• Sustainable Cities And Communities

Construction and Renovation Collaborator

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Heighten cross-cultural learning and global understanding.
  • Increase access to education.
  • Promote health and wellbeing
  • Support community development
  • Economic development of communities.

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

The project involves placements in Health centers, schools and other institutions like orphanages. The work is mainly painting, renovation and repair of facilities.

This project involves physical activities like paiinting, renovation, cleaning of facilities and also repair works as required placements in Dispensaries, Health centers, Hospitals, Schools, Special needs centers and other institutions like Orphanages. 

We acknowledge the high costs of this project ...

About the program

This project involves physical activities like paiinting, renovation, cleaning of facilities and also repair works as required placements in Dispensaries, Health centers, Hospitals, Schools, Special needs centers and other institutions like Orphanages. 

We acknowledge the high costs of this project as compared to others, and this is because of the materials and equipment needed for this job such as paint, brushes, gloves and the likes. It may cost more if volunteers will want to illustrate paintings and as a notice the illustration of paintings should consider the project duration. For volunteers that will be creating fundraisers, they are advised to observe transparency with the particular center on all activities during the project.

This program does not have professionalism limits, everyone who wishes to work on the program is welcome.


VISA & PROGRAM FEE:

The program fee covers your Airport pickup, Accommodation and Meals during your stay. And also a charitable donation from your program fee is given to the center. We do this on your behalf, to continue taking part in further developing the center.


After we have confirmed your program fees, we will send you the invitation letter and NGO Certificate. These documents will be required when applying for your visa. You will also send us a Copy of your Passport and your CV.


EXTRA FEE:

This program has a contribution that you will give to the center when you start your program, to support in buying the required materials for the project to complete. You will hand over the contribution to the center on your first day at the placement. If the placement has no construction activity at the moment you will contribute $200.  If the placement is currently doing construction work too, you will only contribute $100. But if you wish to do more for the center, you can just include it in your planning, you don’t have to give again the contribution.

What to expect?

Things might be done differently to some degree. Adapt and be proactive, don’t focus on telling people when they are right or wrong but perhaps your demonstrations might reach them applicably.  Do not engage in activities you are not confident doing as the aim is to improve the conditions, mishaps and accidents are to be avoided. Planning, Communication and Transparency is key in all activities; before, during and after.

What not to expect?

“Easy does it” won’t apply in this project.  The working conditions may be extreme given the locations of the placements and the condition of the buildings that require work. Be proactive and adapt to the working conditions. Protective gear might not be available, thus will need to be purchased as well.

Duties and Tasks

As a volunteer, you will work alongside project coordinators in conducting basic renovation, painting, cleaning and repairing of facilities and the artistic volunteers may get the opportunity to restore and paint new paintings as well as create colorful illustrations in the schools, child care centers, and special needs institutions. Volunteers will be observing and are also welcome to participate in the activities while embracing the different approaches and the culture, supporting the project coordinators and other staff fully by participating in the assigned activities during project hours. 

Challenges.

  • Culture differences specifically the different approaches to life.

  • Different living conditions for example the weather, availability of basic resources such as water and electricity, consumer goods and distance to services.

  • Transportation, inadequate transport especially in the rural areas, bumpy rides while traveling with 'boda boda' and congested village buses.

  • Expectations, with high expectations it is easy to be disappointed by the lags and reluctance to be involved, when perfection isn’t realized and impatience.

  • Different expertise approaches in regard to limited resources.

  • Inadequate resources and working appliances & equipment

Positives

  • Learn how to sustain needs with inadequate resources

  • Attain new skills and experiences to further your profession

  • Arusha is a beautiful tourist city with much to appreciate, the people are welcoming and the landscape & sceneries are magnificent.  

  • Take the opportunity to travel and socialize on the weekends. There are good spots for leisure and fun.


THINGS TO BRING, DONATIONS.

What can I bring?

Donating and sharing is very much appreciated. In regard to the relationship created, and the situation found at the center, you can donate accordingly or also share the challenges with friends abroad and represent their donations, given that there are many needs due to the limited resources most facilities have ranging from equipment , new machinery to completing construction of the institutions.


Personal Things to Bring

Those for your personal use like helmet, protective gear, decent clothes, sunscreen, soap, towels, slippers, perfume, torch, nail cutter etc.

Typical day

In general, volunteers have the freedom to choose how they spend the day. However, a daily routine is recommended and may be coordinated with the project coordinators based on your program. A general day may look like this:

  • Breakfast between 6:30 and 7:30am.
  • Commuting to placement via public ...

Typical day

In general, volunteers have the freedom to choose how they spend the day. However, a daily routine is recommended and may be coordinated with the project coordinators based on your program. A general day may look like this:

  • Breakfast between 6:30 and 7:30am.
  • Commuting to placement via public transport.
  • Classes start and 8:00am; classes are normally preceded by a morning parade. 
  • During your time at the school, you will observe culture differences within the teaching practice in Tanzania. According to your skills, qualifications, and comfort zone you will be involved in classes; either just learning from and observing the teachers, or teaching. You will have the opportunity to visit and work in several different classes and rotate around them if you wish. The hours are usually from 8:00am-3:00pm or 4:00pm depending on how busy the day is.
  • Lunch is between 12:30am and 3:00pm either at the placement.
  • Placements end usually between 2pm and 4pm depending on the project.
  • Free time for the rest of the day and preparation for the placement the day after (if necessary)
  • Dinner between 6:30pm and 7:30pm.
  • You can visit an orphanage/special needs center after coming back from your placement or during the weekend.

Free-time activities

Where can I go after my placement?

  • You can visit House of Babies, a home for orphaned and abandoned children.

  • You can visit a Special needs center.

  • You can go to the gym/ walk/ run.


Where can I go on weekends?


Arusha Town

  • Maasai Market & Souvenir Shops.

  • Museums and Historical sites.

  • Multi-cultural ...

Free-time activities

Where can I go after my placement?

  • You can visit House of Babies, a home for orphaned and abandoned children.

  • You can visit a Special needs center.

  • You can go to the gym/ walk/ run.


Where can I go on weekends?


Arusha Town

  • Maasai Market & Souvenir Shops.

  • Museums and Historical sites.

  • Multi-cultural Restaurants and Hotels.

  • Swimming.

  • Parties & Concerts.


Day trips

  • Napuru Waterfalls.

  • Hot springs.

  • Zip line Adventure.

  • Serval Wildlife Zoo.

  • Lake Duluti.

  • Materuni Waterfalls & Local Coffee making experience.

  • Maasai village visit.

  • Hadzabe community visit.

Tours and Safaris

  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

  • Oldupai Gorge.

  • Serengeti National park. 

  • Enduimet Wildlife Management Area.

  • Manyara National park.

  • Tarangire National park, and many more!

Hikes

  • Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

  • Climbing Mt. Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania.


Zanzibar Excursions

  • Zanzibar’s divine beaches, diving and water sports.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV and Copy of Passport

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Tiling, Electricity, Painting.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 08:00 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Natembelea Africa V Residence

The program fee includes:

  • Airport pickup from Kilimanjaro international Airport/ Arusha airport  OR Bus Station pick up.

  • Accommodation

  • Meals 

  • Wi-Fi

  • Orientation & Town tour

Airport Pickup at Arusha Airport

The program fee includes airport pickup. It takes 45 to 60 minutes to Arusha from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and 30 minutes from Arusha Airport (ARK). You will be picked up by a coordinator with a driver from our ground team. The ground team will be active to get to the airport on time and communicate well.

Note: When you exit the arrivals area you will see a coordinator with a banner with Natembelea Africa Volunteer Residence and Volunteer World logo. Please don't look for your name, look for the banner. Wave and our team will see you. On the way to the volunteer house, the coordinator will give you a short briefing about the country and Arusha in general. 

You will get to meet and know the ground team while giving you a house tour. We will show you your room. Depending on your time of arrival, you will have your program orientation the same day or the next day.

Accommodation

Volunteers in Arusha will be staying in a volunteer house. Volunteers can expect to share a room with one to four/six other volunteers of the same gender. The  house provides a comfortable and warm stay with tap water and electricity. However, it is important to note that there are often regional or countrywide power outages which may affect availability of hot water. Bedding is provided, which includes a pillow with pillow case, bottom and top sheet. You will need to bring your own towels, sunscreen, slippers and toiletries etc.

In the volunteer house, there is a cook who prepares meals and keeps the place clean and tidy. Safety is paramount, therefore there is also a security guard during day and night. There is also a coordinator who is your immediate contact concerning any inquiry or emergency while at the residence. You can reach the directors on mobile via whatsapp or local calls. 

To access the internet during your program, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card in Arusha. The local staff will assist you with this upon arrival.

Food & Beverages

One of the greatest ways to explore Tanzania is to eat like the locals. To make things easy for you, your program fee covers the cost of your main meals, which will be cooked by the mamas in-house.

The mamas will usually be cooking Tanzanian cuisine as part of your cultural experience in Tanzania. This is an authentic way to get a taste of the wonderful flavors of Arusha, and immerse yourself fully in the local culture.

All programs will include options for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and other diets. You should give note to any dietary requirements in your application so we can make sure the cook caters to your needs beforehand. 

You will get meals everyday for all the time you will be with us. Meals generally consist of authentic Tanzanian cuisine. 

We are extremely mindful of food allergies, vegans and vegetarians. We will adapt to requests accordingly.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Arusha Airport (ARK) in Arusha. We assist you to find cheap flights to Tanzania. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Tanzania provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Tanzania you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Tanzania. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The Program commencement includes the night before your start date. If you choose to arrive before the starting date, you will have to pay extra according to the days of your stay.


The duration of your stay and program is counted in weeks. For instance, if a volunteer is registered for 4 weeks and the start date is January 1st, the program fee accommodates the night previous of December 31st until January 28th respectively.

If a day or more is taken for travels in the program dates, the end date remains the same.

There is the possibility for program extension whenever necessary. A one day extension costs 30 USD, whereas a week or more would be assigned program fees in regard to the duration of the stay. It is advised that if volunteers require an extension, they should provide a notice to the Coordinator/ Director prior to the end of their original program.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 209€
2 weeks 378€
3 weeks 547€
4 weeks 696€
5 weeks 845€
6 weeks 994€
7 weeks 1,113€
8 weeks 1,233€
9 weeks 1,352€
10 weeks 1,441€
11 weeks 1,531€
12 weeks (max. stay) 1,620€
Average fees 171€/week

Program fees

171€ per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

1 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Natembelea Africa V Residence during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Natembelea Africa V Residence

Perfect 4.6 rating (39 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2019

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Schola

Spoken languages: English, Swahili

About the project

We recruit and host volunteers from across the world with different passionate missions who come to volunteer and experience life with the local people. Karibu Tanzania!

Meet your organization

   
 Natembelea Africa Volunteer Residence is a registered non-profit organization located in Arusha, one of the busiest cities and a tourist destination in Tanzania, Africa. We recruit and host volunteers from across the world with different passionate missions who come to volunteer and experience life with the local people. The volunteers stay in our volunteer house as their primary destination while they are attending to their programs respectively.

Program Start Dates
Our programs start on the 1st and on the 15th of every month respectively. One night before the program starts is not charged.(Group of 5 people and above, 50$ off from everyone in the group)
   
What we do?
The organization is working in cooperation with other centers and organizations to provide specific placements according to the various volunteer projects we offer, and also offers accommodation and facilities as the primary destination for our volunteers.

Currently we have eight (8) Programs namely: Teaching and Educating Children, Medical Assistance and Medical Outreach, Empowering Women and Girls, Friends Childcare Supporter, Animal Welfare and Animal’s Shelter, Special Needs and Assisting the Disabled, Construction and Renovation Collaborator and Water Management Assistant.
   
Is Tanzania safe?
Tanzania is a rich and diverse country with different tribes, religions, and customs. Tanzanians are very friendly, conversational, and hospitable. There is a general safety that enhances the cultural experience. Our accommodations are also safe spaces provided by high security and are located at a safe neighborhood. 

Challenges
Majority in Tanzania are living in poor life and unsustainable income which made us to establish the volunteer organization to help the community and welcoming people with open minded with good heart.

Mission/vision
Realize shared values while engaging local societies first hand and dedicating abilities in making use of accessible resources to advance and sustain livelihoods.
 
Our goals
To provide volunteers with placements that enable them to show their compassion and utilize their skills, experience to improve and inspire as they engage the local societies. Exposure, tactics, values and experience sharing between volunteers and the locals. Creating new bonds and bridging cultures across the world with dedication to progress. Learning and appreciating applications observed and attained from the volunteer engagement projects.

What to expect
Expect to be proactive and prompt, as the experience will be out of your comfort zone in case of inadequate resources it will be on you to apply initiatives that would satisfy the particular situations. Expect to learn, be challenged, and to experience a sort of fun you have never known
while engaging with the children and the people.
 
What not to expect
Limit your expectations, the work is fulfilling but not easy as our conditions in Africa derive unique approaches to everything. The placements are underfunded and with inadequate resources, do not expect to change everything at the same time; be proactive and collaborate with the local coordinators and placement supervisors to improve the work condition and to cater to the needs of the project. We encourage you to be proactive and embrace the norms as part of a learning experience and ensure the locals team from you as well.

What to bring
You are not required to bring anything on your volunteer placements, but if you feel like donating and sharing it will be appreciated. In regard to the need and relationship created it is always important to choose a better fit for your donations given that there are many needs due to the limited resources the schools have ranging from needs and requirements.

Visa

All volunteers must have a Volunteer Visa to volunteer in Tanzania. This is because foreigners are not allowed to volunteer in Tanzania under a Tourist Visa.

A Volunteer Visa which is also referred to as Humanitarian Visa in Tanzanian airports. Once you have cleared your program fees, we will send you the Invitation letter and NGO Certificate. These will be required when applying for your visa on the immigration website. 

Vaccination & Treatment

We highly recommend you to consult your doctor for advice on immunizations. We all understand human beings get sick, we have several hospitals and clinics in town in case volunteer get sick and the organization will ride you to the hospital for free with a coordinator to assist , and there are many pharmacies available to get medicine.

Certificate of Appreciation

We appreciate your time! After your program ends we will provide you with a certificate of completion.

Criminal background check

Our first priority is safety. Safety for our volunteers and for the people receiving services in our volunteer programs. This is standard for any quality volunteer program.

Insurance

Tanzania is a safe country and we will do our best to ensure your safety and well-being but illnesses happen and sometimes unfortunate incidents such as theft happen. Travel insurance will pay for your medical bills if you become ill and will cover expenses if something were lost or stolen.

Speak local language (Swahili)

You do not need to know it but learning a few words and phrases will be helpful. There are many helpful sites that can help you before you arrive and we will help you when you are here.

What to bring with me,

We recommend to bring flashlight, long-sleeved clothes, mosquito repellent, copy of your passport and ID – best not to carry your identification with you, you can establish fundraisers, bring donations for the centers.

Going tours and safaris during your program

Of course! Tanzania is a beautiful country and we would not want you to miss out on seeing some of the wonderful places here. We can help you arrange tours and safaris at discounted rates for our volunteers!

39 reviews · rating4.6

Mila Guichard rating5

2024 at Teaching and Educating Children

It was an incredible experience to take part in classes with students of all levels. We were made very welcome by Schola and her husband Gift. Thank you for ...
Rebecca Graff rating5

2024 at Teaching and Educating Children

Dear volunteers, I guess you just arrived here at the Volunteer residence while reading these pages with all the experiences from other volunteers. Even though I was really excited about my time as a volunteer, it was a big challenge when I arrived but I promise you one thing: Schola and Happy ...
olivia huslage rating3.8

2024 at Teaching and Educating Children

Dear Future Volunteers, I have completed a 6 weeks program staying in the Volunteer house in Arusha. During my time there I was placed in the Ereto Pre and Primary School in Kimandolu. This volunteering experience made me grow so much as a person and made become more independent every single ...
Edward Hues rating5

2023 at Teaching and Educating Children

My mate and I volunteered as teachers at Ereto Primary School in eastern Arusha. I volunteered there for 14 days and had the most interesting and fun time. We got to experience local cuisine through school lunches and it was a great insight into Tanzania, especially the street. I enjoyed going to ...
Dear Volunteers, I had a great time and a wonderful experience here. Schola is very involved and wants the organization to be better. I worked at the Levolosi Hospital. The people are very friendly but it is best to communicate before you start about your skills and knowledge, so that everyone ...
I stayed with Natembelea Africa in Arusha for 2 weeks, and I had the best experience from A to Z. Contacts with Schola and her husband were always good, and I felt ever more welcomed when in arrived in Tanzania. The place where we stay is super safe, in a beautiful place in Arusha. I loved to ...

Location

Africa > Eastern Africa > Tanzania > Arusha

You might also be interested in

Volunteer Abroad  >  Community  >  Construction in Tanzania
Contact Schola
  Excellent response rate
English, Swahili

Most volunteers ask about

Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Schola
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

Book with Flex Option!

Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

Enjoy our services for dedicated volunteers!

Enjoy a Refund Guarantee, Free Flex Option, and Emergency Assistance. Our Price-Guarantee ensures unbeatable value, and our Support Team is ready to assist.