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Construction & Renovation: Cape Verde

Construction & Renovation: Cape Verde is a volunteer placement in Tarrafal, from $570 a week per person with a $350 deposit. You renovate village schools — painting, repairing and restoring — so students learn in better conditions. Stays run 1-12 weeks and suit travellers aged 18-38. Start dates run from 11 October 2026.

  • 18 Meals (Vegetarian Options)
  • All Transport & Accommodation
  • Airport Transfer (Arrivals)
  • No Hidden Charges or Application Fees
  • Meet volunteers from all over the world
  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Airport Transfer (Departing)

A truly magical experience. I made amazing friends from around the world and felt proud of the work we did. It’s a chance to reflect, grow, and live differently for a while. It can be challenging at times but absolutely life changing. Highly recommended.

Cristel Rogers, Netherlands 22
from$570Per Week
Pay $350 deposit
  • Length1-12 Weeks
  • Starting PointTarrafal
  • Ending PointTarrafal
  • Airport TransferPick-up only
  • Avg. Group Size6-20
  • Avg. Age18-38
  • No. Of Activities30
  • No. Of Meals18

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Map

Map for Construction & Renovation: Cape Verde

Program

Four smiling women, one seated at a table, three standing, enjoying a friendly gathering indoors.
Stunning Cape Verde bay with turquoise water, a golden beach, and arid mountains.
A person sits on a stone wall, looking at a white church with an orange roof in Terrafal.
A simple bedroom with two single wooden beds, white sheets, and two standing fans.
Day 1

Welcome to your New Home

Get ready to be greeted with a warm Cape Verdean welcome by our transfer coordinator! Picture this: You step off the plane and make your way to the meeting point, where our coordinator will be eagerly awaiting your arrival. From there, they'll whisk you away to your accommodation while filling you in on all the exciting adventures in store for the next few days. It's the perfect start to your Cape Verde adventure!

  • Meals IncludedBrunch, Dinner
  • Room TypeVolunteer House
  • Activities IncludedAirport Transfer
A young woman kneels, painting numbers onto a vibrant rocket-shaped hopscotch game on concrete ground.
A volunteer sands a red table, preparing it for painting as part of a renovation project.
Three volunteers sweeping debris from a red-walled room during a renovation project.
Colorful school building with cartoon murals, a blue door, and red base, awaiting renovation.
A person paints the exterior of a bright pink building with a long-handled roller, surrounded by debris.
A smiling woman in a dark shirt working on a damaged wall with a yellow object.
Volunteers paint yellow furniture and walls in a bright classroom with children's decorations.
Day 2 - 6

Construction & Renovation

Your work may involve tasks where you will be able to help to create a positive learning environment in a local school. The project involves hard physical and manual labour, as you will be laying bricks, doing carpentry, painting, laying tiles, and landscaping / gardening. We may also involve you in renovating buildings, painting, repairing the furniture, fixing equipment and so on. This programme requires you to be hands on and flexible in your duties!

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Room TypeVolunteer House
  • Activities IncludedBuilding, Painting, Gardening, Doing Carpentry, Repairing
A vibrant street scene in Cape Verde with colorful buildings, parked cars, and a red taxi.
Women and men sort fresh fish and fishing nets on a busy beach by a calm bay.
A woman in a white headwrap sews colorful fabric at a machine in a Cape Verde market.
Four smiling women pose on a dark sand beach with mountains and fishing boats.
Day 7

Choose Your Own Adventure!

The weekend is time for you to spread your wings a little, if you’re up for it. We’ve equipped you with some language basics, introduced you to the local cuisine…now lets see where that can get you! You’re free to organise any adventure you care to, or simply chill ahead of the volunteer work. We can offer advice on where to go, if you need it.

  • Meals IncludedBreakfast

Starting Dates

Pick from a choice of 5 programs to add to your first week of volunteering.

Optional Extras

$480
$960
$1440
$430
$860
$1100
$1650
$495
$750

Construction & Renovation: Cape Verde

Make a lasting impact on local communities by enhancing school environments through hands-on tasks like bricklaying, carpentry, painting, and landscaping. Unleash your creativity to beautify school surroundings, guided by a local coordinator. Enjoy this rewarding, action-packed experience while supporting students and fostering positive learning spaces.

The Program

Lend a hand in transforming village schools around Tarrafal, fostering improved learning environments for students. From renovating libraries to playgrounds, we provide resources and support wherever needed. Be a part of positive change in education.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prepare mentally?

Come with an open mind and realistic expectations. Life on a volunteer project is simpler and slower than at home: shared rooms, basic facilities, heat and humidity, and a culture with its own customs. Everyone feels a little out of place at first, and that is normal.

Before you travel, read the programme information we send you. When you arrive, the local team introduces you to the project, the house rules and local customs, and they are there to talk to if you feel homesick or unsure. Most volunteers find the first few days are the hardest, and the rest flies by.

How old do I have to be?

We accept participants aged from 16 and above. Participants under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. There is no upper age limit however, we recommend participants to check with the program options that are available.

Do I need to be fit/in shape for my project?

We should always be healthy and maintain our fitness. However, it depends on the project you choose and you should always be ready to work.

What should I wear? Is there a dress code?

Nothing formal. Pack modest, practical clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. On teaching and kindergarten projects, wear neat, casual clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. On construction and conservation projects, wear hard-wearing clothes and closed shoes you do not mind ruining, plus a hat and light long sleeves for the sun. Vest tops and short shorts are not allowed while you are working.

Away from the project, dress with respect for local customs, especially in villages and at religious sites. Your coordinator will tell you about any local rules when you arrive.

Is airport transfer part of the package?

Your arrival transfer is included. You will be met at the airport and taken to your accommodation, so there is nothing to arrange for the journey in.

The departure transfer at the end, from your accommodation back to the airport, is not included. You can add it as an optional extra in your account, or make your own way.

Once you have booked your flights, log in to your account and add them under Flight Details so we know when you are landing.

What type of food can I expect?

We're all about serving up tasty veggie and non-veggie dishes, made with simple, fresh, and local ingredients. We've got your allergies covered, so no worries there. We've got you sorted with three yummy meals on weekdays, and two awesome meals on Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays.