Construction and Renovation Volunteer Program in Tanzania - Arusha
Want to build a better future as a Construction and Renovation volunteer in Tanzania? By taking part in this project, volunteers have the opportunity to assist with a range of tasks designed to improve the infrastructure of local schools, childcare centers and important community spaces. This helps support learning, development and basic services within the wider Arusha community. Volunteers will be able to see the physical results of their efforts and make a lasting impact for the community for years to come.
Highlights:
- Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
- Affordable fees from $344 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Renovate and improve important community spaces
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Experience Tanzania’s incredible landscapes and wildlife
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Stay in a town near the spectacular Mt Kilimanjaro
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
As a Construction volunteer, you’ll assist with renovations in the local schools, childcare centers, kindergartens and the women’s center where our Teaching, Childcare and Women’s Education programs are based.
You’ll be volunteering alongside a local foreman and tasks may include, but are not limited to:
- Brick laying
- Window repairs and replacement,
- Plastering
- Painting and decorating
- Small construction jobs
- Plumbing repairs
The work volunteers take part in will depend on the projects already underway at the time you join the program.
Volunteers can also be providing important support to families and those in the community that wish to start small businesses with livestock where they will assist in building wooden structures that can house animals. This work helps provide a life saving business for a family or small community.
If volunteers want to do a specific type of work or project while in Arusha, they can discuss this with the local team in Tanzania after registering and they would need to fundraise money to cover additional costs associated with it.
Why do Construction and Renovation volunteering in Arusha with IVHQ?
As a building volunteer in Tanzania you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Helping local communities build and improve important facilities
- Assisting local initiatives to complete construction and renovation projects
- Developing your communication and practical skills
- Gaining renovation experience
- Immersing yourself in Tanzanian culture
- Discovering Africa’s incredible wildlife
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or friend who is over 18 to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program independently, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
- All volunteers are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure, or if aged under 18 need to provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Tanzania photo gallery
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit”I cannot choose a specific moment of this experience to be my favorite. I enjoyed every second of it at the fullest, from the smiles of the kids at the school I was working in to the happy mamas that where making lunch at home. Every minute of it was a life changing experience. The biggest impact was that it change my perspective of seeing things totally. It...” read more
Micaela, Ecuadorean, 18
Read reviews from Construction and Renovation volunteers in Arusha
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Location
The IVHQ Tanzania volunteer program is based in Arusha, a small city often used as the base of many safari trips into the Serengeti and other national parks. It’s also near Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro. Tanzania as a whole is known for its seemingly boundless areas of wilderness where African animals roam, sometimes migrating in vast groups across the plains; and also being the country where the oldest human skull and even older fossils of human ancestors were found.
Despite its many attractions, communities in many parts of Tanzania still lack access to the basic necessities of life. Volunteer projects based in rural and urban areas around Arusha and nearby help to provide better access to healthcare, education and childcare.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month and volunteers need to arrive in Arusha on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) in Arusha. Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Arusha. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Tanzania prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Arusha on the day before your program orientation. Orientation is hosted by our local team at one of the volunteer houses in Arusha. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. If your start date falls on a weekend or a public holiday, your orientation will begin on the Monday or day following the public holiday. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Tanzania – an introduction to Tanzania, Tanzanian customs, rules and expectations, language lessons (Kiswahili), safety, travel opportunities in Tanzania, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On the first day of the volunteering placement, you will be escorted to the project by our local staff and introduced to the staff at the project you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. A typical volunteer day would be as follows:
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house or homestay. |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that each volunteer is working at. |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home for lunch at their accommodation, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing. |
| 8:30 PM | Dinner at the volunteer house or homestay |
Weekends
Tanzania is a wildlife lover’s dream. In your free time you can venture out on a safari and see Africa’s Big 5 - lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhino - as well as the mind-blowing number of other species that call Tanzania home.
In Arusha itself you can find great markets, take a few days to hike up the nearby Mt Meru, or learn about the Maasai and Meru tribes of the area. You can also take take a short flight down to Zanzibar for a weekend of sun and sandy beaches or save some time before or after your program to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers in Tanzania are either accommodated in a volunteer house or a homestay with a host family. Volunteers can expect to share a room with 1 to 8 other volunteers of the same gender and volunteer houses can accommodate up to 30 volunteers at a time. Volunteers in homestays can expect to be living with at least four other volunteers. The volunteer house and homestays have running water and electricity but it is important to note that there are often power outages which affect availability of hot water and power.
Bedding is provided, however you will need to bring your own towel and toiletries. It is also recommended to bring a sleeping bag for cooler months and weekends away.
In the volunteer house, there is a cook who prepares meals for the volunteers and there is a security guard. The local team are also available on a daily basis during the week for support and via phone over the weekend.
If you would like to keep connected during your stay, we recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card when you arrive in Tanzania. The local team can assist you with purchasing a SIM card during your program orientation. You can also access WiFi from cafes and restaurants in Arusha.
If you would like to arrive a day earlier than your recommended arrival date, or wish to spend a few extra nights after finishing your program, we can arrange extra nights of accommodation for you for $35 (approximately $35) per person, per night, meals included, subject to availability.
If you would like to arrange extra nights of accommodation, just make a note in your application or contact your IVHQ Program Manager who will be happy to assist you.
Meals
Tanzanian cuisine varies across the country, owing to the difference in produce inland and along the coast. The immigration of Khoja Indians has resulted in local dishes influenced by Indian cuisine. Staple foods in Tanzania include rice, ugali (maize porridge), chapatti and beans.
Volunteers in the volunteer house are served four meals per day. Breakfasts generally consist of eggs served with pancakes, mandazzi (deep fried dough balls) or cake and always plenty of fruit and bread with jam and spread if you prefer toast.
Lunch will be a traditional meat dish (chicken or beef) with a vegetable dish, beans, lentils or cooked vegetables served with rice, pasta, chips or chapatti.
Soup is served around 4pm with bread rolls. homestay houses will not serve soup Dinner will be different to lunch but similar in that it will normally consist of a traditional meat dish (chicken or beef) with a vegetable dish, beans, lentils or cooked vegetables served with rice, pasta or chapatti.
Meals are served at the accommodation, however some fruit can be provided and you can feel free to make a sandwich upon request if your placement is due to finish after lunch time.
Bottled water is readily available in Tanzania and volunteers should budget approximately $5 per week for 2 liters a day. Filtered water is available at the all accommodation it is volunteer preference if you choose to buy water or use the free filtered water.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know so we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $344 Equivalent to $49/day |
| 2 weeks | $513 Equivalent to $37/day |
| 3 weeks | $737 Equivalent to $35/day |
| 4 weeks | $926 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,125 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,324 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,737 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,165 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,593 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,449 Equivalent to $31/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Independent volunteers under the age of 18 will have an additional cost of US$80 per week added to their program fee to cover extra logistical support provided by the local team.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Tanzania generally find US$75-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
Go off the beaten track with wildly exhilarating Tanzania adventures
From game drives with lion, elephant and rhino to climbing the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and visiting Africa’s ancient tribes - Tanzania offers some of the most awe-inspiring travel opportunities on the planet.
We believe that no volunteer adventure would be complete without experiencing these wonders. That’s why we offer safaris, guided hikes and other tours, exclusively available to IVHQ volunteers as affordable add-ons.
Learn more about Tanzania tours and add-ons
Here are just a few of the Tanzania add-ons we offer:
Get up close to flamingoes or visit the ancient Maasai tribe - perfect for your #IVHQweekends! We offer a range of Maasai Village Tours, as well as trips to Moshi and Bushmen/Eyasi.
We offer a range of incredible safari tours and game drives to suit every schedule and budget across Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks. Safari tours range from one to four days.
Tick something truly epic off your bucket list by climbing Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and also known as the “Mountain of Greatness”. Guided hiking tours range from five to seven days.
How to book IVHQ’s recommended add-ons:
When you apply for an IVHQ volunteer program, make a note of which tours and add-ons you’re interested in on your application form so we can check availability and prices for you.
Once you’ve paid your registration fee, your Program Manager will be able to book your place on the tour(s) you have chosen and help you organize your trip.
See our Tanzania Tours and Recommended Add-ons page for more awesome volunteer travel options in Tanzania.
Check what's required to visit Tanzania
Check out the widget below to find out what the Covid-19 restrictions and visa requirements are for Tanzania, based on your country of residence.
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
| Capital | Dodoma |
| Population | 58 million |
| Languages | Swahili and English |
| Currency | Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 |
Weather and climate
Tanzania is hot throughout the year and is humid on the coast and dry on the central plateau. The heavy rains last from March to June and can make unsealed road travel difficult. The hot, dry weather in January and February attracts the most tourists. The best time to visit the Serengeti is from January to March, when the grazers are calving and there are plenty of lions around. Or witness the wildebeest migration to and from Kenya, which occurs at the onset of the dry season and again with the first rains, usually around the beginning of June and mid-November.
