As a child sponsor, you are at heart extended family to us. You are an "Auntie" or an "Uncle" and we'd love to spend some quality time with you. You and your family are invited to experience Rehema Home firsthand with other child sponsors from around the world. Make some memories with our kids, sightsee around Kenya, and bring your sponsorship to life!
What will I do?
The trips are all about spending time with the children at Rehema Home. We typically schedule trips when our kids are on school break, they'll be thrilled to have visitors!
Several days that you are with us, you'll have the opportunity to go on an excursion with the child of your sponsor and one other child from Rehema Home. These excursions are optional and are not included in the trip price, but are strongly encouraged as they will give you the opportunity to see more of Kenya's amazing sights!
How much does it cost?
The cost of the Homecoming Trip will be between $2,750- $3,200.
Trip Costs Include Airfare, in-country housing accommodations, some in-country transportation, and some meals (breakfast, packed lunch, dinner).
Trip Costs Do NOT Include Passport expenses, visa expenses, immunizations, medications, extra baggage fees, souvenirs, personal spending money, travel insurance, and excursions.
Who makes my travel arrangements?
Rehema Home will make all of your travel arrangements, which includes flights and some in-country transportation. The flights, including layovers, will take around 24 hours. A representative from Rehema Home will meet you at the Nairobi airport. Please check with your airline for specific luggage restrictions or requirements.
Travel insurance is required for each person and can be obtained directly from our travel agent as well as from other providers. If you wish to use our travel agent to obtain insurance please contact us.
What types of documentation will I need?
You will need a valid passport. If you do not have one, cannot find it, or need to renew it, schedule an appointment to get one as soon as possible. Application forms are available online or at the local Post Office. The process can take as long as six weeks. If you already have a passport, make sure that you have at least four blank visa pages and check the expiration date to make sure that it does not expire within six months of the travel date.
The Kenyan government requires that you obtain a Visa to enter the country. You will need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Kenya. The visa application can be found at the following website: http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html
Please note that this fee is each individual’s responsibility and is not included in the trip cost.
Where will I stay?
If you are staying in Nairobi, you will stay at a nearby guest house. If you are staying in Bukura, you will stay at an apartment on site. All accommodations will be clean and comfortable.
What will I eat?
In Nairobi, breakfast and dinner will be served at the guest house. You'll be expected to pack your own lunch and bring it with you. In Bukura, the kitchen staff will prepare your meals.
All team members are expected to try new foods. Culturally, it is not acceptable to refuse food when offered. All food will be prepared under hygienic conditions.
Team members should bring water bottles to fill up during their stay, as it is not safe to drink the water from the tap. Safe bottled water will be available to the team for the duration of your stay in Kenya.
What immunizations & medications do I need?
Plan to visit your doctor or local Passport Health office at least six weeks before traveling to inquire about immunizations and medications. Several vaccines do not produce immunity until two weeks after they are given, so it is important not to wait until just before your trip.
Due to liability reasons, Rehema Home cannot be your immunization recommender. For more specific information on immunizations and medications required and recommended in the country of Kenya, feel free to check out the following resource: www.cdc.gov
Travel to Kenya now requires that you have received the Covid vaccine.
Verification is required through a QR code that can be generated by entering the information on your vaccine card to a website called Panabios-https://panabios.org/
Please print out the QR card to present when entering Kenya.
What should I wear?
To be respectful of local customs, Rehema Home requires that visitors dress modestly. Women should wear modest dresses, long skirts, pants, or capris. Shorts are acceptable to wear with a minimum of a 7-inch seam. Tight-fitting tops or bare midriffs are not appropriate
Temperatures range in the 70s and 80s during the day and are cooler at night, dipping to around 60. There is a short rainy season from November to December, and a longer one usually from March to May. Based on when you are visiting the country, you can plan accordingly. In the evenings, when the temperature drops, you may want a jacket or sweatshirt.
How much money should I bring & how do I exchange it?
Please bring enough cash to cover eating out, excursions, any other additional costs discussed, and money for souvenirs. The best way to exchange money is by bringing US dollars. Please make sure the bills are not torn or marked and printed in 2006 or later. Torn, marked, or old bills will not be accepted by the banks. Larger denomination bills will have a better exchange rate. Do not bring traveler’s checks.
If you are planning to use a credit or debit card while traveling, contact your bank prior to departure to let them know which countries your card will be used in. Visa is accepted at more locations than Mastercard.
Contact your bank and ask if they offer foreign currency exchange. If not, you will have the opportunity to exchange money when you arrive in Kenya. Before departure, money can be exchanged back into US dollars, however, you will lose value in the exchange, so don’t exchange more than you will need.
What should I bring?
Label all bags on the outside with your name, address, and phone number.
Pack your carry-on bag with necessities, including a change of clothes and medications, in case luggage is delayed
Passport
Copy of passport (it is recommended to keep this in a separate location from the original in case of theft)
Pack modest, comfortable clothing for the duration of your stay. Laundry available at both locations for a small additional cost.
Light jacket or windbreaker
Comfortable shoes for walking
Flip-flops for the shower
Reusable water bottle (Nalgene or similar)
Towels and washcloths
Personal care items (shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.)
Personal spending money
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Prescription medications
Hat/sunglasses
Snacks
Camera
Flashlight
Plastic bags for dirty clothes
A voltage converter, or devices that are adapted for international use (Kenya uses 220-volt electric current, not 110-volts like North America. A voltage converter allows you to use your electronics that run on 110-volts without ruining them. Some items, particularly devices like tablets and phones can be plugged into either 110V or 220V so you will need to read the fine print on your electronic items to be sure.)