In September 2024, Jack Hodgson travelled to Kenya to be an A Rocha volunteer at their Mwamba Centre for six months. As he counted down the days to the end of his stay, he spoke to us about his experience and how volunteering his time made a great difference in his life.
Tell us about yourself and what you were doing before you became a volunteer.
I come from the UK. I had just finished secondary school, where I’d heard Peter Harris give a talk at our Christian Union club. He spoke about the ever-changing environmental factors that my dad has also been teaching me. I liked the sound of what A Rocha does, so when Peter told me about the possibility of volunteering at A Rocha Kenya, I was up for the challenge.
What is your day-to-day life as a volunteer?
One of the amazing things is that I haven’t had the same day-to-day. Aside from helping set the table for communal meals, my tasks reflected whatever needs arose at the centre. I started out as a properties and facilities assistant, which involved helping with odd jobs like as cleaning gutters and doing general maintenance. Then I got introduced to birds by Colin, the team leader, and eventually became a data enterer for the Ngulia bird ringing project in Tsavo National Park. As a fun side job, I raised three kittens after a wild cat gave birth at Mwamba Centre. Two have been adopted.
How did you get involved with the A Rocha Kenya’s conservation projects?
I got my dive qualification whilst here in Kenya, and so I was able to join the marine team in coral gardening activities and shark and reef surveys. I also went to Dakatcha, an A Rocha woodlands nature reserve, and met the A Rocha scouts. In one of their Monday morning meetings, they told us about struggling with herders bringing their animals into the protected land. Then, as we were seated conversing, out of the blue a snake slithered up from the trees above. That is when you realize you are truly in nature!
What were some of the highlights of your experience?
I was fortunate to go to the Tana River Delta to take part in the National Water Bird Count. A few of us camped in an abandoned lodge on the riverbank, counting birds. Before I came to Kenya, I knew nothing about birds, so I think it’s safe to say that not only is my faith being developed through Monday morning meetings and team Bible studies, but my bird knowledge has also definitely been developed.
Back at Mwamba, on Thursday mornings, volunteers wake up early before sunrise for bird ringing and open all the bird nets in the dark. I always used that as an opportunity to sit on the beach and have a sunrise swim. I got to see some amazing Kenyan sunrises and sunsets.
Getting my diving license has been cool. My dad has always loved diving. When he visited, I was able to dive with him.
What will you miss the most?
It has been nice to get to know people. It is a real family feeling when you eat together – and the food’s amazing. I’ll miss saying hello in the morning to everyone. That’s going to be a big difference back home because, in the UK, everyone just gives you a nod.
What are your greatest takeaways?
I hadn’t really started life yet, I guess. This was my introduction to the world outside of school. I’m now ready to go home and start a new chapter of life back in the UK. The experience has made me grow in confidence, faith and teamwork by working with a cross-cultural, multilingual and diverse team. I have also learned a little bit of Swahili.
What are your plans after this?
I don’t feel like this will be my last time at A Rocha Kenya. It is a beautiful place, ‘a little slice of heaven’ as is often said. It’s not been a bad place to spend the last six months with the beach is a stone’s throw away.
Once home, I’ll be off to the University of Liverpool to study geography. It’s really been incredibly helpful having learned at school about coral reefs and then here what’s being done to help them, as well as about the benefits of mangroves. Diving with a marine team and doing the surveys in Mida Creek in the mangroves was great experience. It’s been amazing to put some context around what I learned at school. Next I hope to get a job as a groundman!
Jack, thank you for all you’ve given A Rocha and we wish you well!
