.
Volunteers can also visit academic and non-academic institutions giving animal welfare and awareness talks in the company of ANAW members. They can also come up with artwork conveying relevant animal welfare messages to the public Volunteers can also participate in community conservation education programs and also participate in community conservation education talks.
d) Fundraising ANAW is a not-for-profit organization and fundraising activities are crucial in view of the animal welfare work we carry out. Each year ANAW carries out a number of fundraising activities and writes proposals to raise funds. Volunteers may help with the writing of proposals and organization of the fundraising events.
e) Publicity and Marketing ANAW produces a newsletter every six months. Volunteers can help in producing the newsletter by contributing articles, editing, photographs, designing and production of the newsletter on computers. They can also contribute articles on our work in the local media in addition to participating in exhibitions, talks and local conservation events.
Volunteers can also help in posting updates and in the maintenance of our website.
f) Eco-Tourism Through this program, the ANAW trained guides take visitors both local and international to eco-friendly sites and places in protected such as Nairobi National Park and non-protected areas. Volunteers after some training can take part in this program.
g) Children's Vocational Program During the months of April, August and December Africa Network for Animal Welfare involves volunteers to run a vocational program for the local children from around Nairobi. This will include theatre, arts, music, sports, etc. around the theme "humane and environmental education".
h) General program Volunteers are welcome to assist in routine office work such as website maintainace, correspondence to the organization’s members, donors and supporters.
Africa Network for Animal Welfare office and Campsite The ANAW office is located on 1st floor, at Westend place Bldg, Maimahiu Rd. Off Langata Rd. (Near Family Health Plaza). It is situated 6 Kilometers from the Nairobi City Center. The Campsite is located about 350km from Nairobi in Kisigau area (near the breath-taking Mt. Kasigau) in Taita Taveta District which is a dispersal area for wildlife that seasonally migrate between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. Most of the volunteers’ work will be done in these two places.
Travel The volunteers coming to ANAW will be picked up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, on arrival and taken to the Rhino house (I kilometer away from the office) where they can settle in and freshen up. They will begin volunteer work the following day. After this they will use public transport most of the time except for when carrying out official duties, traveling to the campsite and back to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on departure.
Accommodation and Meals The volunteers will be accommodated at the Rhino House located in Dam Estate – suite No. 111, off langata Road, next to Langata shopping center, opposite Wilson Airport. The volunteers will be share rooms and bathrooms. So independent and sociable, people are essential! Efforts will however be made to secure rooms for two, but this cannot be guaranteed as it depends on the availability. Facilities available include: electricity (though not reliable especially during the rainy season), showers (both cold and warm), telephone that can use calling cards, and a cyber café offering internet and telephone services is available 200m away. The hostel has a nighttime security guard who patrols the grounds.
Volunteers would be expected to pay for their own food. The hostel has a kitchen, self catering facilities and a resident cook who can prepare meals on arrangement. Meals are of good quality and not expensive. Vegetarian foods can be arranged. One can budget approximately US $10 per day for this purpose.
Volunteer hours 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Working times may be flexible depending on the project. Field days may begin at 6am. Volunteers are expected to work full days like all other employees of the organization.
Immunizations/vaccines Polio, Typhoid, Tetanus, Yellow Fever, Meningitis and Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are recommended. Please note that proof of yellow fever vaccination may be needed to enter the country. In many countries, you may have already had some of the required vaccinations as a child.
First Aid Kit The Organization has a First Aid kit. Volunteers are expected to bring items of a personal nature bearing in mind the hot and dry field conditions they may sometimes be exposed to. Antibiotic powders, anti-fungal cream, antihistamine tablets and cream may be considered. It is advisable to bring sufficient medication taken regularly.
Malaria You should come with or buy in Nairobi the impregnated mosquito nets, insect repellant and anti-malarial drugs (see your doctor for advice
Medical Facilities Nairobi has several has high standard hospitals. Recommended is a small but well-run hospital that is located about 7 Kilometers from the Africa Network for Animal Welfare hostel where volunteers will be staying. The Nairobi Hospital is 6 Km away.
Insurance All volunteers must have medical and travel insurance. Africa Network for Animal Welfare will require to see your insurance
Visa Before traveling to Kenya, find out if a visa is required. If so, it is advisable to get a tourist visa for 3 months. Although you will be volunteering at Africa Network for Animal Welfare you will legally be on holiday. You must apply for and get your Visa before you arrive in Nairobi. Ask your travel agent for details.
Volunteer duration Africa Network for Animal Welfare asks its volunteers to stay between 2 and 3 months in order to gain sufficient experience. Exceptions to this can however be made.
Disclaimer All volunteers would be expected to sign a disclaimer covering Africa Network for Animal Welfare and the Kenya Wildlife Service before beginning any volunteer work.
Age Limit for Volunteers 22 year to 35 years - though exceptions can be made. You also need to be in good health.
What should the volunteers carry? It can get very hot and at times very wet. Volunteers are advised to come with appropriate clothing (Rain proof coats and bags if present during rainy season end of March to May and end of October to mid December).
One should take field trousers, strong boots and walking sandals. Others are cotton shirts and trousers for the field, hiking boots, water bottle, day pack, insect repellent and anti-malarial tablets, torch (flashlight), sun hat, sun glasses, sun cream, mosquito net – square for a single bed, camera (not essential) and binoculars (not essential). These can be bought in Nairobi after arrival. One might like to bring a laptop computer.
Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering? Yes. Any time that you are not expected to be working you are free to do as you please. The locals are friendly and would be more than happy to entertain you or show you some of the local attractions - particularly animals. You may want to spend some time in Kenya before or after volunteering to go on safari and see more of the country.
The Volunteer cost shall be US$ 1000 per person per month In order to provide facilities for volunteers we have to cover ongoing expenses principally those related to accommodation - rent, house maintenance, electricity and water bills, home help (for cleaning and laundry –not personal) and security. Other costs include official transportation, maintenance costs associated with equipment such bolt cutters and walkie talkie radios for the desnaring teams. Africa Network for Animal Welfare is limited in its community based animal welfare activities by available funding so an increase in staff or volunteer numbers means an increase in project running expenses, such as transportation, administration, materials and communications. To enable you stay and work with us we need these costs to be covered by volunteers, we estimate these costs to total between approximately US$700-850 per person per month. The excess we ask as a contribution from volunteers to project programme running.
Volunteers will be expected to pay a non-refundable one month's fee prior to arrival to confirm their placement. Upon arrival, the remainder of the fees will be required. These payments do not include any flights, transportation, (except to and from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ), insurance, or food costs. Lonely Planet Guide to Kenya and the Kenya on a Shoestring, publications and web sites offer good information on these expenses.
Application Process All applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful or not.
Africa Network for Animal Welfare has very limited number of places available throughout the year, and all prospective candidates are assessed on their qualifications and practical experience before acceptance. This information does not guarantee you a place in our Volunteer. Often, we simply have no room during the period you wish to offer help. It is therefore extremely important that you read all of this information carefully, complete our application form including the dates you could be available, and include your resume and references.
For more information about volunteering at
Download Application Form (PDF online form) and after filling click to email back to us.