School Building and Gardening Volunteering in Swaziland

What is School Building & Garden Volunteering all about?

Join us and assist the local project manager with school building and gardening volunteering in Swaziland and help with the development of 7 pre-schools provided for vulnerable children in semi rural communities.  The project has changed in scope from building the main classrooms to providing each school with a stand for the giant jojo (water) barrel, building store rooms for kitchen supplies, building latrines for students and staff, erecting sheltered play areas and playgrounds. In addition, as the schools also provide food for the children digging, planting trees for long term nutritional needs are also important duties.  This includes cementing water points and redirecting water supply to meet the needs of the pre-school..  As with many building placements abroad maintenance tasks and painting are also needed to help improve the school grounds and the playgrounds.  

It is a great placement that ensures that the pre-schools are well provided for and are maintained to a good standard so why join us in Swaziland and literally help to build better futures.

Why choose this Community Volunteering in Swaziland project?

As a building volunteer you will contribute to the completion of structures in the community pre-schools as well as maintaining the pre-school grounds.  This practical help is needed as work is labour intensive.  Local people may help you at times on a volunteer basis so it is a good opportunity to practice your Siswati and learn about the local culture.  The benefits to the community are obvious as children are provided with a safe, interesting and sustainable place to play and study.  This project caters to volunteers wanting to make a difference but also to groups who want to be involved in larger scale building or practical projects.

Role of the Building & Garden volunteer

As a volunteer on the build a future program you will be at the pre-schools in the communities, building and maintaining structures for orphaned and vulnerable children.  Typical tasks you may be involved with include:

• making local bricks and building school structures such as sheltered play areas, store rooms and where it is needed and resources are available, an extra classroom
• preparing land for planting crops
• planting trees and crops to satisfy short term and long term nutrition needs at the pre-school
• maintaining classrooms, fences and erecting storage cupboards
• painting play structures and murals
• cementing water sources and redirecting water supply within the school grounds

You will use local techniques of making mud bricks, then lay foundations, complete plastering, flooring, windows, doors and roofing under the supervision and direction of a local builder. The work that you will be asked to help with is dependent on the phase of construction at the time of your placement, so be prepared to get involved in a range of activities.  You may not build all day as this can be very tiring so you will be asked to help with projects such as homework club instead.

What skills do I need to be a Building & Garden Volunteer in Swaziland?

The main skills required are to be reasonably fit as this is a physical placement and have the motivation to get stuck in.  You will be shown how to use all of the equipment so don’t worry if you have never done anything like this before – you will learn a whole new skill set!  Those with particular building, plumbing, electrical and carpentry skills will be a great asset to the project.  You must be culturally sensitive and enjoy working with others, as you will be part of a team.  You will be asked to send your CV/resume before being accepted onto this project and those with a positive attitude are sure to enjoy this placement.

Travel during COVID times

The health and safety of our travelers and our local communities remain central to our plans for reopening countries and projects. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been adapting our programs and protocols to protect all those involved, and ask for everyone’s patience and collaboration as new rules are implemented in-country. For all projects, new standards of sanitation, procedures and social behaviors are in place, including new health and hygiene protocols and social distancing practices. You can read more here. Each location may be slightly different in the way they operate. We encourage you to inquire to your placement advisor to learn more about your specific project as you plan for your responsible return to travel!

Read all about our project reopening response to COVID-19

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