7-22 April 2011

FAQ

What are the dates?

Depart Melbourne Thursday 7th April and return to Melbourne on Friday 22nd April 2011. These dates are school holidays in Victoria. Please note Easter is Friday 22nd – Monday 25th April 2011.

Who is facilitating the trip?

This trip is being organised by Yarra Plenty Church. It is a joint venture between Eltham Eagles Soccer Club, Praise Centre Mbale, Kenya and Yarra Plenty Church.

What is the purpose of the trip?

The purpose of the trip is to facilitate a round robin soccer competition for the youth of Greater Vihiga in Western Kenya. There will be 16 teams in the competition. We will also organise soccer clinics at each match.

Greater Vihiga has 4 districts. There will be 4 teams from each district in the competition; a total of 16 teams. The teams will consist of boys under 17 years. The competition will be held over a 2 week period. The soccer clinics will be for children aged 10 to 14.

What else will we be doing on the trip?

Yarra Plenty Church has a number of projects in Western Kenya and you will have an opportunity to visit these. They include a primary school, a children’s home, and a bible college.

Who can come on the trip?

Anyone who is part of Eltham Eagles Soccer Club or Yarra Plenty Church.

Can families & children come?

Families are welcome as it will be a ‘family friendly’ trip (local Kenyan children & youth are the focus and the accommodation is safe and suitable for families). However, all minors must be accompanied by an adult guardian.

How many people will be on the team?

There is a limit of 30 places on this team.

What is the cost?

The estimated cost is around $3,300AUD per person. This figure is determined by obtaining a reasonable international airfare, which is the greatest single expense. There is an internal flight in Kenya that is approximately $200AUD return per person. Accommodation is around $40AUD per night bed & breakfast in Kenya per person. Food is reasonable at around $8AUD per meal. There will also be transport costs in Kenya which are yet to be finalised.

Who is responsible for the expenses?

Each person is responsible for all their own expenses.

What is the location in Kenya?

The accommodation will be in Gisambai, a village in Western Kenya. The soccer clinics and matches will be in various villages in the surrounding area. Our base of activity will be Maragoli in Western Kenya. Maragoli is 7 kilometres from Gisambai. You can find Maragoli on Google maps. The general area is around 1 hour from Kisumu on Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. 

What are the requirements for the trip?

There are two requirements.

1) Attend ‘Off Shore’, a cross-cultural pre trip program provided by Yarra Plenty Church. This is a 1 hour program over 7 weeks (scheduled for term 4 2010 - Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21, Nov 28). Off Shore focuses on the common challenges faced when visiting a different culture. For more information or to book your place click here.

2) Agree to the voluntary policies for short term trips of Yarra Plenty Church. These policies are presented and discussed as part of the Off Shore program.

What is the accommodation like?

Our accommodation is safe and comfortable. We will stay at Sosa Cottages in the village of Gisambai. The cottages have 24 hour security. You can see their facilities by clicking this link http://www.sosacottages.co.ke/

How do we get from Melbourne to Gisambai?

We will fly from Melbourne to Nairobi, Kenya (this flight can include a connection in Dubai or Qatar). Once in Nairobi, we will take an internal flight from Nairobi to Kisumu. From Kisumu we will drive to Gisambai. How long does it take to travel from Melbourne to Gisambai? From Melbourne airport to our accommodation in Gisambai is approximately 24 hours.

What about safety?

Any foreign travel includes risk for which each person assumes personal responsibility. Kenya welcomes a large number of foreigners visiting each year. As we will be in a small Kenyan village, we will not be in the normal tourist areas. The team will be hosted by Australians who have been travelling to Kenya for over 10 years. Following their direction is an important part of each person acting in a safe manner. You can check the DFAT website for more information about Australians travelling to Kenya here http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/kenya/index.html

What language do they speak in Kenya?

The most common languages are English and Swahili. There are various tribal languages as well. Most people speak English well.

How do I apply?

You can apply to be a part of this trip by completing the application form. Download the application form here.

There is a non-refundable administration fee that needs to accompany the application form ($150 per person, $275 per couple, or $400 per family of 4). This fee will secure your place on the trip once approved and helps to cover the administrative costs both in Australia and in Kenya.

Once the application form has been received you will be notified within 4 weeks whether your application has been approved. Information Session There will be an information session on Sunday 3rd October 2010, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm at Yarra Plenty Church in the Seminar Room. All are welcome.

What can I do now if I am planning to join this trip?

Make sure you have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months after our proposed return date on Friday 22nd April 2011 (valid until at least 22nd July 2011). Please do not do anything else at this stage. The next steps will be made clear during the Off Shore course.

For more information contact Greg Murray on 9439 5555.