Kenya: MASOGO RESOURCE CENTRE

About the local hosting organization

The Masogo Community Resource Center is a project that was initiated by CIVS in collaboration with the local community in 2019 with an aim to build and strengthen the community's capacity to be self-reliant and to improve their living standards. The Centre achieves this by demonstrating how to utilize the locally available resources to develop the community Core Programs & Services Available The facility serves as an epicenter for several community-led initiatives designed to mitigate poverty, support vulnerable families, and offer skills training: • ICT and Digital Literacy Training: The center provides structured vocational training in ICT skills, offering local youth affordable access to essential digital tools and computer skills otherwise concentrated in major urban areas. • Community Banking & Microfinance: Local community members are organized into active savings groups, building a reliable structure for microfinance, localized service delivery, and financial empowerment. • Agribusiness & Food Security: Offers practical training and capacity building to local smallholders to promote food security and sustainable agricultural practices through a model farm • Community Space: The building features dedicated facilities used for hosting adult learning classes, community meetings, capacity-building workshops, and collaborative projects

Presentation of the programme

• Working in the Model Farm: tilling the land, planting crops, applying manure, weeding, watering and harvesting • Assisting in training of computer skills to the Youth at the projects ICT center • Maintenance activities at the center: collecting litter, landscaping, construction repairs, cleaning the halls, slashing the weeds, painting the walls, and garbage disposal point

About the accomodation

Accommodation will be at a host house in shared rooms and it is important that you have your own sleeping bag and mosquito net. During the workcamp, volunteers will get food from locally available foodstuffs and will share the responsibility of preparing the food.

About the location

On weekends, volunteers usually team up to explore the diverse natural beauty and vibrant cities of Western Kenya. • Explore Kisumu City (Approx. 45 mins away): Head to the third-largest city in Kenya, situated right on the shores of Lake Victoria. It features modern supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants where you can grab a cold drink and pizza. • Hippo Cruise & Dunga Beach: Take a boat ride from Kisumu to spot hippos on Lake Victoria, and enjoy fresh tilapia straight from the lake at the bustling fish night market. • Kisumu Impala Sanctuary: A beautiful, quiet wildlife sanctuary right next to the lake where you can see impalas, zebras, cheetahs, baboons, and a variety of birds. • Kit Mikayi: Visit the famous "Crying Stone," a massive rock outcrop wrapped in local Luo cultural folklore and myths, perfect for a short hiking trip. • Kakamega Forest (Approx. 2 hours away): Take a weekend trip to Kenya's only remaining tropical rainforest, famous for its incredible birdwatching, monkeys, hiking trails, and beautiful waterfalls.