The Reef Academy was started by Loise Mwikali and Kivwaa Kivindu in 2019 and registered with the Ministry of Education, in an effort to address the prevailing needs of the local community members whose children were disadvantaged when it comes to accessing basic education opportunities because of their vulnerability and want.

They set out on this journey by pooling their meager resources to leasing an already developed 40” x 100” size parcel of land with nine (9) permanent 11” x 10” size rooms of which they added four iron sheets walled makeshift structures for enhanced operations next to Masii Township.

The School started with seventy - one learners at inception in 2019 which has since increased to one hundred and eight following the disruptions caused by the COVID19 Pandemic. The learners are spread from play group (27), pre – primary 1 & 2 (23 and 27 respectively), grade 1 to 6 (35, 24, 24, 14, 6 and 5 respectively) owing to the available space aided by nine trained competency based curriculum system of education teachers, a cook and a security officer under the leadership of Loise – the Director.

For further effective learning purposes, the available buildings/rooms have apportioned to hold the nine classrooms, the Director’s office cum store, School’s kitchen, sick cum sleeping bay for the kids in play group. The School forty – three wooden desks with learners to desk ratio being 1: 4 and 2 foams with a carrying capacity of twenty – four and five infant size plastic chairs for the younger learners in pre – school classes; a 5,000 liters’ plastic water tank for holding water for general use; clay cooking stove, cooking pans/gears and utensils for meal preparations from the 3 meters’ squire makeshift kitchen; 6 doored pit latrines – four for the learners and two for the staff members. The School’s compound is secured with a perimeter wall with a gate and 24 hours’ CCTV surveillance.

Despite all these milestones, the School has a host of challenges which includes:

Inadequate land for School’s expansion and recreation;

Upgrading of the iron sheets walled classrooms to permanent structures and constructing more permanent classrooms and completing the uncompleted ones and furnishing them with the requisite learning/teaching equipment/aids;

Constructing more toilet facilities to cater for the School’s needs;

Constructing an administration block to host the staffroom, the Director’s Office and the store;

Upgrade the kitchen to a modern permanent status;

Get individual child – sponsors to cater for the needs of the learners;

Get sponsors to support the School feeding program ;

Construct a solar powered borehole water supply project for sustained water supply to the School’s community ;

Get volunteers to aid in enriching the School’s Programs and help with resource mobilization.

Volunteers may participate/help in the following areas:

Administration duties like office/secretarial and clerical roles;

Marking class attendance registers;

Helping as assistant teachers in areas like teaching, giving assignments and marking; drawing, coloring & painting; singing and doing physical education sessions with the kids;

Helping in meal planning, preparation and serving and cleaning/washing of the utensils:

Helping in the daily management of the School’s kitchen garden;

Engaging in sporting activities with the learners;

Planning and conducting/facilitating nature walks and educational tours with the kids;

Help with linkages; project(s) development and fundraising for the School;

Engage in any activity(ies) of own choice at the School.

The School has various options for volunteers’ hosting/accommodation depending on one’s needs.

The "default" one is staying with host families: these can be at the Director’s home, the teachers’ homes or even at the learners’ homes. This is the most ideal option to hosting as the volunteer becomes attached to a family where they can have a sense of belongingness, share and learn/grow as a family. The volunteer is allocated a room within the family house/home for own privacy but do most of the daily chores including meal planning, procurement of food stuff, preparation, serving and eating with the host family members.

During your stay on this project food will be provided by your host family, volunteer will be provided with three meals a day (break fast, lunch and dinner). Food will be prepared by the host with the help of volunteers. Most foods are locally made and fresh produced 

Possible leisure activities :

1. Visit Machakos People's Park
2. Hike or picnic at Machakos Hills
3. Explore the Machakos Golf Club
4. Visit the Machakos Bus Station Market
5. Take a boat ride at the Machakos Dam
6. Explore the Malaa Forest
7. Attend local cultural festivals
8. Visit the Iveti Hill for scenic views
9. Tour the nearby Katangi Waterfalls
10. Participate in community arts and crafts projects

You'll need to meet certain requirements, including age, health, and attitude. You'll also need a passport and visa to enter the country.

1. Age: You must be at least 18 years old (if you are below 18 years you need written consent from a guardian), or the age required by your program ;

2. Language: You should be able to speak at least basic English, or the language required by your program ;

3. Passport: You'll need a valid passport to enter Kenya ;

4. Visa: You'll need a Single Entry Visa or tourist visa to volunteer in Kenya ;

5. Travel insurance: You'll need to have travel and health insurance ;

6. Background check: You may need to provide a criminal background check report ;

7. Vaccinations: You may need to get certain vaccinations before entering Kenya ;

8. Training: You may need to participate in training provided by your organization ;

9. You should also be open-minded, flexible, and patient, and willing to step outside your comfort zone ;

10. A positive attitude towards independent progress of others ;

11. A willingness to adapt to local conditions.

Arrival Terminal At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi.

Orientation: Orientation meeting will take place in Nairobi before proceeding to the project.

Day 1: Arrival and pick up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya and transfer to host family home or hostel.

Day 2: Morning: registration and start of orientation. About 4 hours lecture at the home of your host. Topics covered during orientation lecture will include East African culture, history, customs, politics, geography, and necessary health precautions, and various other topics, such as the diversity of Kenyan life. Afternoon is free for exploring rural Kenyan life and getting to know your host family.

Additional requirements :

1. Some programs may have additional requirements, such as a registration fee or program fee ;

2. Medical volunteers may need to provide college enrollment documents ;

3. Volunteers working with children may need to provide a criminal background check report.

Participation fee : 400 Euros per months (12 months).

The project fee or extra fee includes : airport pick up, airport transfer, food, accommodation and host, transport from Nairobi to the project and back to Nairobi after the project, city tour, 2 days host in Nairobi on your arrival and last day after project, 24 hours Agape Centre Of Hope Office Support and project monitoring.

Project dates : Term 1 January to April, Term 2 May to August and Term 3 October to November.