The Afrikan Journal

LIVE:#GoodMorningKenya - KBC || 3rd November 2020 || www.kbc.co.ke

LIVE:#GoodMorningKenya - KBC || 3rd November 2020 || www.kbc.co.ke

LIVE:#GoodMorningKenya - KBC || 3rd November 2020 || www.kbc.co.ke

LIVE:#GoodMorningKenya - KBC || 3rd November 2020 || www.kbc.co.ke

Members of public urged to adopt home stays concept of tourism

A homestay experience provides the international visitor the opportunity to live and be exposed to African culture on a daily basis, rather than viewing it as an ordinary tourist. Through this experience, African hosts find it possible to know their guest’s national identity first hand. Together they create an international community in African context. African host families are our most valuable assets. Without them, our guests would be unable to experience african culture. Host families are open-minded, enjoy learning about other cultures, and appreciate the unique opportunity hosting offers them. They are responsible for the guest’s accommodation.
Jose

i am kenyan residing on the slopes of the Aberdare ranges and i would be glad to host a visitor or even two of either sexes who are imterested in learning more about the kikuyu community and experience the serene climate and also explore the Aberdares.
regardsWilson waititu

Hey,I'm must say, I'm very proud to be a Kenyan as a result of The African Homestay Initiative. This says alot. Well done Peter for the good work and for putting us on the World map.I'm looking forward to hosting a guest and also using your services when i travel aroung Africa.God Bless
Mildred

I would like to commend all those involved and part of African homestay programme. Enabling people in particular non-african people the opportunity to have an authentic african experience is certainly a major step towards breaking barriers in not only cultural aspects but most importantly the socio-dynamics. I wish you all the best in your continuous hard effort in making this possible.
Marion Makana Women's Ministries - SEC - UNCommisioned office. UK

Dear Sir/Madam:
I am a traveler from China. I have a plan to travel to Kenya . The duration for my stay is one week, from Aug. 23rd to Aug. 28th as planned. I am very interested in interculture communication and would like to choose a homestay as my basic accomodation in Nairobi. If possilbe, could you please send me some basic information or suggestion for my plan. Do I need to get in touch with the homestay in advance before I come over? And could I ask you to build up the link between the homestay and me? If this is the case, could I know whether you charge for the service and information you offer and how much it is? Also, how much I need to pay for the hostfamily on the per day basis?

I do not have special requirement for my travel to Kenya. I just love to see a country in Africa and experience the local culture and get to know some African people and make friends with them if possible. So it will be great if the homefamily you arrange for me is very friendly to people and their charge for my stay on the daily basis will not be too high.

I am sorry to disturb you by throwing you too many questions. But I do trust you and look forward to your reply. Any information from you will be much appreciated.

Thanks again.
Sarah (Huang Weijun)

Hi i cant believe this website exists!!! This sounds like my life ambition come true!! it really really really does- and its taken me about 4weeks of internet searching to find it! i would absolutely adore to take part in this, and would literally be willing to move heaven and earth to do so!the only slight problem may be that as a student, having to work over the summer, I can only travel for two weeks between 27th Aug-25th Sept. Is there any way whatsoever that i could take part in this program?
Heather

Hallo Peter, I was listening to your project on the Capital Fm online radio from the USA on June 24,2006.I have never thought host family could work in Africa.Thanks to you.Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,Vivian

Hello,
My daughters ages 18 & 20 and I are coming to East Africa this summer. WE were there for a shorter time last year.

I am a headmaster at a high school in Chicago Illinois. We have volunteer assignemnts for most of our stay, but we have open from July 5 to 15 or August 2 to 8. We will spend our other time in Arusha and Lwak.

We are looking for volunteer work experiences hopefully in schools and a place to stay. During this trip I am also seeking people who would like to partner with students/teachers/families from their schools and schools in Chicago Illinois. I am working with Sentor Barack Obama to get this done, and I know many host families in Chicago.

If you have any contacts or availablity in July, please let me know as I am trying to develop my intenery. I know that it is for a short time, I am VERY flexible, and my daughters can teach English, work with math, and I can do whatever. We have lots of experience and would bring materials.
thank you,
Judy Vojta

I am a kenyan citizen from the Luhya community in western Kenya.I have an interest in volunteer work and adventure which easily blends with your home stay service.I therfore wish to apply for hosting visiting tourist for your consideration.

Other than just hosting, I would like to inform you of areas that may be of interest to you or the visitors where they can be involved as part of their adventure in western Kenya

1.Bull fighting
The luhya have the bull fighting culture that has attracted interest in the tourisim sector in the recent past.Two bulls are thronged by supporters as they lock horns which can last from few minutes to several hours untill one bull runs away.The winning bull is led around the pith by the happy,jubilant crowd the to home where the party begins.Though the culture is not fully exploited to full potential,improvement and inovation can lead to it being a major culture tour pakage for tourists.This can perfectly blend with the home stay service where visitors can actively perticipate in the culture.

2.The Crying Stone Adventure;
The world most unique and wonder stone which its history dates back to over 200 years.Standing 40 m tall with features like those of am man;head,neck,shoulders,and body literary crying.The rock has a spiritual significance to the community around.
This crying stone adventure can also perfectly blend with your home stay service as the visitor will ge to know why the stone crys.For the most adveturous, they can try to climb to the top of the stone and get into the Guinness Book of records.

N/B; The crying stone is exclusively owned by my family.All rights reserved unless granted permission.

3. Pottery
The community aroung engages in pottery work sa an economic activity.Items range from simple households to souvenirs that are sold to tourists.This is one way to involve the community in tourisim and conservation matters.Vistors have the oppurtunity to gain hands on experience from the potters themselves

4. Kakamega Forest.

The only tropical forest with unique species of snakes in their natural habitat.Other animals in the forest are monkeys,squerrels,and many bird species.Permission is require to gain access to the forest through forest depertment.

5.Excursion to Town and its environns

The closs proximity to kakamega town makes it easier for shopping,banking and internet access and other services for the visitors during their stay.

I will appreciate if granted the opportunity to host visitors through your home stay service and offer guide services to the above packages as this is may home yard.
I can host upto 10 visitors at any given time.if more,prior notification will be required to make neccesary arrangements.

Looking forward to working with you soon as a volunteer/Tour leader in western Kenya circuit through your home stay service.

Thank you in advance.


Sincerly

Benson A. Khamasi

I live in Loitokitok division, Kajiado District wherethe major community living is Maasai. I am 28 yearsold working in private institution that deals withorphans and destitute children in Nairobi - Mathareslums. In our institution we work with volunteers fromall over the world. We have an orphanage having about120 children from 3 years to 18 years. We have aschool for the less fortunate with about 1200children. I help in the day to day running of thewhole institution. At Home my father is Senior Pastor - He is inchargeof a Local church having 26 branches all over KajiadoDistrict. He works with the Full Gospel Churches ofKenya. At home we also deal with volunteers who comeand work with the church and the community around. Athome we have a school that is supported by the churchfor young children. We have had volunteers coming towork with the children for some time and then thgeygo.We want to have the volunteers to work with thechildren,church and community around. We also want toknow more of their culture and learn the new andmordern way of doing things and handling issues.
Samson Ndungu

SMALL BIZ - Agency blazes the homestay trail
Published: 3/14/2006
By: LUKE MULUNDA
Ask Peter Ongera to explain how he came up with this weird idea of tourists staying in homes instead of glitzy hotels, and he's apt to tell you about a trip he made to Kita Kyushu, Japan, 12 years ago.
It was in March 1994, and Mr Ongera was among a group of young people travelling to Japan to promote international culture under the Ship for World Youth Exchange programme.
"We stayed in Japanese villages for three months," said Mr Ongera, who now heads a company that promotes a similar concept in Kenya, recalling that he also lived for a month in rural homes in the US and Canada. "This struck me and I vowed to try it here."
Mr Ongera 33 runs, African Homestay, a local agency that links up tourists who want to leave, study and work in Africa with local hosts in rural villages and, believe it or not, in slums.
A homestay experience gives the international visitor the opportunity to live and be exposed to African culture, said the director of the Kitengela-based agency. Technically, these people are not tourists. "They are mostly students and volunteers," he says.
So when they touch town at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, they won't, as the airport ground staff obviously expect, head to five-start hotels like Intercontinental and Grand Regency. At their request, they are likely to end up at Laini Saba in Kibera or somewhere in an earthen, grass-thatched hut in Amboseli.
"They want it that way," said Mr Ongera in an interview. "They want to live and experience village life and what it is like to live in the slums."
Homestays, while not a new concept, are yet to catch up in Africa on a serious commercial scale, but it's a front that tourism marketers are exploring. Kenya Tourist Board officials often talk about it in seminars, but it has done little to promote homestays.
That explains why African Homestay decided to blaze the trail. "KTB is looking for high taxes from big spenders," said Mr Ongera. "But there are those who want to stay in Kenya but can't afford hotels and other government charges." Among them are 12 American students who jetted in on February 13 and 13 Chinese who stayed in Kibera for a week - the latest batch of tourists to visit Kenya through African Homestay. The Americans stayed at a village in Amboseli and are now at some coastal village.
"They want to learn and experience local culture," said Mr Ongera, "and the best way to do this is to get immersed in the people."
As well as linking up locals with people who end up helping charity causes, the homestay model ensures that tourist incomes reach the local community. On average a tourist under the programme pays $10 (Sh720) a day to the host. The programme is usually 3-4 weeks but some are known to stay for as long as a year. This daily charge can't buy a baby's meal in five-star hotels where food costs many times the retail price.
For a rural family that lives on less than a dollar per day, Sh720 is a huge amount that easily leaves Government employees like teachers, nurses and the police officers green with envy. Generous tourists often pay above this rate in form of tips, Mr Ongera said.
African Homestay, which has 94 recruitment agents globally, takes 20 per cent of the amount paid - 10 per cent each from the host and tourist. The money is used to pay its 10 staff, six of them volunteers, and run its Web site, www.africanhomestay.net, which is used to promote homestay tourism.
Because it's cheaper, they can afford to stay longer. Said Mr Ongera: "Here locals benefit as opposed to mainstream tourism whose profits are repatriated to other countries." Tourists pay taxes but the roads are still bad that tells you how the money is spent."
Homestays have become popular so much that, in fact, the agency brings an average of 20 guests a month, especially during the high season between October and December. Mr Ongera says he has had to turn away some applicants after failing to locate "honest" hosts.
When tourists apply for a visit, specifying the kind of experience they want, African Homestay searches for the host and makes security and logistic arrangements. Tourists live the lifestyle of their hosts, so one doesn't have to stretch the household budget to buy what might pass for nice food.
If the host eats ugali and sukuma wiki (kale) for supper and takes black tea for break fast, for instance, so will the visitor. Mr Ongera says their new life starts in town, where the tourists are picked by their hosts. "If they came on foot, they leave on foot," he said.
"We've seen many use matatus and they love it. They help with house work and even learn local languages." Tourists are given lines to call African Homestay officials in case of a problem, while the hosts submit weekly reports. But this does mean it's always a smooth affair: some tourists, after experiencing the new life, change their minds. Africa Homestay has to struggle to get another host and penalises the tourist for the inconvenience.
Even as this new concept picks up, Mr Ongera says rural hosts are becoming a rare commodity. Some of them build modern houses after being paid huge sums of money and adopt urban lifestyles that are not very attractive to this breed of tourists.
"Our guests want traditional life," he said. "But most of our hosts have changed their lifestyles with the money they were paid."
African Homestay is spreading the concept to other countries including, among others, Tanzania, Uganda, Mali, Nigeria and Ghana. "I'm still trying to open up Tanzania. We only take tourists there for one-day trips," he said.
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Dear Peter
I read of your organization in one of the daily newspaper and I was very impressed with the kind of tours you’re offering in Kenya . I am a pro-poor tourism advisor with SNV which is an NGO that is dedicated to using tourism as a strategic tool to alleviate poverty. I am based in the South rift portfolio which currently covers Kajiado and Narok District. I wanted us to look into ways in which we can collaborate in identifying and incorporating some host families in this region into your program. Please advise on how you feel about this preposition, we can also arrange to visit your office at a latter date.


With regards,
James Weru
SPPT Advisor

I read an article in the local daily concerning the African home stay concept and was impressed.I have had all a long waited to see such an clever idea, coz i know of a particular village in central province overlooking the Aberdares and the climate,culture and scenery are such a beauty. I would recomend you to bring some tourists in this village they would also learn to pluck tea as well, as eat wild fruits. Before then i would like you to pay a visit to that to acertain whether it is appropriate. Should you be interested then do not hesitate to contact me so i can take you there.
Chege Thiongo

Jambo, I have just read about your programs in today's daily newspepar and I got hook up by the way you have done it an imagineable,yes I am interested in doing the same thing of setting up an African home in remote area in Tanzania but, what I don't have is an idea how to aproach the market out side, at the moment I reside in KENYA I would appreciate if you can make any arrangement we meet we disscus the issue you can get me on e-mail johnmugera@yahoo.com

I nominate Peter Ongera of www.africanhomestay.net because he organises homestays by locals for tourists to do voluntary work and educational and cultural tours in Africa.The locals are directly paid by the tourists unlike when the tourists pay industry players who are mainly foreign-owned (whose taxes to government are not used to improve the lives of those living in tourist resorts). His concept of homestay is part of the cultural tourism that, according to World Tourism Organisation, accounts for five per cent of global tourism and grows at a 30 to 40 per cent rate annually - Sharon Green, Nairobi

Dear Mr. Ongera,
I have read the email list of names of your outreach institute for rural development in Ndhiwa being inclusive.This is to reaffirm you with you and promised to promote and uphold your strategy towards openning Africa to the world for friendly foreigners to live study,and work.
The forgoing is an announcement ,please spread it to your contact and applicants will be considered as first come first serve basis:The institute for Rural Development 'K',one of the longest serving NGo i western Kenya is seeking services of suitably qualified persons or firms with whom to team up in providing voluntary intergrated rural development services in the region.The purpose is allevaiting poverty and illetracy in the rural community along the lake victoria region.IRD 'K' is situated in Ndhiwa,Homa/Bay,Nyanza region.
The IRD 'K' host 8 differnt organisations viz Osano Nursing and Maternity Home,Ndhiwa Stepping stone Academy,Lake victoria Human Resource Training Institute,Kosano Mortuary Services,Kodhul Intergrated Farming Services,IRD Cultural centre,Community Secretarial services and Community catering services.
The above organisations carry out diversified activties including curative,preventive,promotive and rehabilitative health services,education and training of the youth and adults all aimed at achieving multidimensional approaches towards alleviating poverty and illetracy.
IRD'K' is in partnership with amongst other east african community organisations for the manangement of lake victoria resources( ECOVIC)
Along with the above IRD'K' network with many CBOs,NGOs,Community primary and secondary schools,Educational and training institutions in Nyanza Region.
Serving proffesionals or retirees in kenya are invited to respond affirmatively in the spirit of being mindfull of other peoples welfare
Top in the priority list but agently require are volunteers with health background to educate the community on food suppliment and teachers for primary and secondary schools.

Jambo, ihave just read about your programs in todays daily newspepar and i got hook up by the way you have done it an imagineable,yes iam interested in doing the same thing of setting up an African home in remot area in Tanzania but, what i dont have is an idear how to aproach the market out side, at the moment i reside in KENYA i would appreaciat if you can make any arrengment we meet we disscus the issue .

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Greetings!
Am from Arusha and I read an article in the paper on your intrest to start homestays in Tanzania we do have vilage or cultural tourism here in arusha but it hasnot advanced much for people are yet to catch on we have on several occasions hosted people or students at our houes in our village for very little money as these tourist visit our village to volunteer at building schools or helping at orphanages
The reason am writing this email is cos it has been a desire of mine to host more toutists at our village not only in my home but with our neighbours for we also live in a half modern half Boma type of existence and Id encourage you not to mind when folks build modern facilities they have traditions deeply rooted in their hearts as in the way of dress or the sort of food they eat the language dance weddings death ceremonies and all sorts of traditions that we still have as in our herbal medicines and other sort of stuff that is hard to let go off even our hospitality and friendly nature of peace even in our differences of religion leaves an impact on tourists even our respect of elders is something for them to learn from us so back to my point if you are intrested to know more or to send people out here just email me with more details

My name is Josphat Musau. I happened to read one of the past Saturday Magazine where you featured and got so much impressed by the venture that you have on homestay village tours. Indeed this is agreat idea and a very thrilling move to help peolpe of diverse cultures to learn and benefit from the Idea.
I am also so interested in this kind of a venture as there is once I sat and thought of the same but indefinately could not know where the idea disppeared to but on reading this article, I got so upbeat and thought of contacting you. I am interested in this venture and would like to meet you and get to know each other. We may also help each other in this move and help it grow as well to greater height.
Please tell me how we can meet and talk more.