Construction and Renovation Project in Madagascar, Nosy Be
This beautiful island nation is the best place to work on our construction and renovation project. Come to explore this country and participate along with the local people to renovate, build, and beautify their schools to create aesthetic institutions which will add value to the quality of education of the children. To nurture your latent talent towards creative usage of local resources in providing a better landscape for the local community.
To book an activity with us we require you to participate for a minimum of two weeks. Therefore, you would need to book a quantity of two for this activity, unless you choose a separate activity to go with it. See the ‘Related trips…’ section for more options.
Construction and Renovation Project in Madagascar, Nosy Be
The Construction and Renovation project at Nosy Be supports small communities in and around the island. It aims to build and renovate school buildings that are essential for the growth and development of the children along with the local community. You will work under a local coordinator who will provide you with guidance and training to work alongside the local families and other participants. The project involves hard physical and manual labour since you will be laying bricks, doing carpentry, painting, waterproofing, laying tiles, landscaping/gardening, as well as, improving the community’s hygiene and sanitation facilities.
CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) Check
It is required that participants complete a CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to take part in this project. We can provide this service for you at an additional cost because some people may already have one that is valid (please get in touch for more details).
Start dates are every week of the year with your activities starting on a Monday. We therefore request you arrive from 08:00 to 20:00 on the Sunday before to receive a free airport pick-up and transfer. Early or late arrivals will incur an additional charge for the transfer and extra night including food, so arriving on the Sunday will be your better option.
Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation.
Program Duration & Availability
Min duration (weeks): 1
Aims & Objectives
Schedule
Monday to Friday
You will begin with a meeting with the coordinator, discussing what is required during your stay at the project. The focus is on light construction work and you will be expected to help paint the school buildings, make tables and chairs, construct and renovate the playground, make pathways, build toilets, repair the school wall and help build new classrooms. Construction and renovation work is available in more places when required in the local area.
Additional Requirements
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all participants arriving in Madagascar.
Participants below 18 should have parental consent and participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program.
Additional Equipment
No specific equipment required for this program.
Location
Nosy is an island off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be is Madagascar’s largest and busiest tourist destination. It has an area of 320.02 square kilometres and its population was estimated at 73,010. Nosy Be means “big island” in the Malagasy language. The island was called Assada during the early colonial era of the 17th century. Here you’ll find volcanic lakes, lemurs, rum distilleries, Ylang Ylang plantations and breathtaking coral reefs that are practically begging to be explored. In May, come to experience the four-day Donia Music Festival. Perfectly located on the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia, Nosy-Be evokes feelings of discovery and adventure, the rich and endemic biodiversity will have begging for more. There are many spots that are perfect for ones who seek a golden opportunity to swim among turtles, stingrays or manta rays.
Accommodation & Food
In our centre, there is a dining room, a lounge area where you can hang out with fellow participants and a beautiful garden to relax. A balcony and large roof terrace is also available for you to spend some quality time. Furthermore, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.
Available Room Types
|
|
Standard Room |
|
All meals included |
Yes * |
|
Free beverages |
Yes ** |
|
Persons per room |
4 -6 |
|
Wifi in public areas |
No |
|
Laundry facilities |
Yes *** |
|
Safety box |
No |
|
Lockable rooms |
Yes |
|
Hot shower |
No |
|
Private bathroom |
No |
|
Bed linen |
Yes |
|
Towels |
No |
|
Air conditioning |
No |
|
Fan |
Yes |
|
Mosquito protection |
Yes |
* Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends
** Water
*** At an additional fee
Food Arrangements
The meals are a mix of Western and Malagasy food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice a week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants at your own expense.
Facilities
ATM – The closest ATM to the Centre is about 15-20 minutes away by bus or Tuk-Tuk from the accommodation.
Supermarket – The closest local supermarket is around 15-20 minutes away by bus or Tuk-Tuk from the accommodation.
Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
Welcome, introduction to Madagascar and the team, House rules, Dos and Don’ts, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
Introduction about the neighbourhood and prices for taxi, tuk-tuk etc.
Visit Ambatloka to get SIM Cards and visit the market area
Lunch
Malagasy Language lesson
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
You can get sun-drenched all year-round, and Nosy Be is a paradise for aqua activities. Nosy Be offers you a variety of activities which you can engage in your free time. The golden beaches are the highlights of Nosy be where you can swim, snorkel or even if you want to just sit back and enjoy the sunshine. Some of the beaches are namely,
Palm Beach
Andilana Beach
Ambatoloaka Beach
Andilana Beach
Nature enthusiasts and adventure lovers certainly find happiness around Nosy Be. Diurnal and nocturnal endemic lemur species, unique bird species, reptiles or indigenous plants and animals can be spotted among these breathtaking landscapes during your Nosy-Be weekend getaways. Please note that in Madagascar, the cyclone season is from January until April
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Accommodation
Volunteer camp with shared rooms (4-6 people per room); Basic but comfortable; Shared toilet and shower facilities; Communal areas for socialising and a beautiful garden to relax. A balcony and large roof terrace is also available for you to spend some quality time.
Food
3 meals a day are provided.
Airport Transfer
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early/late. You be supported at the end of your trip in your onward travel.
Training
A full orientation and project induction takes place. You will also receive full training relevant to your volunteer role.
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Visas
- Vaccinations
- Spending money
- In country travel
- Laundry service
- Extra activities not on itinerary
- Departure transfer
Preferred Duration
This programme is a minimum of one week long. There is generally no preferred duration but we believe that the longer you can stay the more you will experience and benefit.
Pre-requisites
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all participants arriving in Madagascar.
Participants below 18 should have parental consent and participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program. It is important that you can speak English. All participants require a CRB check to take part in the project activities.
Ideal for
- Holidays and Placements in communities
- Work and Activity Breaks in Madagascar
- Volunteer Gap Years and Career Breaks in Madagascar
- Student Summer Holidays in Madagascar
- Gap year construction work
- Building projects abroad, building work experience, building and construction
Suitable for ages 18 to 60
Most participants are between 18 and 25, so please be aware of this. We do welcome older people because of the value and experience they bring to the community. Participants below 18 should have parental consent and participants above 65 should have medical clearance to take part in this program.
Related trips...
Lemur Conservation Project in Madagascar, Nosy Be
Kindergarten Teaching in Madagascar, Nosy Be
Mangrove Conservation Project in Madagascar, Nosy Be
