Center for International Voluntary Service

1993

CIVS was formed in 1993 as a Kenya based  nonprofit agency that offers innovative and competent support services to  empower communities and organizations. Our efforts aim at stimulating  self-development initiatives among the disadvantaged, especially women, as well  as developing harmonious relations among people of different backgrounds and  cultures.

1994

CIVS held its first Workcamp in July 1994 hosted  by Uvaini Women Group located in Machakos district of Kenya. Since then, we  have been holding monthly Workcamps . For more information about our current work  camps please visit the Workcamp page on our website.

1996

CIVS offered its first mid-  & long term volunteer projects in 1996. Since then we have  deployed over 1,500 volunteers from all over the world in different projects, like Orphanages, Schools,  Microfinance, Environmental Conservation, Agricultural Training &  Conservation and Arts. For more information about our current projects  please visit the Mid & Long Term  Project page of our  website.

2000

2001

CIVS started designing and delivering technical  assistance and training in 2001. We offer these activities to a cross-section  of organizations involved in community development, enterprise development and  microfinance in order to strengthen their capacities for improved service quality,  greater efficiency, effectiveness, and enhanced community livelihood  security. 

2009

CIVS started its own Community Development Project in  Ahero . This Capacity Building  Project aims at supporting the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Nyando  and Kisumu districts through increasing household   incomes of  the local people, many of them being caregivers to the high number of HIV/AIDS  orphans in this area. For more information please visit the Capacity Building page on our website.

1997

Community  leaders training on leadership skills, resource  mobilization, and potential exploitation, design and management of community  projects, and rights of community members including children. Clients: Kenya Episcopal Conference - Catholic  Secretariat, Women and Gender program.

Training of  women and youth groups on small business start-up  and management. Clients: CIVS supports women’s and youth groups in Kisumu,  Machakos, Makueni and Kirinyaga.

1998

Supporting organizations to  establish and run community banks - “Bengi Investment Group”  (BIG). Clients: Women Concern Kenya (WCK) of Garissa, Kikozi Program of Lamu,  Catholic Diocese of Homa Bay and RECA of Kisumu.

1999

Sustainable  rehabilitation and reintegration of street children through the minimalist approach to microfinance and enterprise development as  they relate to family level poverty alleviation as a strategy for street  children rehabilitation. Clients: Undugu Society of Kenya and UNESCO.
Consultancy  for a microfinance program in Kosovo, which is  expected to benefit children, women and rural folk hence their rights are  central to interventions.

2000

Child focused  preparation of Community Development Plans in  Nyanza, Kisumu, Kiambu and Thika. Livelihood issues were tackled. Client: PLAN Central.

2006

Designing a  business development services program for Samburu District; assessing IGAs, conducting feasibility study, holding  stakeholders’ workshops, and conducting community and staff training on  managing “Bengi Investment  Group” (BIG) community banks and setting up of community banks in Lesirikan  and Ngilai in Samburu District. Client: Samburu Aid In Africa (SAIDIA).

2010

Development, implementation  and management of the Garissa Youth Project, a  youth education project for 800 out-of-school youth. Clients: USAID and EDC (Educational Development Center).