Heading on a volunteer program? Here’s a list of items to carry

         I travelled to Enoosaen, a rural Maasai community village to volunteer with an organization called Kakenya’s Dream Organization. I was there for a month. I managed to gather up a list of some items that one should carry when heading to volunteer away from home. Before leaving Nairobi, I thought I had packed my bags well given I have been away camping before, hence packing would no doubt be the least of worries. I was forgetting one thing, I have never been away camping for more than a week. Not that volunteering is camping, but when you are heading out to volunteer and stay with a new community, in an entirely new place, it is good to be well prepared for anything. 

Usually, volunteers will be given prior information on what to expect. This happens especially for international volunteers visiting a new country and community. But even for local volunteers, don’t hesitate to ask should this information not be availed to you. Such basic information as local weather is important to help one in packing right for the period she/he is to be away. You need also inquire about the culture of the community (this I never did, but being a local, I had a good idea).

So now, just what should you make sure you have packed in your bag? The more informed of a place one is, the easier it is to pack right. 

1.   A powerful torch and extra lighting batteries/chargeable torch or lamp:

 I never had plans to carry a torch. I picked one from my house while searching for my earphones. Not that I didn’t see it necessary to carry a torch, I felt it wasn’t as important. I didn’t therefore carry extra batteries for it. Moreover, it was a tiny pocket torch!

I arrived at my host family home at night. And the first thing I realized I needed was a torch! Lucky me, I had one. But unlucky me, it wasn’t going to last me the whole month! I would need more batteries. I ended up buying batteries every end week for the period I was in the village. This proved more expensive than buying them in Nairobi. In some communities, you may not find a place to purchase new batteries, therefore always carry your own torch; big and powerful with enough batteries to take you through the whole time.  Or better, how about you buy a solar chargeable torch and or lamp to use in the evenings should you want to read. I learn't there are really good solar powered lamps that one can buy. My host family had quite a number of them. I believe they are not too expensive to acquire.

Also whenever you are heading out to the field/ work place every morning, be sure to carry your torch in your day back-pack. This I realized when it rained so heavily one evening that I couldn’t get home before dusk. I had to fumble my way through the mud in the night.  I almost snapped my leg at some point.  

  2. Shoe wear

It feels stupid having to list shoe wear, because everyone imagines they know what shoe to carry whenever traveling. I thought I knew that too! But now, I don’t think I was absolutely right. Usually when traveling, I pack a pair of sandals, canvas shoes (which I wear on the travel day) and an extra pair of flat/office shoe. Turns out the weather during the month of June didn’t favour my shoe wear at all.  I will exclusively write about weather at Enoosaen, but in a nut-shell, it was a rainy month with the roads a little muddy-to very muddy on most days.  

So what are the best shoes to carry?

•          A pair of bathroom sandals are necessary. Don’t ever assume you will get them ahead by the fact that you are being hosted.

•          A pair of heavy outdoor sandals. This you can wear in the evenings or during the weekends when taking short walks around.

•         At least two pairs of daily closed shoes is encouraged. Some people feel comfortable walking in open shoes, some don’t. I am one of those people who rarely walk away from home in open shoes. I prefer closed shoes always. In a rainy season, you may get rained on, and therefore the need to have a shoes that you can switch during the week.

•          Well-soled  sneakers or canvas shoes. This is necessary for a rainy season. But if you are advised by your trip planner that the period will not have major rainy events, then you can do away with this. However, it is advisable to be prepared for anything, you never know.

I had a rough time coping with 2 pairs of shoes; my flat shoes and the canvas shoes. I remember one day telling a colleague that “I would show up in sandals the following day should the other pair of shoes I had get soiled”. I kept mumbling each day that it wouldn’t rain too much to leave me pondering over what to wear. If you decide to carry shoes that will need polishing, then don’t forget to pack the respective shoe polish and brush. 

      3.      Clothing

Prior weather knowledge gives us a heads-up on what to pack. But weather changes, so best pack prepared for anything. I never wanted to carry a heavy sweater as I had been told the weather was “hot”. Fate would see me carry just one of this, I grabbed it on my way out to catch a shuttle as it was drizzling that morning. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have. The month of June would end up to be a period I wished to rewind just so I could get a chance to repack. I think I would have carried all my sweaters/jackets (I don’t own many of them by the way).

So what is it we need to carry when it comes to clothing?

•         At least 2 heavy pull-overs /jackets. This will save you during the cold mornings or evenings and nights.

•        A light sweater top may be good to walk around in during the day when it gets warm. I always carry one in my bag. I had one. It served as my hot/cold weather daily wear.

•       A couple of heavy and light scarves. The heavy scarves are a saviour in the early morning cold. The light scarves can be worn even on a warm day.

•          Warm evening clothes; I always prefer a pair of warm leggings and heavy shirt. But in a new community, I think a warm pair of baggy trousers (such as track suit) can do.

•          A pair of woollen gloves and several pairs of socks are necessary. I sleep in socks all the time. My feet usually get very cold in the night. But for those of us who don’t suffer from cold feet, you still need to carry socks to wear when it gets too cold.

•        Daily wear to work station. I would advise that one carries dark clothing. This has nothing to do with a phobia towards bright coloured clothes, no it doesn’t!  If you are heading to a new place; rural, and you are ignorant on the soil type and the nature of roads, then best carry clothes that would be easier to work with in very dusty places. This will save you time when doing your laundry (and for those who wear jean trousers twice before washing, dark colors can better serve that need).

•          A rain coat that is easy to pack would be a plus. Carry it daily in your back-pack. If not, make sure you have an umbrella which may be more inconveniencing to carry than a plastic rain coat. 

In the Maasai culture, I learn't that it is decent when a lady wears dresses or skirts. This doesn’t mean ladies shouldn’t wear trousers, but it is good practice to occasionally wear clothes considered “feminine” as a way of affirming one's understanding and respect for the local culture. 

            (to be continued...)