03 November 2011
International Citizen Service (ICS) supports young people in the UK to take part in volunteering projects which will make a real difference to some of the world's poorest people.
This month the first volunteers to take part in the programme have finished their three month placements and are returning home.
Twenty-year-old Maheen, pictured above, successfully applied to be an ICS volunteer and worked with disabled children in Kenya on a project run by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).
Here she recalls her experience, from filling out her online application and overcoming homesickness to finding out how to keep a class of young children entertained.
"I read about ICS online and applied directly 
to VSO through a form on their website. I was then invited to an assessment day where we did teamwork exercises and had an interview. It was a bit nerve-wracking but a month later I found out that I'd got a place. I was very grateful and excited about being accepted on the programme.
When we were given a list of the possible placements, I was immediately drawn to working at Kwale School for the mentally handicapped in Kenya. I imagined it would be emotionally exhausting and frustrating but I was really looking forward to the challenge. It meant I could work with kids and try to make a difference in the lives of others, which was my main motivation for volunteering. I was also hoping to gain some confidence and independence before going to university.
Before we left for our placements we had training with VSO and ICS. We were taught about development work and the different cultures and countries we'd be visiting. We also found out about health and safety and the kind of work we might end up doing.
Homesickness and toilets
I found it quite easy to settle in when I got out to Kenya. I lived with a host family and, although the toilet and shower weren't great, I got used to those kinds of practical things really quickly.
For the first month I was very homesick but the entire team including my host family were very supportive and helped me to fit in. Gradually, I spent less money on calling home and started keeping in touch with my new friends and family in Kenya instead!
Exhaustion and happiness
I was placed with the autistic class in the school. At first I felt physically exhausted because I was constantly running after kids who were bullying 
younger and more vulnerable children. I felt like I wasn't achieving anything.
Then I came to realise that although I didn't have the skills to discipline the kids, I was capable of providing activities to distract them.
With the help of a football and my camera, I was able to keep the kids engaged for two whole hours while they had fun which made me really happy. My counterpart and I then arranged with the teachers to get some netball equipment so that we could also start up netball games in the afternoon.
Buttons and building blocks
Small things such as buttoning and unbuttoning a shirt 100 times might seem monotonous to me, but the one-to-one attention really helped the children. It brought them one step closer to becoming self sufficient which for a disabled child is more important than following a rigid curriculum.
One of my greatest achievements was helping a five-year-old mute and autistic child to play with building blocks. When I first arrived she simply watched the other children due to poor co-ordination and lack of encouragement. But by spending time with her I helped her learn how to play. I was encouraged everytime she smiled after making a tower and it made me really happy to know that I had actually passed on a skill.
The kids are amazing to work with. They are so full of energy and it is kind of contagious – it is hard to leave them at school at the end of the day!
New skills, new plans
I learnt so many new skills during my time in Kenya – in particular communication 
and teamwork skills. I loved all the interaction with the children and as a result of the trip I would like to work with disabled children when I get a job after university. In the meantime, while I'm studying, I'm definitely going to find somewhere to volunteer.
I'm also going to find a special needs school in the UK and link them with the Kwale school. Hopefully this will mean that the children I worked with in Kenya can benefit from new ideas and activities that will help their development.
And in November I'm going to a "Return volunteer day" where I'll find out more about how I can start up a social action project in my own community and how I can use my new skills to help people in the UK.
Friends, family and the future
I would strongly recommend ICS to anyone who is thinking of applying. The town in Kenya where I stayed is really close knit and the best part of the experience was meeting new people and becoming part of the local community.
The whole thing was so much fun and I made such good friends with the other volunteers, my host family and my neighbours.
And in terms of my own personal development, I feel that I have become more confident which has been really good preparation for starting university. Moving away from home and making new friends has been so much easier thanks to all of the experiences I had in Kenya."
There are still places available for volunteer placements in April 2012. To find out more visit www.dfid.gov.uk/ics