Me to We provides socially conscious eco-friendly products and life-changing experiences.

Me to We trips are different from those provided by other volunteer tour companies. Out trips change not only the lives of the participant, but the lives of the communities they travel to and the people they visit. What makes Me to We so unique is the organization’s partnership with Free The Children. A charity and educational partner, Free The Children has established partnerships with the communities and governments where Me to We trips take place. Because of these partnerships, Me to We  is able to give trip participants the unique opportunity to truly interact and engage with the communities they visit— communities that are welcoming and treat all guests like family.

Free The Children is Me to We’s charity partner and best friend in changing the world. Founded in 1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. The organization’s domestic programs educate, engage and empower hundreds of thousands of youth in North America, the UK and around the world. Their international projects have brought over 650 schoolsand school rooms to youth and provided clean water, health care and sanitation to one million people around the world.

Volunteers on a Me to We trip help build Free The Children schools and have the opportunity to see the organization’s sustainable development model, Adopt a Village, in practice. Every Me to We trip complements and advances Free The Children’s development work. What’s more, Me to We trips are driven by the goal of creating systemic change—both for the participants and the communities they visit.

Me to We Trips offers safe, intimate, transformative volunteer travel opportunities for families and groups. Each trip encompasses:

• Education: Participants learn about Free The Children’s Adopt a Village sustainable development model and the history and culture of the community they visit.
• Volunteering: Participant are engaged in school building, digging the foundation of a new school or the walls of a classroom, tree planting, fetching water and helping the community.
• Community Connection and Friendships: Through various activities like a medicinal walk, warrior weapon training, evening fires and more, participants meet and interact with Free The Children’s team, community members and one another to build meaningful connections and friendships.
• Adventure: Participants experience the adventure of a lifetime: a safari! This is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the trip experience thus far and, if lucky, see the “big five.”
• Customization: Whether a family, corporate group, university and alumni program or Free The Children donor and supporter, Me to We trips works with travellers to ensure the experience speaks to their needs and interests.

During the trip, participants engage in leadership training, skill-building workshops and action planning to equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to give back to their own communities once they return home. Recognizing that the most important aspect of the experience begins after the trip, Me to We also offers resources and opportunities for sustained engagement with Me to We and Free The Children.

All trip participants have access to a community of like-minded individuals upon return from the trip. They are connected with a network of programming coordinators, facilitators and like-minded travellers. Together, they learn to give back and stay engaged through a variety of campaigns, conferences, events and more.

Me to We trips leave a powerful impact on participants, but most importantly they motivate individuals to change the world for the better.

Me to We trips for adults, corporate groups and families take place in Kenya and, launching in 2012, India.

Free The Children has worked in Kenya for more than a decade, giving Me to We trip participants the opportunity to witness the Adopt a Village development model first-hand and its impact in various stages. Participants work closely with local community members to bring new opportunities to the area that aim to ensure healthy, educated and vibrant children and families.  

While in Kenya, participants stay at the Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp, where you’re not just a guest—you’re family. Bogani Cottages and Tented Camp were designed by an award-winning Kenyan architect and are built with renewable, indigenous material. Rustic, yet luxurious, the cottages and tents boast all the comforts of home , including en suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water. Each cottage and tent is unique in its size and design and furnished with indigenous African fabrics and art. Bogani can accommodate groups as small as four and as large as 30 or more.

The Me to We team is happy to recommend a number of activities in Kenya to complement participants’ volunteer adventure.

Safety and security is our number one priority. Me to We takes serious measures and precautions to ensure that all trip participants are provided with as much safety and security as possible.

These measures include:

• All facilitators are familiar with the country
• All participants are registered with their respective embassy before departure to ensure accountability in case of emergency
• Travel advisories are monitored by international and country offices
• Copies of all passports, medical and travel insurance, emergency contact information and dietary and medical requirements are collected well in advance of the trip
• Satellite phone is used at all times, allowing for open communication, 24-hours a day, between in-country team and Toronto office
• All facilitators have up-to-date first aid training and have participated in our extensive training program, which includes emergency evacuation protocols, standard operating procedures and crisis prevention/management training
• Each facilitator carries a comprehensive first aid kit at all times
• On-call doctors are available to oversee all medical attention
• Local hospitals that are on par with Western medical standards are aware of our trips and prepared to handle any minor or major medical situations
• All transportation is manned by Me to We staff
• All travel occurs during the day, as a group and under the guidance of facilitators
• 24-hour security personnel available

The uniqueness of Me to We trips is that they are a holistic, well-rounded experience that goes well beyond the building of school walls. At Me to We, we focus on ensuring that travellers not only volunteer but also understand the context of what they’re helping to create, the culture and history of the community they’re visiting and are given a chance to connect with the people as well as explore the beauty of the land.

Trip participants are there to assist local construction workers on the building projects. Free The Children employs many locals who work on the projects year round, including while trip participants are on-site. Building does not stop after the trip leaves, and the community is highly invested in the physical labour of each project.

Me to We welcomes guests of all ages and fitness levels. All participants are encouraged to work at their own pace and take breaks whenever necessary. If you have any physical conditions that will hinder your participation in any of the activities please let our staff know and we will be happy to accommodate all your needs.

Me to We suggests that the minimum age of trip participants be four years old. But, we leave it up to parents to determine whether the trip will be appropriate for their children. In addition, our facilities are well equipped to handle kids and our facilitators have extensive experience working with children.

Corporate, adult and family trips to Kenya run year-round.

Yes. Voluntourism is travel which includes volunteering for a charitable cause. While participating on a Me to We trip, participants work on Free The Children projects.

Please do not bring candy or toys to give away as presents for any Me to We overseas trip. Me to We and Free The Children work together in solidarity with our partner communities, and we request that our trip participants also foster a relationship of respect with community members. We work to be as equitable as we can with our partner communities, and strive not to create conflict or the feeling of want. That is why we believe in giving a helping hand, not a hand-out.

*Please note: A portion of your trip cost goes towards Free The Children programs in in-country communities. This donation helps to support the basic needs of the communities you are visiting.

Travelling with the entire family is an amazing experience, but sometimes getting everyone's schedules to match can be difficult. For youth who are unable to travel with their parents, we offer Open Youth Programming during the summer. These are pre-scheduled dates which can be found on the Me to We website, for which youth can sign up on their own. These trips are about 14–20 days long and are available for any participants who wish to sign up for them.

To learn more and book your trip, please contact Maran Stern by e-mail at maran@metowe.com or by phone at 416-964-8942 Ex 540. Maran has extensive experience facilitating trips and is happy to personalize your itinerary, confirm dates and walk you through all the details in order for you to make an informed decision.