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 this page or contact Jacob on info@destinygardenschool.com

Reviews from:  

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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