When we set off for Kenya, we had no idea what to expect.
Today, we know: our time with BetterMe was full of new impressions, encounters, challenges, life stories, joy, creativity, heart, dedication, movement, and touching moments.
What exactly we experienced during our time, what made us laugh — and often reflect — and why we came here in the first place, we’ll share with you in this blog post.
A little about us: We are Caro and Elisa, from Germany, and we studied to become teachers. During our studies, we both — independently — spent a semester abroad in Sweden. In 2024, the desire to explore another country and its culture grew strong again. We specifically wanted to work with children in an educational context and quickly found that volunteering in Kenya was a great option for us. A friend who had also spent a few weeks with BetterMe told us about the organization. Communication with the team was smooth and easy, so our stay was quickly planned.
Our everyday life was filled with activities organized by BetterMe, primarily teaching English, life skills, and art in different institutions. We also participated in events — mainly sports-related — together with the entire team and other partner organizations.
Our favorite activity was the (almost) daily swimming class, where we taught swimming and encouraged movement in the water with different school classes. The children’s laughter and the joy of moving in the water brought us so much happiness. Getting the children out of the water at the end of class was a challenge every single time.
Beyond that, we were always welcome to spend time with the children at the Korando Educational Center, where we organized various activities like games, drawing, nature walks, conversations, movie nights, and dance parties.
Especially the first days were filled with impressions and warm welcomes from the team and the children. One of the most memorable experiences was our very first tuk-tuk ride through the city — you immediately feel the vibrant and loud energy of the place.
What especially moved and impressed us:
• the deeply touching life stories of the children
• the warmth of the local people we met through our work
• the evenings spent by the lake watching the sunset
• the amazing team that was always there for us
• the volunteers we immediately clicked with, making the experience even more special
• deep and meaningful conversations with friends, in which we became truly aware of the cultural differences between Germany and Kenya
• the gratitude and mindfulness of the children toward seemingly small things in life (daily meals, conversations with volunteers, shared art activities, etc.)
Challenges and difficult moments during our stay:
• For many Kenyans, seeing a white person is still unusual, which is why you often hear the word “Muzungu” on the street. People don’t just call out the word — they often try to start conversations right away. While we assume it’s not meant in a negative way, it still made us feel like we were constantly being watched.
• Things like going for a run, walking alone, or swimming a few laps are part of our daily life back home. Here, due to safety concerns, especially as white women, that wasn’t really possible. At times, we felt limited in our personal freedom.
• Many of the personal conversations we had, lingered with us — we often lay awake at night, thinking about what we had heard and struggling to process the stories. Ultimately, we had to accept the painful truth that the world is deeply unfair, and your country of birth can determine so much of your life.
• In just a short time, we formed strong bonds with the children. It breaks our hearts to say goodbye — especially knowing that the children have to say goodbye to every volunteer again and again. That’s an incredibly sad thought.
In the end, what remains is deep gratitude — for having had the chance to experience Kenyan culture. Our time with the people at BetterMe has left a lasting impact, and we’ll always look back on it fondly.
Thanks to BetterMe, we were able to see beyond the usual tourist lens and gain a deeper understanding of the country — something that brought us many beautiful moments.
A special highlight was the weekend trips to Takawiri Island and the Maasai Mara National Park, organized and booked by the team. These excursions were hassle-free and unforgettable. Huge thanks to Donge Ber Adventures for making them happen!
A big thank you also goes to:
• the BetterMe team, who organized everything for us and supported us in every way — even during hospital stays
• Mama Dolfine and the children, without whom this project wouldn’t be possible
• Molly, who always spoiled us with the best food
• Pauline, who made sure we had clean laundry and tidy rooms
• Tonny and Eliud, who kept us safe at night and gave us deeper cultural insights through evening conversations
• the other volunteers, who were always up for a laugh
• and everyone who supported us on this journey
Nakupenda,
Caro & Elisa
