Where
Nakuru, Kenya
When
Departures every week, all year round (excluding closures or local holidays)
Duration
From 1 week
Accommodation
Shared or private rooms in the volunteer house, with meals included
Language
Basic English is enough
Ideal for
Anyone who enjoys hands-on work, wants to make a real, tangible contribution to the community, and isn't afraid to get stuck in under the Kenyan sun.
Project details
A construction project in the rural heart of Kenya
In Nakuru, many families live in fragile housing, and public buildings like schools, health centres and shared spaces often need urgent maintenance or extension work.
The project exists to meet those real needs: improving living conditions and shared spaces through building, renovation and repair work led by experienced coordinators.
As a volunteer, you'll work alongside local residents on real sites: mixing cement, plastering walls, painting classrooms, repairing roofs or building sanitation systems. Each day looks different, and every wall raised is one more piece of community in place.
No technical skills needed: you'll pick up the basics of masonry, carpentry and painting on the ground, and see how rural communities tackle challenges with creativity and grit.
A grounded experience that gets your hands dirty and means something, leaving behind something solid in the most literal sense.
The project exists to meet those real needs: improving living conditions and shared spaces through building, renovation and repair work led by experienced coordinators.
As a volunteer, you'll work alongside local residents on real sites: mixing cement, plastering walls, painting classrooms, repairing roofs or building sanitation systems. Each day looks different, and every wall raised is one more piece of community in place.
No technical skills needed: you'll pick up the basics of masonry, carpentry and painting on the ground, and see how rural communities tackle challenges with creativity and grit.
A grounded experience that gets your hands dirty and means something, leaving behind something solid in the most literal sense.
Build, renovate and leave a mark
A construction project in the rural heart of Kenya
In Nakuru, many families live in fragile housing, and public buildings like schools, health centres and shared spaces often need urgent maintenance or extension work.
The project exists to meet those real needs: improving living conditions and shared spaces through building, renovation and repair work led by experienced coordinators.
As a volunteer, you'll work alongside local residents on real sites: mixing cement, plastering walls, painting classrooms, repairing roofs or building sanitation systems. Each day looks different, and every wall raised is one more piece of community in place.
No technical skills needed: you'll pick up the basics of masonry, carpentry and painting on the ground, and see how rural communities tackle challenges with creativity and grit.
A grounded experience that gets your hands dirty and means something, leaving behind something solid in the most literal sense.
The project exists to meet those real needs: improving living conditions and shared spaces through building, renovation and repair work led by experienced coordinators.
As a volunteer, you'll work alongside local residents on real sites: mixing cement, plastering walls, painting classrooms, repairing roofs or building sanitation systems. Each day looks different, and every wall raised is one more piece of community in place.
No technical skills needed: you'll pick up the basics of masonry, carpentry and painting on the ground, and see how rural communities tackle challenges with creativity and grit.
A grounded experience that gets your hands dirty and means something, leaving behind something solid in the most literal sense.
Why participate
Build something that lasts
Every wall, every roof repaired, every classroom painted makes a real difference to the families and children of the Nakuru community.
Why participate
Build something that lasts
Every wall, every roof repaired, every classroom painted makes a real difference to the families and children of the Nakuru community.
Learn a hands-on trade
Masonry, carpentry, painting: pick up practical skills working on real sites, guided by experienced local coordinators.
The Weekly Program
Weekdays
From Monday to Friday, days are spent on building and renovation work at the community sites: schools, homes, health centres or shared spaces that need work doing.
The morning starts with a briefing from the coordinator, who hands out the day's tasks. Activities range from prepping materials to laying bricks, plastering, painting, repairing furniture and building sanitation structures.
There's a lunch break midway to refuel. In the afternoon you carry on with site work, around 4–5 hours a day in total. In the evening you head back to the accommodation for dinner and to share the day with the other volunteers.
Weekends are free: you can take it easy, explore the area or organise trips out to the Rift Valley's nature parks.
07:00Breakfast and getting ready for the day
08:30Briefing with the coordinator and start work at the building site
10:30Break and continuing activities: painting, plastering, moving materials
12:00Lunch break and rest during the hottest hours
14:00Back to work in the afternoon on site
18:00Shared dinner at the centre and free time with the other volunteers
Weekend
Weekends are free of set activities. You can explore the area, plan a short trip, or just take it easy with the other volunteers.
Safari at Lake Nakuru National Park
Spot pink flamingos, rhinos and giraffes in one of Kenya's most spectacular parks.
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FAQs
During your stay in Nakuru you'll be based at the volunteer house, a simple but welcoming place set in greenery a few minutes from the south entrance of Lake Nakuru National Park. The house is made up of four units with shared rooms (2–8 people), en-suite bathrooms and common areas to socialise and relax.
For more privacy, private rooms with a private bathroom are also available. The accommodation doesn't have Wi-Fi or air conditioning, but it's set up for a real, grounded experience close to local life. If you'd like to stay connected for messages, calls and maps, we'd suggest using Airalo to buy an eSIM and have it active before you travel. That way you're connected from arrival. You can do that easily here.
Rooms have beds with linen provided, running water, hot showers, a safe and a key. The spaces are cleaned at weekends, but every volunteer is encouraged to keep things tidy.
🛏️ What's included:
- Shared or private rooms
- 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends
- Drinking water available
- Ongoing support from the local team
- Lockbox and lockable rooms
- Quiet, safe setting surrounded by nature
The volunteer house is also a place to gather: you'll live alongside other participants from around the world, sharing experiences, meals and everyday moments in an open, homely atmosphere.
For more privacy, private rooms with a private bathroom are also available. The accommodation doesn't have Wi-Fi or air conditioning, but it's set up for a real, grounded experience close to local life. If you'd like to stay connected for messages, calls and maps, we'd suggest using Airalo to buy an eSIM and have it active before you travel. That way you're connected from arrival. You can do that easily here.
Rooms have beds with linen provided, running water, hot showers, a safe and a key. The spaces are cleaned at weekends, but every volunteer is encouraged to keep things tidy.
🛏️ What's included:
- Shared or private rooms
- 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends
- Drinking water available
- Ongoing support from the local team
- Lockbox and lockable rooms
- Quiet, safe setting surrounded by nature
The volunteer house is also a place to gather: you'll live alongside other participants from around the world, sharing experiences, meals and everyday moments in an open, homely atmosphere.
Your safety is our top priority. All our programmes are carefully chosen and monitored to keep things safe, both at the project sites and at the house that hosts you during your stay.
🔹 Background checks and safe spaces
To keep things calm and safe for everyone, we ask each participant to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent) before travelling. This lets us verify each volunteer's background and protect children and the communities involved in the project. The whole process is online, and we'll guide you through it.
🔹 Trusted local partners
We only work with project sites and communities that offer welcoming, well-organised settings for international volunteers. The accommodation is in safe areas with controlled access, with the local team always on hand. Our partners host more than 2,000 travellers a year worldwide, ages 14 to 70+, and are experienced at managing that mix.
🔹 24/7 support
From your arrival to the end of your trip, the local staff are available, evenings and weekends included. Our UK team is also a WhatsApp message away whenever you need us.
🔹 Briefing and orientation
Before you travel, you'll receive a detailed pack with everything you need on culture, etiquette and safety. On your first day, you'll join an orientation briefing with helpful pointers for getting the most out of the experience.
🔹 A few sensible habits
Kenya is warm and welcoming, but as anywhere it's worth keeping a few things in mind:
✔ Avoid showing valuables or large amounts of cash in public
✔ Travel during daytime hours when you can, especially outside town centres
✔ Always follow the local team's advice and don't head off on your own in areas you don't know
💡 Our aim is to give you a safe, well-supported and welcoming environment, so you can focus on what really matters: a meaningful experience.
🔹 Background checks and safe spaces
To keep things calm and safe for everyone, we ask each participant to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent) before travelling. This lets us verify each volunteer's background and protect children and the communities involved in the project. The whole process is online, and we'll guide you through it.
🔹 Trusted local partners
We only work with project sites and communities that offer welcoming, well-organised settings for international volunteers. The accommodation is in safe areas with controlled access, with the local team always on hand. Our partners host more than 2,000 travellers a year worldwide, ages 14 to 70+, and are experienced at managing that mix.
🔹 24/7 support
From your arrival to the end of your trip, the local staff are available, evenings and weekends included. Our UK team is also a WhatsApp message away whenever you need us.
🔹 Briefing and orientation
Before you travel, you'll receive a detailed pack with everything you need on culture, etiquette and safety. On your first day, you'll join an orientation briefing with helpful pointers for getting the most out of the experience.
🔹 A few sensible habits
Kenya is warm and welcoming, but as anywhere it's worth keeping a few things in mind:
✔ Avoid showing valuables or large amounts of cash in public
✔ Travel during daytime hours when you can, especially outside town centres
✔ Always follow the local team's advice and don't head off on your own in areas you don't know
💡 Our aim is to give you a safe, well-supported and welcoming environment, so you can focus on what really matters: a meaningful experience.
🧭 Orientation day
Your time in Kenya starts with a full day of orientation, designed to help you settle in, get to know the local context and start the experience safely and confidently.
On your first Monday, you'll join a series of activities led by the local team:
- Welcome meeting, programme introduction and house rules
- Practical advice on health, safety and local etiquette
- A short introduction to Kenyan culture, a few words in Swahili and useful local insights
- A walk around the area, with useful info on supermarkets, transport and local SIMs. If you'd rather arrive with an eSIM already active without having to track down a SIM locally, you can buy one before you travel through Airalo, our affiliate partner.
👉 You can do that using this link
- Visit to Nakuru town to pick up any essentials
Orientation is also a chance to start building a sense of group with the other volunteers, share what brought everyone here, and get pointers from people who know the area inside out.
📌 After this introductory day, from Tuesday you'll start the building project. By the end of day one you'll already feel part of a community.
Your time in Kenya starts with a full day of orientation, designed to help you settle in, get to know the local context and start the experience safely and confidently.
On your first Monday, you'll join a series of activities led by the local team:
- Welcome meeting, programme introduction and house rules
- Practical advice on health, safety and local etiquette
- A short introduction to Kenyan culture, a few words in Swahili and useful local insights
- A walk around the area, with useful info on supermarkets, transport and local SIMs. If you'd rather arrive with an eSIM already active without having to track down a SIM locally, you can buy one before you travel through Airalo, our affiliate partner.
👉 You can do that using this link
- Visit to Nakuru town to pick up any essentials
Orientation is also a chance to start building a sense of group with the other volunteers, share what brought everyone here, and get pointers from people who know the area inside out.
📌 After this introductory day, from Tuesday you'll start the building project. By the end of day one you'll already feel part of a community.
For an easy start, we'd recommend booking your flight into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, ideally on Saturday or Sunday morning, between 08:00 and 18:00. That's when our pickup and transfer to Nakuru is running.
If you arrive on Saturday, you'll need to book an extra night at the house (small supplement applies).
If you arrive after 18:00, pickup is still possible with a small extra for out-of-hours transport.
Arriving too early or too late? Not a problem: you can make your own way or arrange a private transfer (with a small supplement). Either way, please send us your flight details as soon as you book so we can help.
On arrival, a member of our team will be at a clearly marked meeting point outside the terminal, with a sign with your name or our local partner's name. All practical info is sent by email after your booking is confirmed.
📱 Useful tip: if you'd like internet from the moment you arrive, you can activate an eSIM before you travel with Airalo, our partner. Use this link.
The drive from the airport to the volunteer house takes about 3 hours, and you may share it with other participants arriving around the same time.
If for any reason you can't spot the team at the meeting point, stay where you are: we'll find you. Emergency contacts are sent after your booking, along with detailed instructions.
🚖 Heading home: return flight tips
When the project finishes, check-out from the volunteer house is by 12:00 on the Saturday. The return transfer to the airport (or anywhere else) isn't included, since there are usually lots of people leaving at different times and only a small coordination team.
That said, our team will happily help you book a taxi or share a private transfer with the others heading back at the same time.
We'd suggest booking your return flight for Saturday afternoon or evening, so you can leave the house in your own time and get to the airport without rushing (about 3 hours by car).
🗓️ If you're carrying on with your trip elsewhere, let us know in advance and we'll share useful tips so your departure goes smoothly.
💡 Once your booking is confirmed, we'll email you a detailed pre-departure pack with all the practical info and emergency contacts.
If you arrive on Saturday, you'll need to book an extra night at the house (small supplement applies).
If you arrive after 18:00, pickup is still possible with a small extra for out-of-hours transport.
Arriving too early or too late? Not a problem: you can make your own way or arrange a private transfer (with a small supplement). Either way, please send us your flight details as soon as you book so we can help.
On arrival, a member of our team will be at a clearly marked meeting point outside the terminal, with a sign with your name or our local partner's name. All practical info is sent by email after your booking is confirmed.
📱 Useful tip: if you'd like internet from the moment you arrive, you can activate an eSIM before you travel with Airalo, our partner. Use this link.
The drive from the airport to the volunteer house takes about 3 hours, and you may share it with other participants arriving around the same time.
If for any reason you can't spot the team at the meeting point, stay where you are: we'll find you. Emergency contacts are sent after your booking, along with detailed instructions.
🚖 Heading home: return flight tips
When the project finishes, check-out from the volunteer house is by 12:00 on the Saturday. The return transfer to the airport (or anywhere else) isn't included, since there are usually lots of people leaving at different times and only a small coordination team.
That said, our team will happily help you book a taxi or share a private transfer with the others heading back at the same time.
We'd suggest booking your return flight for Saturday afternoon or evening, so you can leave the house in your own time and get to the airport without rushing (about 3 hours by car).
🗓️ If you're carrying on with your trip elsewhere, let us know in advance and we'll share useful tips so your departure goes smoothly.
💡 Once your booking is confirmed, we'll email you a detailed pre-departure pack with all the practical info and emergency contacts.
Book your spot
1
Send your application (free)
Pick the project you like the look of and tell us when you'd like to travel. No commitment, the application is free and non-binding.
2
Meet your coordinator
After your application, we'll put you in touch with your dedicated coordinator. They'll walk you through everything and answer your questions.
3
Confirm your spot
When you're ready, pay the deposit to lock in your spot. You'll get everything you need: local contacts, a visa guide and your pre-trip pack.
4
Off you go
Pack your bag and travel. On arrival you'll find other travellers like you, a welcoming local team, and a trip you'll be talking about for a while.
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