Travel Tips

Voluntourism: Six Change-Makers in Africa

Peter Greenberg Worldwide
Locations in this article:  Cape Town, South Africa

6. Andrew & Stephanie Onguka, One Life Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

Valley View Classroom, Mathare Slum.

Did you know that 70 percent of the 2.3 million residents of Nairobi live in the slums and earn $2 per day or less?  Many of the children that live in the slums receive an elementary education with the help of foreign donors.  Secondary education and a possible career can most likely not be afforded.  Charities like OneLife Africa are working in the some of the largest slums in the world to break the poverty cycle and give these kids a chance.

One Life Africa brought me to the Mathare Slum, the oldest slum within Nairobi to see Valley View Primary School (40 percent of their participating students currently come from this school) to meet the students and see the challenges that they are overcoming every day by working towards a career through education.  One Life Africa began a couple years ago to assist “qualified” grade eight students who didn’t have the money to continue onto secondary school. The program helps give these under privileged students a chance to succeed through both scholarship and mentoring.  In year two, the program supports 73 students. One studying law at the university of Nairobi law school and 72 students are attending national and provincial boarding high schools in Kenya.

Founders Andrew (back right) and Stephanie Onguka (front right) of One Life Africa. Head Teacher and Principal of Valley View Primary School in the Mathare Slum, Moses Asumba (back, mid-right). Graduates of Valley View and current secondary students in the One Life Africa program with their parents.

Valley View currently has over 887 students and 45 teachers.  Valley View’s greatest need is to help increase the monthly salary of their teachers from $100 USD to $250 USD.  Other than the obvious costs of living, this increase will help Valley View (a non-formal school, in simple terms means that they do not receive government aid, but their students do qualify to test for secondary school) offer “competitive salaries” to their teachers and help break the cycle of poverty for the students.

Graduates of Valley View, secondary students and participants in the One Life Africa program. Rosemary ((left) graduated first in her class from Valley View last year, Hillary (center) was one of the first students accepted into One Life Africa two years ago and Lillian (right) one of the top graduates from Valley View last year. While undecided, each wants to explore a career in the medical field to return and help their communities.

Visit or donate: OneLife Africa.

For more volunteer resources, check out:

 Text and select photos by Michaela Guzy for PeterGreenberg,com. Guzy is the founder of OhThePeopleYouMeet.com.

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