Can you earn money while in Kenya?

No, we’re on a missionary visa and can’t make extra income. Anyway, our purpose there is to work with young people and not make money – we could do that anywhere!

So, how will you survive there?

Good question! We have a dedicated team of people around the world who sacrificially give each month. Our monthly budget is $5,000 per month, and at this stage we have not reached this goal. This covers all our operating and living expenses. We don’t want to be the type that is always asking people for money, instead we want them to grab the vision and partner with us. They might not be able to go to Africa, but we can go on their behalf.

Isn’t it cheap to live in Africa?

To buy a house in a safe area it is almost as expensive as in Sydney. It’s like any city, there’s masses of people and only limited land. Not that we plan to buy a house, we rent an apartment. Vehicle costs are high in Kenya because of the bad conditions of the roads we go on for our projects. We also have to look at the fluctuating US dollar which plays a big part for us.

Is it safe to live in Africa?

Firstly, Africa is made up of 54 countries and it’s not all war, famine and poverty. Secondly, every place has its risks. Yes, we face more risks than living on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, but it’s pretty comfy there compared to other parts of Sydney anyway. We always take security seriously. That means not wearing jewellery when out on our own, locking the car doors as soon as we get in, carrying a bag at the front instead of the back, things like that. We use local hosts when taking a group around and take minimal cash out with us. There seem to be more bomb attacks in Kenya, which is usually by Somali rebels. There’s nothing we can do about those, except to be careful. As a rule, we don’t drive great distances at night, not because of insecurity, but because many drivers here are unsafe in they way they operate on the roads.

What do you actually do when volunteering there?

Pete heads up the community development arm of BeyondWater. He is often found in different places around Kenya helping groups such as schools and communities who need advice on how to improve their sanitation and agricultural environments.

Sharon focuses on team development, education and resourcing local leaders. She is continuing her work with BeyondWater in alleviating poverty through safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

At times their work calls for visiting schools, conferences and churches as well as assisting international visitors.

Can we come to visit?

Of course you can! We can arrange all aspects of your trip here whether you would like to volunteer or just come and see the beautiful sites of Kenya. We have key people we’ve partnered with so your trip will be safe, enjoyable and affordable. We arrange everything from the time we pick you up at the airport until you depart for your home country.

How long do you plan to be there?

As long as the funds keeps coming in, we’ll be staying. If we want to be effective working with young people then we need to be there long term.

Does that mean you plan on not coming back?

Yes, even those working in the humanitarian field need a break! Most years the Creans undertake a speaking tour to raise funds for projects. It usually takes place in the US, New Zealand or Australia. They have 4 grandchildren so try and work it around school holidays.

Where do you live?

No, as most people assume, we do not live in a mud hut. We live in a small two bedroom apartment in a suburb called Jamhuri. Across the hallway is our office for the additional 3 staff we have. It’s not the flashiest area to live in but it’s handy for our work and most importantly – affordable.