Like many United Planet volunteers, Katie Kowalski felt unsatisfied at her corporate job. As a student, she dreamt of assisting the development of small businesses, but after five years she soon realized her current vocation failed to fulfill her personal expectations. So, in an effort to assist the globe, Katie decided to join United Planet and volunteer in Africa. She was relocated to Kimana Kenya to begin her work as a United Planet volunteer.
At times, Katie struggled to assimilate to a new language. Kimana is a remote village located in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province. While most of Kenya speaks English, in Kimana the language spoken predominantly is Maasai (named after the Maasai tribe which resides in the area). You’ve probably seen or heard of Maasai warriors, dressed in colorful clothing, performing a traditional jumping dance.
While the culture was entirely different from the one she came from, Katie did not let this stop her. During her six month time volunteering in Kimana, Katie became part of many unique opportunities. In addition to spending time teaching, Katie began a local initiative. Her project, The Mother Girl Forum, is a cooperative of local women who make and sell traditional Maasai clothing and jewelry. The funds collecting from the forum go on to assist educating children throughout the village.
Learn more about volunteering in Kenya and other volunteer abroad programs with United Planet.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
