Volunteer Abroad

Charity work abroad - in Asia, Africa, Latin America, & Europe

International volunteering opportunities

Welcome to Global Village, our short-term overseas volunteering programme. Our opportunities to volunteer abroad are nothing short of life-changing experiences. You will have a unique chance to directly contribute to Habitat for Humanity’s work on the ground. If you are looking to challenge yourself, you've come to the right place. We have an expert team of builders and volunteer coordinators who will help you make it all possible - from fundraising to laying bricks.

Upcoming volunteer trips

Volunteer in Nepal

23 Sept. - 2 Oct. 2018

Based at the foothills of the Himalayas in Kavre, you’ll join a group of volunteers in helping families build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.

Home construction

We help build strong, resilient communities that can weather any storm (from cyclones to joblessness) by providing skills and financial training as well as not-for-profit loans.

Typical activities will include:

Pouring concrete
Laying foundations
Brick laying
Plastering
Painting

Disaster recovery

Build back stronger after a disaster and learn about Habitat’s work to increase stability and reduce risks.

About 10 percent of urban dwellers in Nepal are squatters and the number is set to rise. With more than half a million houses destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes, the need for decent housing has become even more pressing.

Volunteer in Mexico

20th Oct. - 30th Oct. 2018

Join us in Chiapas, Mexico where you'll be part of a group of volunteers helping vulnerable families build their homes.

Home construction

We help build strong, resilient communities that can weather any storm (from cyclones to joblessness) by providing skills and financial training as well as not-for-profit loans.

Typical activities will include:

Pouring concrete
Laying foundations
Brick laying
Plastering
Painting

Volunteer in India

24 Nov. - 2 Dec. 2018

Join us in Mumbai, India where we'll be building safe homes for tribal communities in the Karjat Area.

Home construction

Help build new homes with the support of local community leaders and the families who need them.

Typical activities include:

Mud Trampling
Bricklaying
Sand Loading
Basement Earth
Digging
Painting

Volunteer in India Women Build

2 March. - 10 March. 2019

Join our Women Build in Pondicherry, India where women from all walks of life will come together to help vulnerable families build safe homes.

Women Build

A team of women will build in India for our annual Women Build. This will be an incredible opportunity to join women from all walks of life, to build a world where everyone has a safe place to call home.

Women Build engages volunteers abroad and future community leaders to address economic challenges that women face because they lack opportunity, training or education.

Women from all walks of life advocate for affordable housing and safer, stronger communities, particularly in areas where women are at risk for physical harm while performing daily chores.

Home Construction

Help build new homes with the support of local community leaders and the families who need them.

Typical activities include:

Brick Laying
Cement mixing
Sand Sieving
Concreting
Roofing

Volunteer in Jordan Easter Build

13 April. - 22 April. 2019

Volunteer in Ammar Ben Yasser, Jordan this Easter. You'll join a diverse team of volunteers build self-reliance through shelter.

Home Construction

Help build new homes with the support of local community leaders and the families who need them.

Typical activities include:

Mixing and pouring concrete for foundations, roofs, and floors
Bricklaying
Flooring
Plastering
Painting

Volunteer in Zambia

22 June. - 30 June. 2019

Help families and vulnerable children in Kawbe, Zambia by joining a group of diverse volunteers to build safe, secure homes.

Vulnerable Children

Children are exposed daily to life-threatening environments. Poorly constructed houses are a huge security and health risk to children, leaving them defenceless against any damp conditions, insects or other intruders.

Decent housing in urban areas remains unattainable and unaffordable for most people. Most struggle to afford the frequent necessary repairs to their mud and grass thatched roof homes.

Through the construction of safe, secure homes this project strives to improve the living conditions for vulnerable children and their families.

Home Construction

Help build new homes with the support of local community leaders and the families who need them.

Typical activities include:

Mixing mortar
Painting roof timber
Breaking blocks
Compacting house floors
Fixing door frames
Laying bricks
Building new walls

The sense of community, respect, hard work and support that we experienced is something I will treasure forever. It is an experience of a lifetime.Gill, India

The feeling of pure joy and happiness knowing you have changed people’s lives just by giving up 10 days of your life is indescribable… You wanted to be the difference, to make a change, to light up someone’s life.Georgina, Cambodia

My time in Malawi was an emotional roller coaster - building relationships with all of the families and children was wonderful. They were all so welcoming and friendly. Our team was also fantastic and I’ve made friends for life.Chris, Malawi

It is the noblest act of selflessness - to come to a strange country and help complete strangers to make the world a bit more just.George, Romania

It expands your heart to realise that we all share the need for a home and to make a home for others.Manuela, India

Your impact worldwide

Every year, our volunteers participating in charity work abroad help build dozens of new homes and send well over £200,000 in raised donations as part of their volunteer trip costs (fundraised or not).

For the families we work with, you are valuable reminder that compassionate people regularly go out of their way to help them break the cycle of poverty. Join our mission to build resilient communities that can weather any storm (from cyclones to joblessness). Our work carries on well beyond home construction, as we provide skills and financial training to empower local communities.

Cold feet vs itchy feet?

From “I’m not a manual person” to “I can’t possibly build a house”, the most beautiful thing for us is seeing volunteers suddenly realise that they are capable of so much more than what they think.

Believe us, you can do anything you set your mind to. Jimmy Carter, the 93 year old former US president, has been building with us nearly every year for the past 40 years.

How it works

Contact a team leader - ask any questions you may have and he/she will get back to you shortly

Register for a build - you'll have to pay the registration fee after which you'll receive information to help you prepare for the build

Start fundraising - we'll provide you with support and tips to successfully reach your target

Why build with us?

Today, 1.6 billion people live in slums and informal settlements where the walls aren’t sturdy enough, doors are missing and roofs are leaking. Whether you're headed to Africa, Latin America or anywhere else, every short-term volunteer trip includes a donation which helps us pay for local workers to build homes all year round. As well as helping to create local jobs, you provide a crucial boost to our productivity - allowing us to build more homes at a faster pace than ever.

FAQs

Our volunteer abroad programme is unique, because we put you in touch with an active project. Check out these FAQs to understand how we create longlasting impact...

Fundraising resources

We're constantly developing new material to help you raise the money needed to take part in your volunteer trip abroad and create a successful fundraiser...

Corporate volunteering

Every day local builders across the world are building homes, creating local jobs and boosting the economy. Your company can be a part of the solution too...

Wondering how to get started or how volunteering abroad works?
Thinking about joining a short-term volunteer trip?

Get in touch with us and we will be there to support you along the way — introducing you to the Team Leader, setting up your fundraising page and helping with you reach your target.

Your Team Leader will be able to help you as you start to prepare. We have also online resources that will be useful as you embark on your journey.