KVDA is an indigenous, non-political and membership organization which is non-sectarian and non-profit making started in 1962 as a work camp organization registered under the Societies’ Act. In 1993, KVDA was registered as a Non-Governmental organization by the establishment of the NGOs Coordination Act.
Vision Statement of KVDA: We envisage KVDA as an organization with a large membership working towards the improvement of quality of life of the community.
Mission Statement of KVDA: Mobilizing all-purpose resources to support community development initiatives.
Core Values or Operating Principles
· Promotion of voluntarism.
· Transparency and accountability.
· Participatory evaluation of projects.
· Local community ownership of projects:
· Continuous research and development.
· Regular follow up of projects.
· A learning organization.
· Documentary evidence of processes and events.
Strategic Objectives
· Afford voluntary service opportunities to young people.
· Mobilize communities to action.
· Supplement formal education with experiential learning.
· Create awareness amongst Kenyan communities about development issues.
· Foster global peace, friendship and understanding.
· Mobilizing all-purpose resources to promote grassroots development
Values
KVDA has a 62-year history of working to “develop against dependence” while cultivating trust and friendships with volunteers and partner organizations all over the world. The three mandates of the organization are as follows:
■ The Association shall be a non-profit, non-governmental, non-religious and non-political Association, whose inspiration is the furtherance of peace, friendship, understanding, development, democracy and equality among peoples of different cultures and backgrounds.
■ The Association is dedicated to seeking opportunities for young men and women from diverse national, cultural and educational backgrounds to live, work and share life and experiences in order to improve their world, to provide voluntary services to marginalized communities, to acquire alternative education, to gather information and build international cooperation.
■ The Association is further dedicated to mobilizing resources within and across national borders to support community development initiatives whose aims are to eradicate poverty and human suffering as well as to promote democracy and justice among peoples.

Project overview
• Mikuluni Primary School is a public school established in 1987 with an enrolment of 540 pupils
• The school is located in a semi-arid region that poses a challenge on children retention due to hunger. This challenge causes absenteeism and high dropout rates.
• The school is located in Vinagoni sub-location, Kauma location, Ganze constituency of Kilifi County
• To retain the children at school, the following activities are carried out:
-We grow different types of crops under smart climate agriculture technology. The income is used to provide meals for the pupils
-The school has wildlife club, agriculture, health and journalism clubs
-Tree planting campaign for environmental conservation
-The school trains students on innovative gardening like container and monumental gardening

Manual work and Intercultural activities:
• Mulching existing crops and trees
• Drip irrigation on crops and trees using bottles placed under the base of trees
• Raising seedlings in seedlings packets
• Teaching
• Pest control by spraying the pesticides
• Vegetable harvesting
• Volunteers should be flexible as they may be allocated other duties within the community by the school administration

• Volunteers will stay within the school with basic living conditions.
• Volunteers have an obligation to climb down the level of the people with the aim of exposure to development challenges.
• KVDA will provide foodstuffs and volunteers will cook their own meals in turns. Water is available from springs and it is recommended that drinking water should be boiled or medicated. Mineral water available at supermarkets is recommended.
• The Government policy to install ICT in primary schools has seen connectivity to the national power grid for most educational institutions in Kenya and this makes it easy for volunteers to use electric appliances while at the project.
• Furthermore, we invite you to bring typical food, spices, drinks, games and music from your country (for an intercultural evening) – and a lot of motivation!

Volunteer have the opportunity to visit local villages and experience cultural diversity among the legendary Giriama Community.

KVDA offers educational tours to spectacular sites of interests and we welcome volunteers interested to request through email for specific information.

We look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful country Kenya.

WHAT TO CARRY:
• Working clothes, light clothes during working hours and warm clothes especially during camp fire.
• Gloves
• Mosquito net and mosquitoes’ repellent
• Musical instrument {optional}
• Sleeping bag, mat and a pillow.
• Torch or flash light
• Water purifiers {optional}.
• Personal effects {i.e. soap, toothpaste, toiletries}
• National flag of your country
• Meals you will prepare to be shared among the participants during the cultural nights from your country.
• Donations in form of books or learning materials appropriate for Primary school children, toys, balls, e.t.c. are welcome.
• Kindly note that medical donations are inappropriate.
• A happy and positive attitude

International arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. Volunteers will be picked up subject to provision of full flight information. KVDA staff will have a pager displayed with full names of the volunteer inscribed.