Volunteer & Intern Abroad: Sustainable Construction and Renewable Energy

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

IVHQ is a leader in the industry when it comes to affordable, safe, and responsible volunteer projects. More than 90,000 travelers have participated in IVHQ’s hands-on programs since 2007, and opportunities are available in more than 40 destinations all over the world. If your passion is sustainable construction, check out these once-in-a-lifetime IVHQ experiences:

Environmental Education in Bali

Tourists flock to Bali for the tropical climate, the natural wonders, and the culture of peace and calm. When you participate in IVHQ’s Environmental Education program, you enjoy all of those benefits while making a difference in the island’s fragile ecology. The project allows you to plan and participate in a variety of educational activities that help Balinese children become effective environmental stewards. Your efforts ensure the area maintains its beauty for generations to come.

Neighborhood Renovation in New Orleans, USA

The vibrant city of New Orleans has a rich cultural history, from massive Mardi Gras celebrations to rich musical traditions. Sadly, it was also the site of one of the worst natural disasters of this century. When you join IVHQ’s Neighborhood Renovation program, you make a critical contribution to ongoing community revitalization efforts. There is plenty of work for those interested in manual renovations, sustainable construction, and general improvement of public areas. Artists are encouraged to join mural-painting activities going on throughout the city as well!

Construction and Renovation Worldwide

If you’re interested in building schools, community centers, and residential facilities that contribute to the development of strong, confident children, the IVHQ Construction and Renovation program is right for you. With programs available all over the world, you’re invited to join a project already in progress or be there for the opening of a new building. You can choose from a variety of program durations, destinations, and assignments, which gives you maximum flexibility to plan your adventure.

GoEco

Offering more than 160 community, wildlife, and environmental conservation projects around the globe, GoEco has become a leading international volunteer organization. GoAbroad recognized GoEco as the Top Volunteer Abroad Organization in 2018. They’ve also been featured in publications such as The Guardian and USA Today.

Considering GoEco’s commitment to the environment, they have lots of suitable programs if you’d like to volunteer to promote sustainable construction and development. From conservation volunteering projects to community outreach initiatives, you can make the world greener with GoEco.

Community Outreach in Zanzibar

Want to travel to Zanzibar, Tanzania? Consider this community development project. You’ll put your skills to good use on a myriad of projects, including teaching English to local children, organizing after-school sports activities, doing beach cleanups, and planting trees in the community. Your efforts will go a long way in enhancing sustainability in Zanzibar for those who need it most. You’ll ensure children learn firsthand the importance of living in a sustainable manner. And you’ll do your part to keep the environment healthy and beautiful.

During free time, Zanzibar, with its world-class beaches and cultural sites, offers tons to do. Check out the Old Fort of Zanzibar, go on a spice tour, and more! Sounds like fun, right? Apply Here

Cambodia – Sustainable Community Development

Based in the northern Cambodian countryside, this program brings you to a local school for one week to two months, where you can volunteer in teaching and renovation work. A few of your tasks can include providing workshops about cultural exchange, helping with arts and crafts, organizing games and sports activities after class, painting, working with children in the vegetable garden, building tables and chairs, renovating the playground, and much more. 

In addition to volunteering, you can take part in a Culture Week, where you will receive basic language classes, take traditional cooking lessons, and even meet Buddhist monks and learn about their customs. Learn more here!

Cape Town Community Projects

Journey to South Africa, where you’ll work to create sustainable community projects for impoverished communities. Duties include teaching children at education centers, arranging sports activities, assisting nonprofits with fundraising, educating the public on important health issues like HIV/AIDS, and working in vegetable gardens. You’ll get to immerse yourself in the local community and you’ll feel your impact right away.

You’ll stay in a volunteer house (you can upgrade to a private room), and you’ll have free time to check out sites in Cape Town like Robben Island.

Maximo Nivel

If Latin America is your preferred destination, Maximo Nivel has the right program for you! This organization operates locally in each of their countries of service (Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru), and partners with community-based NGOs, schools, and other groups that have identified a need for volunteers, interns, and teachers. 

A top-rated organization for travelers looking for a meaningful trip, Maximo Nivel offers volunteer, intern, and teach abroad opportunities, as well as Spanish immersion, mini adventures, TEFL certification, and so much more.

Construction and Renovation Projects

Your hard work – combined with the hard work of other volunteers and local counterparts – has a solid impact when you participate in Maximo Nivel’s Construction and Renovation Projects. You may find yourself building and repairing community centers updating and improving schools and other children’s facilities, or other projects depending on need. Some of your tasks may include digging, mixing cement, laying bricks, painting, assisting with beautification activities, and everything in between.

Live and Work Alongside Indigenous Communities

If you have always wanted to know more about the indigenous communities of Guatemala or Peru, Maximo Nivel’s Indigenous Communities program offers a rare and incredible opportunity for you. Volunteers live and work in small villages with no more than 100 families, immersing themselves in the culture and helping with daily activities side-by-side with their host families. During your stay, you will experience a traditional way of life, learn a new language, and help with activities such as caring for livestock, weaving, farming, and more.

Micro Business with Coffee Plantations

Success today requires a global reach, and students planning for a career in business must have a thorough understanding of international trade. Conversely, even the smallest companies can achieve better results by expanding outside of local boundaries. Maximo Nivel’s Micro Business program with a coffee plantation is a distinctive internship that pairs Spanish-speaking business students with micro businesses in Latin America. 

Through this program, you will gain an understanding of business practices in the developing world, as well as hands-on professional experience. Your partner company in turn gains the benefit of your perspective and ideas for expansion into the larger marketplace.

Projects Abroad

With Projects Abroad, you can participate in building projects across under-resourced countries, you can help construct essential infrastructure like homes, schools, and sanitation facilities.

Imagine building classrooms in Ghana, where your efforts provide children with safe spaces to learn and grow. Or consider working in Nepal, aiding in the reconstruction of schools damaged by earthquakes, ensuring that education continues despite past disasters. In Tanzania, you might find yourself in a Maasai community, constructing vital school buildings that will serve generations to come.

You’ll work alongside local experts and other passionate volunteers, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable building techniques. It’s a chance to learn skills like brick-making, plastering, and painting, all while immersing yourself in a new culture by living with host families.

Not only will you see the immediate impact of your work, but you’ll also develop valuable skills such as teamwork, leadership, and cross-cultural communication. 

African Impact

Embarking on a journey with African Impact offers a unique opportunity to engage in sustainable construction and renewable energy projects across Africa. As a leading volunteer organization, African Impact has been creating life-changing responsible travel experiences since 2004, focusing on community development and environmental conservation. 

Reforestation & Environmental Volunteering in Kenya

In the heart of Kenya’s rich biodiversity, volunteers collaborate with local communities to restore vital ecosystems. Activities include removing invasive species, collecting and nurturing native seeds, and maintaining forest trails. 

Engaging with women’s groups, farmers, and youth, participants promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices. This immersive experience not only contributes to conservation efforts but also fosters cultural exchange and community development.

Waste Reduction Volunteering in Zambia

In Livingstone, Zambia, volunteers tackle plastic pollution through innovative ecobricking projects. By filling PET bottles with soft plastics, these eco-bricks are used to construct community infrastructure, effectively reducing waste and promoting sustainability. 

Volunteers also lead workshops to educate locals on the environmental impact of plastic pollution, empowering communities to adopt eco-friendly practices. This hands-on approach addresses waste management challenges while enhancing environmental consciousness.

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI)

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI), established in 1989, is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering positive social change through sustainable volunteer work in developing communities worldwide. With over 35 years of experience, IVI offers a range of programs that empower individuals to contribute meaningfully to global development efforts.

For those passionate about sustainable construction and renewable energy, IVI presents two impactful opportunities:

Koroipita Community Development Construction in Fiji

In partnership with a local charitable trust, this program addresses challenges such as poverty, rural-urban migration, and the resettlement of climate change refugees. Volunteers collaborate with skilled local builders to construct affordable, cyclone-resistant homes, contributing to the expansion of a community that currently houses 263 families. 

Participants engage in various construction tasks, from building houses from the ground up to assisting in the development plan, all while immersing themselves in Fijian culture. This hands-on experience not only aids in providing safe housing but also promotes environmental and community responsibility among residents.

Ecological Park Conservation in South Korea

Situated in Seoul’s Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park—the nation’s first ecological park established in 1997—this program focuses on rehabilitating the Han River’s ecosystem. Volunteers participate in activities such as planting trees, constructing eco-friendly fences, building animal pathways and bird nests, and monitoring local wildlife. 

This initiative not only enhances the park’s natural habitats but also educates participants about the significance of the Han River to Korean culture and the importance of environmental conservation in urban settings.

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol)

Volunteering Solutions (VolSol) is a renowned organization offering affordable and meaningful volunteer and internship programs across 26 countries. With over 150 projects, VolSol provides opportunities worldwide, and these following programs align with sustainable construction and renewable energy goals by promoting environmental conservation and community development. 

Construction and Renovation Project in Jaipur, India

In Jaipur, volunteers contribute to renovating schools and children’s homes, enhancing educational environments. Tasks include painting colorful murals and improving infrastructure to create engaging spaces that encourage learning. This initiative aims to reduce school dropout rates by making educational institutions more inviting. 

Volunteers immerse themselves in the local culture, learning the language and exploring the vibrant “Pink City” of India. Weekends offer opportunities to discover Jaipur and other parts of Rajasthan.

Conservation Volunteering Program in Auckland, New Zealand

In New Zealand, volunteers work alongside professional environmentalists to address climate change impacts. Activities involve maintaining forests, restoring wetlands, and preserving coastal sand dunes. 

Participants gain practical conservation skills while exploring the country’s diverse ecosystems. 

Global Vision International (GVI)

Global Vision International (GVI) is a renowned organization dedicated to addressing critical local and global issues through award-winning education and training programs focused on sustainable development projects worldwide. 

In Thailand, GVI offers a program aimed at combating plastic pollution and conserving marine life. Volunteers engage in activities such as beach cleanups, marine life surveys, and community outreach to promote environmental awareness. 

Participants receive training in species identification and survey techniques, contributing to data collection and conservation efforts. The program also emphasizes sustainable living practices and offers opportunities to explore Thailand’s natural beauty. 

In Tenerife, Spain, GVI’s program focuses on sustainable and ethical ecotourism, particularly concerning the impact of tourism on marine life. Volunteers collect data on whales and dolphins, monitor boat activity, and participate in beach cleanups. 

The program aims to promote sustainable tourism practices and protect the rich biodiversity of the Canary Islands. 

Ready To Travel?

When you volunteer abroad, you’re taking on a tremendous responsibility – one that commits you to positive change. Every hour a volunteer spends on a sustainable project contributes to a better world – and these hands-on projects give you specialized knowledge and experience that will enhance your employability.

By volunteering with a sustainable program abroad, you’ll gain greater awareness of just how important these programs can be: access to clean, abundant water and a sturdy roof over your head is something you’ll never take for granted again.