Join Us in Kenya this year! We're providing service in Nakuru, and the Mara Conservancy with time for exploration and adventure in-between.
Contact Us to Sign Up!
One World Brigades is a US-registered 501(c)3 Public Non-profit organization.
In our first week, we offer clinics in schools in Nakuru, Kenya, in partnership with Kenya Partners. We take a Safari break in the Maasai Mara, immersing the group in the culture of the Maasai Tribe. Our second clinic week is held at our modest primary school, located at the entrance of the Mara Conservancy. This area of Kenya is rich in culture but very poor in resources, access to care, and education. We are grateful for your interest in global service and our efforts in this area of the world.
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away" - Pablo Picasso
It's all-inclusive with the following exceptions: airfare, Hot-Air Balloon ride, Park entry fees, Giraffe Manor fees, and Elephant Sanctuary fee.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 must be paid at the time of signup. Final payment is due 90 days before departure. If the trip is canceled 90 days or more in advance, all land fees are refundable, but booked flights may not. If a trip is canceled 89-31 days in advance, 50% of land fees are refundable, but booked flights may not. No refunds will be made if a trip is canceled less than 30 days in advance. There will be allowances for rebooking, and all efforts to accommodate you will be made.
In the rural areas of the Maasai Mara in Kenya, access tomedical and dental care is often limited. Essential healthcare services such asmedical and dental care are scarce. Lack of infrastructure, medical personnel,and resources further contributes to the challenges of providing adequatehealthcare. Dr. Julie Spaniel founded her Non-profit, One World Brigades LLC,with a mission to provide free medical and dental care, vocational training,and education in remote regions of Africa. Moved by the lack of access to care,poverty, and inadequate education facilities, Dr Spaniel has also helped toconstruct a primary school in the area. She is also planning the construction of a permanent rural healthcarefacility and vocational training center, complete with volunteer quarters, tobreak ground in 2027. This Spring, Dr.Spaniel led a team to the border of Kenya and Tanzania, where One World coulduse her primary school to provide care for this community in need.
The One World Brigades team included 2 Kenyan physicians fromNakuru, Dr. Spaniel, and a Kenyan dentist with whom Dr. Spaniel frequentlyworks every year. Sixteen othervolunteers from across the US, including dental assistants for multipledentists, are providing various healthcare services. The group brings everything they will needfor two weeks of clinics, over 1000 pounds of supplies, and equipment. Afterlanding in Nairobi and getting a good night’s sleep, it’s off to Nakuru.Traveling along the East African Rift Valley is incredible, and it is an arearenowned for having the most flamingos. One notable stop along the way is LakeNakuru, attracting thousands of flamingos. The group stays in Nakuru where theywill work for the week in clean and beautiful but modest accommodations to keepthe trip cost affordable. The supplies are organized for the opening clinics,and the team is ready to go!
One World Brigades joins Kenya Partners to provide Nakuru communitymembers with four days of free medical and dental service. They work at the Betty Roberts Education Center,founded by Dr. Spaniel’s family friend, for the first 2 days. Every child inthe school received health education in skills such as hand washing and basicand oral hygiene with our learning lab activities. Children in need of dentalservices are treated by the team at the hospital clinic or in the ”pop-up”clinic at the school. In the second halfof the week, the team moves to the nearby Wesley Mission Hospital. This smallhospital, also part of Kenya Partners NGO, has a simple dental clinic set upfor volunteer dentists. The team treated over 1000 adults and children in thecommunity and school in four short days!
It is now time for a well-deserved break! The group sets outto cross the Great Rift Valley in Safari Land Cruisers with a separate supplyand equipment van following. They are off the Zebra Plains Lodge at the edge ofthe Maasai Mara National Park. Threedays and two nights of Safari are just what this team needs to re-energize forthe next week’s clinics. Rising early to see the giraffe silhouette at sunrise,sitting in the middle of a herd of Elephants, watching the babies mimic theirmother eating, and observing the lions crouch as they stalk their nearby prey arejust a few of the unbelievable experiences on safari. Kenyan sundowners on theplain, sitting in front of a fire, and watching the nearby Zebras, Gazelles,and giraffes are a few sights they enjoy while eating a 5-star meal in an open-airtent. This group came to serve those inneed. It is easy to see how so many people come to this beautiful country for aSafari and miss out on the community experience. The goal of the One WorldBrigades trip to Kenya is to allow the volunteers to be immersed in the cultureby engaging with the people, and also to see the magnificence and beauty of theanimals in this land.
The second week of service is in a very rural area outsideLemek, Kenya, in the Great Rift Valley on the border of Tanzania, at theGilisho Freedom Academy School, which One World Brigades helped to build. Spaniel has raised money for the water projectfor the school by digging at a water source and installing a solar-operatedpump and two holding tanks to provide clean water for the children. The small six-roomschool serves Pre-K through Fifth grade. Earlier this year, with the help of funding through the Tualatin, OregonRotary, One World Brigades worked on a sanitation project to improve therestroom facilities for the children and add a handwashing station. There areplans for gardens irrigated by the new water system, and future farm animals toprovide food security for the children and families at the school.
Turning the little school into a fully functioning clinic,the team set up triage to gather patient information, height, weight, bloodpressure, and chief complaint. Fromthere, the patients can see the physicians, dentists, or both. Public healtheducation is available along with Dental health education while the patientsare waiting for care. People walk long distances, take motorbike rides, andcome from all over the area. One WorldBrigades can treat over 600 people in this four-day clinic. They would not leave until every patient wasseen!
Join us for our One World Brigades Fundraiser on September24, 2026. For more information on how to volunteer for the October 24 –November 7, 2026 or the March 13-27,2027 trip, to help support the school and/orassist in fundraising for our Healthcare center in Nakuru County, check out thewebsite at Oneworldbrigades.org or contact Dr Spaniel at Julie@oneworldbrigades.org.
Vaccinations: The only required vaccination is the Yellow Fever Vaccine. You will need to plan ahead as the travel clinics usually need to order this vaccine. You will get a yellow card as proof of your vaccination. You will need this card with you in your Passport to get into Kenya.
I have a photo of my card in my phone and a photo copy in my carry-on of my YFC.
Other vaccines: (Talk to your travel clinic to decide what is best for you) Many of the healthcare providers will have Hep A/B. We should all have TDAP and MMR. Covid vaccine is no longer required. I took the Typhoid vaccine years ago and a Polio booster.
Typhoid
HepA
Polio
Hep B
Shingles
TDAP
MMR
Covid 19
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ANTI-MALARIALS FOR THE MAASAI MARA REGION. Mosquitos are Chloroquine resistant so you should bring Malarone
Airline pick up- I will be at the airport to pick you up. I will need everyone's flight information when you book.
Kenyan Visa: Kenya uses an Electronic Travel Authorization. You will need to apply at home after you get your airline tickets. I will provide your booking for your first night's stay. This is all you will need. Once you apply, it can take up to 7 days to receive your ETA. You will want to do this in early February.
https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en
Customs and Immigration- You might be "selected" to open your bag at customs and immigration as you are departing the airport. They could ask you for bribes which is illegal so don't be intimidated.
- If you have a bag of donations just say that they are all of your personal belongings, don't waiver!
Be courteous but firm.
-They may say you owe money. Just say that everything is your own personal possessions.
Jet Lag: Take frequent naps on the plane, don't drink very much alcohol, and eat lightly. We will arrive in Nairobi at night and will be able to get a good night's sleep.
Homeopathic: I use Xyletol nose spray to prevent colds when traveling on airplanes. XCLEAR coats the nasal lining, helping to prevent other people's germs from attaching to the mucosal tissue of the nose.
NO PLASTIC BAGS The law states no plastic bags but what they mean is none of those one time use plastic grocery bags. I still personally don't take zip lock baggies. I'm not terribly worried about it if you do bring one or 2, but please, nothing bigger than a quart, and they MUST be "ziplock" closure. Whatever plastic you bring in, you should plan to take home.
CREDIT CARDS I suggest bringing 1 ATM card (debit card) with chip and pin, 1-2 credit cards,
Bring US dollars in $100’s, newer bills, printed after 2009. There should be no tears or writing on the bills, the corners should not be folded. The banks are very picky when exchanging. Bring the amount that suits your needs. Last year we had to pay for the Park fees in cash ( $100 per person per day) Usually we use the credit card that matches your name on your passport.
Smaller bills ( $10-$20) are good for tipping
I will have plenty of Kenya Shillings so I can exchange money. I buy shillings in bulk and get the best exchange rates.
MONEY and CREDIT CARDS:
1 USD = 120 Kenya shillings KES (current rate as of July 2024) It can fluctuate.
-I recommend taking around $500-$800, depending on your spending and drinking habits. (alcoholic drinks are additional as well as tipping for the drinks, Which is nominal)
-Some of the larger gift shops will take credit cards. The local vendors and our Maasai Mama’s market at our school will want Kenyan Shillings.
-You can use US dollars for purchases or tipping (i.e.. for your room steward you can leave $5-25 in your safari camp at the end of the week)
Please keep all valuables, passports, money and medications with you at all times.
Travel: Once in Kenya, we will be traveling by van/Landcruiser. The trip from Nairobi to Nakuru is approx—3 hours, with stops. Daily in Nakuru, our clinics are either in town, close by, or about an hour's drive.
The trip from Nakuru to our Safari lodge on Thursday is approx. 4 hours, through the Great Rift Valley, with stops. There are wonderful places to get gifts and shop for local crafts on the way. That weekend, we will have some relaxation time between safaris.
The trip from the safari lodge to our lodging near the school in the Mara is approximately 1 hour. We will be in Aitong/Lemek for a 4-day clinic. We leave on Friday to drive back to Nairobi. This is an approximately 4-hour trip, with stops.
Medical Insurance:
Bring proof of medical insurance... I advise you to check to see if you have an international plan.
Flydoc AMREF insurance is worth considering. It is only for transportation in an emergency, but cheap to buy. I recommend the Gold plan if you are considering it.
https://flydoc.org/maisha/products/
