Destiny Garden School Volunteers

Volunteers are welcomed at Destiny Garden School and they provide a valuable contribution to the school, not only by their practical help but by providing new ideas.  As a volunteer, you would gain a  valuable positive experience which will remain with you.

You can get more details of our volunteer programme on the Volunteer FAQs or contact Jacob on:  dgskenya@googlemail.com

Reviews from:  

Alex (Germany)
Bailey (Canada)
Guy (UK)

Sydney Long, USA

Sydney from the USA worked at Destiny Garden School for four months from March to June 2010.   Sydney said " My experience in Destiny Garden School has been unforgettable and has been one of the best experiences of my life. "

                                          Sydney with Class KG1

"Staying with Jacob and Brenda in their home was wonderful. They are such open, caring people and I felt like I was part of the family. Living with a local family also gives you insight into Kenyan culture and what it really means to "be Kenyan" that you wouldn’t find elsewhere."   (Full report click here)

Sydney presenting stationery

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Val and Nadine, UK 

Mother and Daughter had a very rewarding experience visiting the school. It did seem very short but I’m sure we will return! Whether we will be welcome back is another matter!

We caused chaos two days running when we arrived! The first day we handed out the children’s photographs that Judy had taken last September. This caused such excitement- the children were all admiring each other’s photographs and then running all over the school showing off their own. It was difficult to record as hands and photos were placed directly in front of you but I think you can see the excitement on their faces in the photographs.

The second day we had lots of letters from England addressed to each child to hand out. This again caused a deal of chaos! We are hoping to form a link with a school in Macclesfield with the children in DGS so this was the first stage. Our task then was to collect letters to go back to England. Some of the older children were very excited and spent time at home composing their replies. Other classes did it as a whole class activity and the younger children drew or coloured in pictures. We hope very much that we can make this link continue although with so many letters it was a huge task either end!

We were also so delighted to be part of the opening of the new nursery building. Money raised by ‘Destiny Children’ at a concert in Macclesfield paid for the choir’s uniform. They performed their songs with pride! (We also paid for the new fencing to begin, although more funds are needed to complete it). It was a wonderful day, blessed with hot weather and a lovely close knit family doing a good deed. The delight of the school children was obvious. They had numerous treats on the day but now also a lovely new school to attend in the new term.

Nadine and I left the school on the Friday slightly sad that our time was so short. We had made many friends in and out of the school environment.

We had even managed to see some of the countryside and explored Mombasa.

Jacob and his family were very friendly and welcomed us into their home like old friends. We felt very safe there. We will miss everyone back in the cold of England but look forward to our return!

My overall impression of DGS is that it is a school of smiles but also a school of hard work. It deserves to do well.

Pupils with their photos


Val with the choir

Nadine teaching the baby class

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Bailey Cox, Canada

Bailey, from Canada, spent a few days doing voluntary work at Destiny Garden School in January 2010. 

She says - " Staying with Jacob and helping out around the school has been an incredible experience. In my few days at the school I was able to see how the teachers and staff go out of their way to look after the multi-dimensional needs of the kids, learning, but also play and food."

"I was also able to provide the school with books for class 1 through 4. I know that these will go to good use and hopefully help the kids get a solid beginning on their long road to success." 

In the photo Bailey in giving teachers Naomi, Treazar and Fatuma some text books for their classes.

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Guy Tolhurst (UK) 

Guy, a businessman from London, undertook voluntary work at Destiny Garden School in December/January 2009-2010 and was there over the Christmas and New Year period. 

Guy says - "My time at Destiny Garden School can be described as the most rewarding experience of my life. Jacob and Brenda welcomed me into their home in Mombasa with open arms and nothing was too much trouble, from there it was easy to get to the school every day and travel around at weekends. 

The kids were just fantastic, they all look out for each other and the sense of community and pride in the face of such adversity is a testament to the passion and support bestowed on the school from Jacob, the teachers and other supporters from around the world. 

I miss all their always smiling little faces, can’t wait to go back but overall I am pleased I have found such a worthy cause to support where ALL of the donations help the children directly. A little help goes a very long way. "

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Jackie Price (Australia)

Destiny Garden School opened  in April 2009 and Jackie, who lives in Australia, joined the  School project in May for 6 months. Jackie found it exciting being involved in the project from the beginning and her voluntary work varied from teaching Masikah, the school administrator, some basic bookkeeping, to helping Jacob set up safe and comfortable accommodation for volunteers. 

Amongst other things, Jackie has helped the school get desks, chairs and blackboards for the classrooms and school uniforms for the children.   

Her Friends in Australia held a fund raising event which raised enough to enable the School to build a new toilet block.  Jackie says - "Working at Destiny Garden School has been a truly rewarding experience and I cannot speak highly enough of what Jacob is doing to help these poor and vulnerable children. I have lived in Jacob’s apartment with his wife, Brenda and their baby daughter Marvel, for the last 6 months. They have made me part of the family and looked after me in a way I never expected.

I would have no hesitation in recommending other volunteers to come and work at Destiny Garden School."

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Kathy James (UK)      

I went to Mombasa as part of my nurse training to work in a local clinic for a month. By a chance meeting I met Jackie, a volunteer and Jacob and from them I heard a lot about the school. On my day off I visited the school and really enjoyed spending time with the children.

Even during my short time in Mombasa, the school progressed every time I visited, from desks and chairs bought to school uniforms being issued. The kids were all very polite, and really enjoyed my visits.

Although I did not stay with Jacob, I have seen the accommodation and it is lovely. I have also spent time with Brenda, his wife, who is a very kind lady. I would recommend visiting Destiny Garden School and I am going to continue to raise funds  for them. I will certainly be visiting them again. 
(June 2009)

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Judy Roper (UK)

Judy spent 3 weeks in September 2009 at Destiny Garden School to help buy sports equipment from funds raised by her friends in the UK and to also help set up their website and get a sponsorship program in place.

Judy photographed all the children individually and, with the help of the School Administrator, Masikah who is pictured here, wrote up their profiles. 

Judy says - "It’s all been a marvelous experience, very uplifting when you see the joy it brings to these very poor children’s lives. I fully support Jacob’s vision of getting these children out of the poverty trap through education."

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Alexander Tacke-Koester (Germany)

Alex from Germany is reading African Studies at University and, during his summer 2009 holidays, is doing voluntary work at Destiny Garden School to learn more about the African culture and to practice his Swahili. 

Alex says - "I was lucky to find Destiny Garden School which answered my needs, namely being a small organisation with a vision and with the will to do something and with their focus on children in a very poor region of Mombasa.

Due to staff shortages, on my third day I had to take a class and unfortunately was rather unprepared but in the end the children made it very easy for me because they appreciated everything one does so much. It has been a really truly great experience for me."

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Jessica (Canada)

Jessica from Canada is studying to be a community development worker.  She came to Destiny Gardens to get some experience working with a grass roots organization. 

Jessica says – "I can’t speak highly enough about my time in Africa .  The kids were amazing.  They are so eager to get to know you.  If you are willing to spend the time reading a book you will quickly find yourself surrounded by a bunch of wonderful kids super excited to listen, it’s adorable.  I was so surprised by how quickly I bonded with them. 

As a community development student I really admire Jacob’s focus on the future of the school.  He is always looking for new and inventive ways to make the school self-sustainable.  For example he started a garden on the school grounds.  The crops from the garden are fed to the children and sold to raise money for the school. 

This program is also a great way to experience Africa .  The volunteer house Jacob provides is close to all sorts of great tourist attractions like safaris and beaches.  You really get the best of both worlds program."

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Shannon Matteson (USA)

Shannon, from the U.S.A, is a recent college graduate with a degree in elementary education. She did voluntary work at Destiny Gardens School during the summer of 2009. 

Shannon says - "I had an incredible experience in Kenya this summer. For two months, I taught class 1 at Destiny Gardens School. It was challenging due to the lack of supplies and the fact that English is the children’s second language. However, being able to spend time with the kids every day and getting to know them made it all worth it.

The children are so energetic, playful, lovable and eager to learn. We started each morning by greeting one another, and answering the question of the day. Then we would play a quick game or dance before starting on academics each day. I can’t describe how much I miss them and how much I can’t wait to get back to Mtongwe to see them again. 

During my stay I lived with Jacob, his wife and other volunteers in Mombasa. Our apartment was really nice and was located close to restaurants and internet cafes. On weekends, we traveled around exploring Kenya. We went on safari together, to beaches, Nairobi, a Maasai village and many other places. Overall, it was an amazing adventure and would recommend anyone to go and experience it for themselves. "

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Destiny Garden School, Mombasa, Kenya.  Volunteer, Sponsor or Donate to help educate and feed children.