Heading back to Kenya!



Now I realise that I haven't even updated this blog to say that I arrived back in the UK on 30th December 2010. Or even told any of the stories that happened after my dad came to visit in September.
Loads of things happened.

Most exciting probably being my Kiptere Unwrapped Project that raised money to give Christmas presents and other items to the people of Kiptere village, where I lived for the year.
You can find out more about that at
www.kiptere-unwrapped.blogspot.com

Anyway.... I came home,
I tried to find a job and failed (Got to love the current economy)
I tried to figure out what I might be doing with my life and couldn't decide
I ate a lot of cheese, met up with lots of my amazing friends and drank lots of coffee
I did countless DIY projects at home
I met lots of very awesome ICYE volunteers who are working in the UK, as well as some more of the lovely ICYE UK family.
AND.....

I got an application form for an EVS/Youth in Action funded placement opportunity....

Now being me, I filled it in and sent it back thinking nothing of it,
It was a long shot and I was never expecting to be accepted.

I had an interview with the lovely Jenny from ICYE UK and we sat back to wait and see....

Surprise, surprise...

I got it!

So tomorrow morning at 10:20am I will be flying back to Kenya!

Shocked?!

I still don't quite believe it myself!

Here's a bit about what we're aiming to achieve (taken from the ICYE newsletter)
Because I don't really know how to explain any clearer!


15 April – 15 October 2011: EYV
2011 – Volunteering Matters!
16 long-term volunteer placements in EU (Austria,
Iceland, Spain, Sweden and Turkey), African
(Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania), Asian
(India, Philippines, Vietnam) and Latin American
(Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador,, Mexico) countries.
The EVS project “EYV 2011 – Volunteering
Matters,” financed by the YiA programme and
coordinated by the ICYE International Office, is
dedicated to the European Year of Volunteering
2011 and the International Year of Volunteers
2001+10, and aims at take stock of diverse
European, African, Asian and Latin American
volunteering practices, raise awareness and
promote the benefits of volunteering programs and
practices for young people and for society as a
whole.

The mainstay of the project is to carry out action research
activities to document the experiences of
volunteers and local host communities in the
respective host country and to contribute actively
to the work of the host organisations in promoting
volunteering at local, regional and national level.
Volunteers will document and carry out
presentations about volunteering opportunities in
schools, youth centres and NGOs as well as
participate in public events to mark the EYV 2011
and/or IYV 2001+10. A final publication will
compile the presentations, research results and
feedback by sending and host organisations,
volunteers, and will be widely disseminated.


SO.... There you go!
That's my newest news...

I will try to keep things more updated here over the next 6 months and I will be living in Nairobi so it should be a little bit easier than in Kiptere!
I'll certainly be visiting everyone there and will be sure to have stories of what they've all been getting up to as well as my city adventures too!

Hope you have a great 6 months where ever in the world you are and let me know what you're up to, I love to hear your news too!