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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to volunteer in construction and renovation in Nairobi, Kenya? Our Travel Roots construction and renovation programs are perfect hands on volunteering to help build safe and healthy futures for the communities of Nairobi.
Many schools and care centres in Kenya operate with crumbling infrastructure or no facilities at all—lacking proper classrooms, libraries, dormitories, and sanitation. This building and renovation program gives you the chance to roll up your sleeves and help transform these spaces into safe, functional environments for learning and care.
Based in Nairobi, you’ll work alongside local builders and community members to construct new homes, classrooms, repair school kitchens, or renovate dormitories and bathrooms. No prior construction experience is needed—just a willingness to learn, get hands-on, and be part of something truly tangible.
You’ll see your impact in bricks, walls, and roofs—but even more so in the smiles of the people who will benefit from your work every day.
Key Activities:
Assist with bricklaying, painting, roofing, or plastering
Help build classrooms, latrines, kitchens, or dormitories
Renovate existing structures to make them safer and more usable
Work alongside skilled local builders and fellow volunteers
Learn basic construction techniques and contribute to lasting change
This is one of our most physically active programs—perfect for those who want to leave a visible, lasting mark.
By volunteering on our Building and Renovation program, you will:
Help construct and improve essential facilities in schools and care centres
Gain hands-on experience in building, renovation, and teamwork
Support local communities through meaningful, long-term infrastructure projects
See the direct impact of your efforts in safer, stronger learning environments
Work outdoors, stay active, and connect with locals through shared goals
What to Expect: A Day in the Life of a Building and Renovation Volunteer
Your days will be physical, rewarding, and full of teamwork. You’ll work with local builders and community members, helping to bring important infrastructure to life—brick by brick.
7:30 AM – Breakfast & Travel to Site
Start your day with breakfast at your homestay before heading to the building site with your team.8:30 AM – Morning Construction Work Begins
Join the local crew in tasks like digging foundations, mixing cement, laying bricks, painting, or sanding surfaces—depending on the project stage.11:00 AM – Short Break & Hydration
Pause for a well-earned break with water and snacks, then resume your work for a couple more hours.1:00 PM – Lunch Break
Return to your homestay or eat with fellow volunteers and staff near the site. Refuel and rest up for the afternoon session.2:30 PM – Afternoon Session
Continue with lighter tasks such as painting, final fittings, or clean-up. This is often the most collaborative part of the day.4:30 PM – Site Clean-Up & Debrief
Tidy up tools, materials, and workspaces. Discuss the day’s progress and prepare for the next day’s goals.Evenings & Days Off
Evenings are for relaxing, journaling, or spending time with your host family. On weekends, explore Nairobi or take day trips to national parks or nearby cultural sites.Your Impact as a Volunteer
In many parts of Kenya, the biggest barrier to education isn’t a lack of teachers—it’s a lack of infrastructure. As a building and renovation volunteer, you’ll help provide safe, functional, and dignified spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
Whether you’re laying the foundation for a new classroom or painting the walls of a care home, your work will directly improve daily life for the people who use those spaces. You’re not just building walls—you’re building opportunity, stability, and pride in communities that are working hard to uplift themselves.
Your contribution will be visible, lasting, and deeply appreciated.
This is grassroots impact you can stand on—literally.
Your Home in Nairobi
During your stay, you'll live with a welcoming local host family in a safe residential area of Nairobi. This is a unique chance to immerse yourself in daily Kenyan life—sharing meals, stories, and traditions that give real depth to your experience.
Rooms are simple, comfortable, and shared with one or two other volunteers. All homes are vetted, secure, and located within commuting distance of your school placement.
What’s Included:
Shared room with a mosquito net and bedding
Access to a private or shared bathroom
Three home-cooked meals daily (vegetarian options available)
Filtered drinking water, tea, and snacks
Access to laundry facilities (self-service or for a small local fee)
Basic Wi-Fi or internet access nearby
Evenings are often spent relaxing with your host family, playing games with the children, or learning how to cook a traditional Kenyan dish. It's a true cultural exchange and a warm place to return to at the end of each meaningful day.
History
Born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, this grassroots initiative began as a local response to growing hardship in Nairobi’s most vulnerable communities. As job losses and economic instability swept through the area, the founders stepped in to provide food parcels, clean water, and hygiene essentials—mobilising quickly through local networks and international support.
What started as emergency relief soon evolved into something deeper: a platform where people could offer their time, skills, and compassion to lift others up. By 2023, the initiative was officially registered as a nonprofit organisation, opening the door to long-term development and volunteer-led projects that continue to grow each year.
Mission & Vision
The mission is to empower communities by providing practical, affordable, and sustainable solutions to local challenges—through volunteering, training, and shared resources.
Their vision is to create self-reliant individuals and resilient communities by equipping people with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities needed for lasting transformation. Every project is built on a foundation of respect, accountability, compassion, and local collaboration—ensuring that change comes from within, and stays long after the volunteers have gone.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fees
Duration Fee (EUR) Daily Equivalent
1 week €252 €36.00/day
2 weeks €354 €25.29/day
3 weeks €475 €22.62/day
4 weeks €586 €20.93/day
5 weeks €698 €19.94/day
6 weeks €810 €19.29/day
8 weeks €1,024 €18.29/day
10 weeks €1,257 €17.96/day
12 weeks €1,490 €17.74/day
Payment Terms
Program fees are due 30 days before your start date
If applying within 30 days, full payment is due within 48 hours of confirmation
What’s Included
✔️ Homestay accommodation with a vetted local family
✔️ Three traditional meals daily
✔️ Airport pickup and drop-off
✔️ Orientation, placement, and in-country support
✔️ All volunteer activities
✔️ Pre-departure support and cultural guidance✔️ Welcome pack with all the essential and helpful information
✔️ Certificate of completion at the end of your placement
✔️ Full support before, during, and after your program
✔️ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✔️ And so much more...
Your Investment in Infrastructure & Long-Term Change
Every brick you help lay, every classroom you help repair, directly contributes to the future of a community. Your program fee helps fund the materials, tools, and skilled labor needed to create safe, lasting structures that serve generations to come.
Your program fees help directly support:
Building materials and renovation tools for schools and care centres
Skilled labor and construction team support
In-country transport to and from work sites
Safe housing, daily meals, and volunteer coordination
Long-term infrastructure improvements in underserved communities
Where You’ll Be – Nairobi, the Beating Heart of Kenya
Your teaching placement will be based in Nairobi, Kenya’s dynamic and fast-growing capital city. Known for its unique blend of modern life and cultural tradition, Nairobi offers a rich, immersive experience for volunteers. From busy markets and street vendors to lush green parks and cultural centres, the city has a rhythm that is all its own.
You’ll be staying in a quiet residential neighbourhood, a short commute from your school placement. Despite the fast pace of the city, the area where you'll live is calm, welcoming, and perfect for soaking up day-to-day life in Kenya.
Nairobi also provides a gateway to wildlife and adventure—you’re never far from national parks, giraffe sanctuaries, or local cafés serving Kenya’s famous chai and street food.
Kenya – A Nation of Culture, Contrast & Community
Kenya is known across the globe for its dramatic landscapes, world-class safaris, and deeply rooted cultures. But beyond the wildlife and wilderness lies a country full of warmth, resilience, and vibrant community life.
You’ll find a rich blend of languages, traditions, and daily customs—from the Swahili phrases spoken in the streets to the generosity of a shared meal. Kenya’s people are its greatest strength—welcoming, curious, and eager to engage.
Whether you're wandering through Nairobi's Maasai Market, hiking the Ngong Hills, or learning to cook chapati with your host family, every day brings something new to discover. With its tropical climate, friendly communities, and growing social initiatives, Kenya is an unforgettable place to live, learn, and contribute.
When you’re not teaching, Nairobi and its surrounding regions offer a mix of cultural, urban, and nature-based experiences. Whether you want to explore the city’s vibrant heart or get away to the wilderness, there’s something for every type of traveller.
Giraffe Centre – 30 mins away
Meet and feed endangered Rothschild giraffes at this conservation centre in Lang’ata.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust – 30 mins away
Visit orphaned baby elephants and learn about their rescue and rehabilitation journey.
Maasai Market – 20 mins away
Shop for local crafts, beadwork, textiles, and souvenirs while practicing your Swahili bargaining skills.
Karura Forest – 25 mins away
Take a walk or bike ride through this peaceful urban forest, complete with waterfalls and picnic areas.
Nairobi National Park – 40 mins away
Spot lions, rhinos, and giraffes against the city skyline in one of the world’s only national parks located within a capital city.
Cultural Food Tour – within Nairobi
Taste Kenya’s favourite dishes—like ugali, sukuma wiki, and nyama choma—at local eateries and markets.
Day Trips to Ngong Hills or Lake Naivasha – 1–2 hours away
Enjoy sweeping views from hilltops or relax by a crater lake, perfect for weekend escapes.
Live Music & Arts – Nairobi city centre
Catch an evening of local music, theatre, or spoken word at creative venues around the city.
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