The project
The Kingdom of Eswatini is the smallest country in Southern Africa, and it also has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. As a result, there are tens of thousands of orphaned children, many of whom don’t even have adults in extended families to help them. These child-headed households don’t have the resources or the ability to build and maintain houses and other vital infrastructure.
This is how volunteers can make a crucial difference. Under the direction of a local builder, volunteers use local techniques to build and renovate homes and classrooms, to provide good shelter for local children and access to a decent schooling environment. Volunteers also get involved in painting and decorating the new buildings, and setting up gardens for the local communities. These buildings have a life-changing impact on children and communities in Swaziland, keeping vulnerable people sheltered and safe, as well as giving them a good chance at education despite the difficulties of their personal circumstances.
If you want to help children in southern Africa have shelter and suitable schooling environments, this hands-on building and suitable schooling environments, this hands-on building project in Eswatini is the volunteering experience for you. project in Eswatini is the volunteering experience for you.
- Costs: Starting at about 1.009€
- Duration: 2 to 12 weeks
- Country: Ezulwini Valley, Eswatini
Days start at around 8:30 when you’ll catch a local bus to the location of your building project. Once you arrive, it’s time to get stuck in. The local builder in charge will let you know what needs doing, which depends on the stage a building project is at. You might find yourself clearing the area that is going to be built on, digging the foundations and making mud bricks using local techniques. You’ll help to build the structure, do some plastering, and add doors, windows and roofing. You may also help with some of the finishing touches, such as painting the building, putting up fencing, developing gardens and putting up play equipment. It’s fulfilling but tiring work, so you’ll volunteer until lunchtime and then have the afternoons off to relax or explore what Eswatini has to offer.
Location
Ezulwini Valley, Eswatini
Voluntary work
Making mud bricks, building houses, clearing land, plastering, painting, landscaping and other works related to improving infrastructure.
Programme start
Usually the first Monday of each month – contact us for exact dates.
Volunteering hours
Monday to Friday from morning to noon. Exact volunteering times can change at short notice to accommodate the needs of the current building project.
Requirements
Minimum age 18, knowledge of English, police check certificate, travel insurance.
Accommodation
Shared dormitories in a backpacker’s lodge, or in safari-style tents in proper beds. Shared shower and bathroom facilities.
Food
Food is provided for three meals a day. Volunteers take it in turn to cook in the evenings.
Airport pickup
Pick up at Matsapha International Airport (or possibly Johannesburg) on specified arrival date.
Return transfer
Transfer to Matsapha International Airport on specified departure date.
Donation to the project
Included in the rate.
Training
In-country orientation, briefing and supervision at the building project.
Support
Pre-departure information, local in-country support and 24 hour emergency support.
In addition, you need to arrange:
- Flights
- Travel insurance (necessary)
- Vaccinations (please check with your GP or travel medical clinic)
- Visa (purchased on arrival at the border or airport)
- Additional recreational activities
Starts from €690.
Duration
2 to 12 weeks.
Volunteering in the heart of communities and giving people the gift of a safe shelter at the end has to be one of the most rewarding things you can do. As well as getting to know some local people and acquiring some skills in construction and traditional building techniques, you’ll also be able to get to know more about the country that is the only remaining African monarchy.
On your afternoons and weekends off, you can explore the luscious Ezulwini valley (‘Valley of Heaven’) and get involved in adventure activities including white water rafting, mountain biking, quad biking, fishing, horse riding and hiking. In your spare time, you could also catch a glimpse of the Royal Palace, visit the capital of Mbabane, or visit the Lubombo Conservancy, which is home to wildlife including lions, rhino, elephants and giraffes. Sometimes weekend trips further afield are organised, to destinations such as the Kruger National Park, St Lucia, Natal Drakensberg or Mozambique.
You’ll be staying in a picturesque backpacker’s lodge, which is surrounded by gardens, in either a dorm room or safari-style tents. Food is provided and you’ll take it in turns to cook with the other volunteers, either in the kitchen or on the braai (barbecue) and relaxed evenings are spent on the veranda by the fireplace.
Security is one of the most important prerequisites when selecting our projects. That is why we take care of each of our volunteers personally and clarify all open questions regarding security before departure.
Find out more about security.