Cape Verde – Village School Renovation

Help in a village to renovate and improve the learning environments for local village students! Your work will allow these underprivileged students to receive the education they need in a comfortable learning setting.

 

Program Highlights:

  • Take part in meaningful work to improve the local community and their education system
  • See the impact of your renovation efforts
  • Take a basic, Portuguese-based Creole language lesson
  • Live a ten-minute walk from beautiful beaches and the cobalt blue sea
  • Work with a program coordinator to plan each day of the project to your liking
  • You can enhance your Cape Verde experience by adding our Cape Verde Culture Week to it (see additional options below).

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Praia International Airport (RAI). You will be picked up by the local team and taken to the accommodations to meet fellow volunteers and settle in.

Day 1, Monday: The week will begin with an important orientation day. During this orientation, volunteers will learn about the local area, including Cape Verde traditions, the house rules and the code of conduct. This day will also include fun activities such as a basic, Portuguese-based Creole language lesson, a tour of the town, a traditional lunch and a visit to Mar de President Beach.

Days 2-5, Tuesday-Friday: After having breakfast each morning, you will work with your coordinator to plan the project for the day. After planning your day, you will then set out to the project location to engage in your daily tasks. During this time at the project site, you will work alongside other participants to follow the instructions of your coordinator at the project.Some of your tasks may include laying bricks, laying tiles, painting, restoring furniture and/or gardening.

Days 6-7, Saturday-Sunday: Volunteers staying only one week will depart on Saturday. The weekend is free for volunteers who are extending to spend how they wish.

Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the pattern of volunteering Monday-Friday and having weekends free. Departures are on a Saturday.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Tarrafal, Cape Verde

Project length Project length: Min 2 weeks – Max 8 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Praia International Airport (RAI)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work: Renovation, painting

Age Age:  18-60. (This project may accept volunteers who are younger than 18 years old with a letter of consent from a parent or guardian, and those above 60 with doctor’s approval.)

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 20 international volunteers

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared, dorm-style rooms

Food Food: Three meals during the week, two meals on weekends

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers: Airport pickup is provided upon arrival

Orientation Orientation: we provide Orientation on the first Monday, which includes a basic language lesson and walking tour of the surrounding area.

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, lunches on weekends, personal expenses.

The picturesque islands of Cape Verde were initially uninhabited until the Portuguese discovered it during the 15th century. Portuguese is still the official language of the tropical African country.

They named the city of Tarrafal after the indigenous plant of the area. This municipality is on the northern part of the island of Santiago. There is a bustling fishing port along the northwestern coast, as the location is perfect for the resupplying of ships.

 

Volunteer to improve the local educational facilities in a community that needs your help. Work alongside a dedicated project coordinator and other volunteers to renovate the local village schools in order to provide a more comfortable learning environment for the students. Each day, you will plan your tasks as you see fit and work to complete them with other volunteers at the program.

Some of your tasks may include:

  • Laying bricks
  • Laying tiles
  • Painting
  • Restoring furniture
  • Gardening

Internet icon Internet: Wi-Fi is available in public areas.

Laundry icon Laundry: There are laundry facilities nearby that volunteers may use for a small fee.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in shared, single-gender, dorm-style rooms. Bathrooms are shared and Western-style toilets are available. There will be 4 to 8 volunteers per room, with clean bed linens and fans. There is no air conditioning within the facility and volunteers must bring their own towels with them for showering. Couples must upgrade to a private room for an additional fee.

Food icon Food: During the week, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided. Expect the meals to contain a mix of local cuisine and Western food. On weekends, two meals (breakfast and dinner) will be provided. There is plenty of clean drinking water and other beverages available.

 

  • Basic level of English
  • Police clearance
  • Good level of physical fitness
  • Immunizations (please consult your doctor)
  • All participants must bring along with them 4-5 COVID-19 self-test kits (average 1 per week) to cover their stay.

During your free time, take the time to explore the local culture and Portuguese influence. Partake in church activities or attend local football games to foster interaction between the locals for entertainment.

Take a day to relax on the beautiful Tarrafel Beach and in the cobalt blue sea. Plan a trip to Praia does Tarrafel with soft sand and beautiful mountain views or relax on a bay with white sand beaches and snacks. Take a tour of the vibrant island of Santiago. If you are looking for a little more adventure, then consider exploring the various outdoor activities, nature hikes and parks.

We highly recommend enhancing your experience by adding our Cape Verde Culture Week (see additional options below). This is a fun week that includes food, accommodation, local tours and Creole language classes.

 

Volunteer Experiences

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