Your Arrival

Get ready for a warm welcome to Cape Verde! Your adventure begins the moment you arrive, with our airport pick-up on Sunday at Praia International Airport (RAI). To ensure a smooth transition, we’ll provide you with all the necessary arrival and contact details when you book your program. The local team will be waiting for you, ready to transfer you to your accommodation where you’ll meet fellow volunteers from around the world.

Your Orientation

On Monday, our experienced coordinator will lead an exciting orientation session. This is your chance to get comfortable with your surroundings and dive into the local culture, while also receiving important health and safety advice.

During the orientation, you’ll receive a comprehensive introduction to your program, accommodations, and the exciting projects that await. Plus, you’ll learn all the do’s and don’ts of local customs, giving you a head start on immersing yourself in the rich and vibrant culture of Cape Verde.

Culture Week in Cape Verde

Gear up for an unforgettable week of adventure, culture, and fun as you dive into the heart of Cape Verdean life! This week is all about soaking up the vibrant Cape Verdean culture. You’ll pick up the basics of Cape Verdean Creole, explore the stunning town of Tarrafal and its surroundings, and get real, hands-on experience with local communities. Santiago Island, known for its African roots and dramatic landscapes, is the largest in the archipelago and is packed with mountains, valleys, hiking trails, and untouched beaches that will blow you away.

Your week in Santiago is designed to be chill yet exciting. Get to know the friendly locals, hike through breathtaking landscapes, relax on the beaches, and connect with the unique Portuguese-influenced culture. This isn’t your average holiday destination—it’s a chance to give back while learning and exploring.

You’ll start in the peaceful village of Tarrafal, where you’ll dive into the language, master some Cape Verdean cooking skills, visit hidden gems like secret lagoons, and explore lively markets full of local flavors and crafts.

So, why wait? This action-packed Culture Week in Cape Verde is your chance to experience a slice of island life like never before. You’ll not only see the beauty of the island but live it, giving you a genuine and immersive taste of this incredible culture.

Schedule

Monday
Start your week with breakfast, followed by an introduction to Cape Verdean traditions and culture.

After that, dive into your first Basic Kriolu class! Since most locals speak Kriolu, Portuguese, or French, learning the basics of Kriolu will be super useful during your trip.

Next up, we’ll hit the local supermarkets and ATMs, then check out the Tarrafal Museum, the historic concentration camp, and the local market. You’ll have some time to explore the area around the center before lunch.

In the afternoon, chill at Mar De President Beach before heading back for dinner.

Tuesday
Kick off your day with breakfast, followed by another Kriolu class, where you’ll learn how to say the Days of the Week and months.

After your language lesson, get ready for a local cooking experience. You’ll learn how to make *Cachupa*, a traditional and delicious Cape Verdean dish.

In the afternoon, we’ll head out to Ribeira Das Pratas, a stunning black sand beach, for some sun and relaxation.

Wednesday
After breakfast, you’ll continue your Kriolu lessons, focusing on useful everyday words and spelling tips. Then, we’ll take a trip to Rebelados Village to learn about this unique religious community that rebelled against liturgical reforms and now lives in isolation.

After lunch at the center, we’ll visit *Piscina Natural de Cuba*, a hidden gem with natural pools, also known as *Esprito Santo*. It’s the perfect spot for a quiet getaway and some relaxation.

Thursday
Begin with breakfast and another hour of Kriolu, where you’ll start building full sentences in the language. After that, we’ll head out to visit the project site you’ll be working on next week.

Lunch will be at the project site, and you’ll spend the afternoon getting familiar with the surroundings before heading back to the center.

Friday
After breakfast, it’s time for your final Kriolu class! You’ll practice forming phrases and sentences before we head out for an exciting fishing trip with local fishermen. This fishing activity depends on the weather.

After fishing, you’ll return to the center to cook up the fresh catch for lunch, and then the rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy!

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Child Care in Cape Verde

Join the Childcare Project and make a real difference in the lives of young kids while having an unforgettable experience!

Our project is based in the beautiful town of Tarrafal, with its crystal-clear blue sea and stunning beaches on Santiago Island. You’ll be working with children aged 2 to 6, providing care, education, and support throughout the day. Your placement could be at daycare centers, kindergartens, or even in the youngest classes of primary schools.

Many of these children come from families where parents are working hard in low-paying jobs, so they rely on these centers for their daily care and learning. That’s where you come in! Through fun activities like songs, stories, rhymes, drawing, and games, you’ll help create a positive and engaging learning environment.

What You’ll Do:
– Work closely with local staff to provide daily care and educational support for the children.
– Use fun activities like board games, playdough, and coloring to encourage child development.
– Help the kids stay active with games and team-building exercises.
– Introduce them to colors, shapes, numbers, and the alphabet in English through playful methods.
– Bring the playground to life by playing games that help kids learn English words for actions and movements.
– Share short stories, songs, and poems that keep the kids entertained while teaching them new skills.

You’ll also help with lesson planning, prep, and occasional admin work with the class teachers. Feel free to bring your creative ideas to make lessons even more exciting!

This project will give you hands-on experience in childcare, helping you understand how child development and early education work in Cape Verde. Plus, you’ll be contributing to building a brighter future for these children, introducing them to new ideas, and preparing them with essential skills for life.

You’ll also keep track of the programs you cover, which will help future participants avoid repetition and ensure smooth handovers.

Not only will you have the chance to teach and inspire the kids, but they’ll also inspire you! This is a life-changing opportunity to build connections and create lasting memories with the children, all while making a positive impact.

You’ll be part of a global community working to help kids develop literacy, numeracy, character, and a broader worldview—preparing them to face future challenges with confidence.

By joining this project, you’re helping shape the next generation and giving them the tools to succeed!

Schedule

Monday

Kick off the week with a warm welcome and an introduction to Cape Verdean culture and traditions. 
Get started with a basic Kriolu lesson to help you navigate the local language.
Explore the local area by visiting nearby supermarkets, and ATMs, and checking out the surroundings of the center.
Take a break and enjoy lunch at the center.
Head to Mar De President Beach for a chill beach hangout, then wrap up the day back at the center.
Dinner at the center.

 Tuesday to Friday
Start your day with breakfast at the accommodation.
Get hands-on at your childcare or school placement!
You’ll be involved in caretaking and teaching activities, helping kids learn through fun, interactive lessons.
Enjoy lunch, either at the placement or back at the center.
Continue your work with the children, providing care and educational support. You’ll also assist the class teacher with lesson planning and prepping materials for the next day.
Wrap up the day with a relaxing dinner back at the center.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Teaching English in Cape Verde

Join the Education Project and make a real impact by helping young minds reach their full potential!

Located in the coastal town of Tarrafal, with its stunning cobalt-blue sea and sandy beaches, this project gives you the chance to teach conversational English and other subjects to kids who need it most.

By working with local students, you’ll help them boost their education, gain confidence in English, and expand their global perspective through interactions with people from all over the world. The town’s primary school serves 260 students (including 130 young girls), but with only five teachers available, your help will make a huge difference!

You’ll be working closely with students and local teachers to help improve their English skills. You’ll also get involved in lesson planning, preparing materials, and even helping with classroom administration.

Feel free to get creative and bring your own ideas to the table—your unique approach can make learning even more fun for the kids!

Typical Day-to-Day Activities:
– Teaching Primary School Students: You’ll be teaching English through interactive and engaging methods.
– Fun Learning Activities: Use games, board activities, playdough, and coloring to make lessons exciting and hands-on.
– Teach children about colors, shapes, numbers, and the alphabet in English.
– Play with the kids outside while incorporating English into the fun.
– Share information about your home country and help them understand geography by locating different places on the globe.
– Research and prepare for the next day’s lessons to keep the kids learning and engaged.

Not only will you be shaping the future of these young learners, but you’ll also create unforgettable memories during your stay.

This project allows you to bring out the best in these kids, helping them grow academically and personally. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the beauty of Cape Verde while making a meaningful contribution to the community.

Schedule

Monday
Welcome and introduction to Cape Verdean traditions and culture.
Basic Kriolu Lesson
Visit local area, supermarkets and ATMs.
Lunch
Visit Mar De President Beach and spend some time on the beach before returning back to the center for dinner.
Dinner

Tuesday to Friday
Breakfast at the accommodation
Teaching at the project.
Lunch
Teaching at the project.
Assist the local teacher in lesson planning and preparing teaching materials for the next day
Dinner

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Construction & Renovation Project in Cape Verde

Get hands-on and make a real impact by helping renovate local village schools, giving students a better environment to learn and grow!

This project takes place in and around Tarrafal, where you’ll be working to restore and improve school infrastructure so students can enjoy a safer and more inspiring learning space.

From fixing up libraries and classrooms to revamping playgrounds, your efforts will directly improve the learning conditions for these kids. You’ll also be providing much-needed learning facilities, stepping in wherever help is needed most.

As part of this project, you’ll get involved in both the physical work of renovation and the creative side of beautifying the schools. Whether you’re laying bricks, painting walls, fixing equipment, or landscaping, you’ll play a key role in creating positive change.

The work is physical—think carpentry, tiling, and building repairs—but it’s rewarding, knowing that your efforts are making a difference.

On the more creative side, you’ll also have the chance to put your artistic skills to work by decorating and enhancing the school environment.

You’ll be guided by a local coordinator, but there’s plenty of room for you to bring your own ideas and creativity to the project.

By improving these schools, you’re directly supporting the students and the community, giving kids the chance to learn in a much more welcoming and functional space. Whether it’s renovating classrooms, designing playgrounds, or painting murals, everything you do will contribute to making their school a place where they can thrive.

Each morning starts with breakfast and a planning session with your coordinator, where you’ll get briefed on the day’s tasks.

Then, you’ll head to the project site with your team of participants to get to work. Throughout the day, you’ll be working side-by-side with other volunteers and guided by the local team.

Schedule

Monday
Welcome, introduction to Cape Verdean traditions and culture.
Basic Kriolu Lesson
Visit local supermarkets and ATMs, and explore the surroundings of our center.
Lunch
Visit Mar De President Beach and spend some time on the beach before returning back to the center for dinner.
Dinner

Tuesday to Friday
Breakfast
Working at the project.
Lunch
Working at the project.
Dinner

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Turtle Conservation in Cape Verde

Join our Sea Turtle Conservation Program in Cape Verde and play a key role in saving endangered species from extinction while having an unforgettable experience!

If you’re passionate about the environment and want to make a difference, this is your chance to work directly with wild sea turtles on the stunning beaches of Cape Verde.

You’ll gain hands-on field experience in marine conservation while exploring one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet. Cape Verde is home to the second-largest loggerhead turtle nesting site in the world, along with other sea turtle species like the hawksbill, green, leatherback, and olive turtles.

As a participant in the Sea Turtle Conservation Program, you’ll be on the front lines helping to protect these turtles and their fragile ecosystems.

– Beach Patrols (Night & Morning): Patrol the nesting beaches during the turtle nesting season (July to October) to monitor female turtles, prevent poaching, and ensure safe nesting.
– Data Collection: Measure and mark turtles, collect data on nests, and, when necessary, help relocate eggs to protected nurseries.
– Nesting Care: Guard turtle nests from predators, unauthorized people, and environmental hazards. You’ll also help transport eggs to safer locations to boost survival rates.
– Awareness & Outreach: Educate local communities on the importance of turtle conservation, run outreach programs, and raise awareness about the dangers turtles face.
– Beach Clean-Ups: Help keep nesting sites free from pollution to create a safer environment for both turtles and other marine life.

Sea turtles play a crucial role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy by maintaining seagrass beds and coral reefs. These ecosystems provide food and shelter to countless marine species. But the turtles are threatened by habitat destruction, poaching, pollution, and bycatch in fishing gear.

By getting involved, you’ll help ensure that future generations get to experience these incredible creatures in the wild.

You’ll be working alongside other volunteers, local community members, and our dedicated team to protect the sea turtles.

Whether it’s helping injured turtles, watching over hatcheries, or participating in beach patrols, you’ll be part of an active effort to conserve this species. This project is more than just a conservation initiative—it’s a community movement that has already reduced poaching and increased local involvement in protecting the turtles.

After breakfast, you’ll join the team to plan your activities for the day. This could include anything from beach patrols to nest tracking or working with local schools to educate kids on conservation. In the evenings, you’ll be back on the beaches, watching over nesting turtles or monitoring hatchlings as they make their way to the sea.

This is your chance to contribute to a real-world conservation effort while exploring the incredible Cape Verde islands. You’ll gain valuable experience in marine conservation, meet like-minded people, and make lasting memories—all while protecting a species on the brink of extinction.

Schedule

Monday
Welcome, introduction to Cape Verdean traditions and culture.
Basic Kriolu Lesson
Visit local supermarkets and ATMs, and explore the surroundings of our center.
Lunch
Visit Mar De President Beach and spend some time on the beach before returning back to the center for dinner.
Dinner

Tuesday to Friday
Night Patrol on the nesting beaches
Relocation program (relocation of the nests in risk areas)
Conducting a successful study of nests in the hatchery
Collection of biological data, abundance and distribution of sea turtles
Conduct workshops in the local communities about the importance of sea turtles and the project results
Organize beach cleaning activities in the project area.
Movie projection in communities about the importance of sea turtles.
Conduct a workshop with the fishermen about bycatch.
You might have work on Saturdays too.

This program is for minimum 2 weeks and has fixed start dates.

Starting Dates 2025
July: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
August: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
September: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
October: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Sports Coaching in Cape Verde

Get ready to inspire young athletes and make a real difference in their lives through our Sports Coaching Program in Tarrafal!

If you’re passionate about soccer or basketball and want to share your skills with eager kids, this is your chance. Imagine spending your days surrounded by enthusiastic students who can’t wait to learn from you.

Not only will you be teaching them how to play, but you’ll also be showing them how sports can boost their physical and mental health and set them up for success in life.

This program isn’t just about teaching soccer and basketball; it’s about using sports as a tool for personal growth.

You’ll be helping kids of all ages and skill levels improve their game, but more importantly, you’ll be teaching them valuable life lessons—teamwork, discipline, leadership, and how to overcome failure.

Your coaching will empower them to stay active and engaged, not just now, but throughout their lives.

You’ll be working closely with local coaches to plan training sessions that focus on skill-building and personal development.

Whether you’re running drills, organizing practice matches, or giving pep talks, your efforts will have a lasting impact on these kids. Plus, the flexibility of the program allows you to bring your own coaching style into the mix, so you can teach in a way that feels right to you.

Schedule

After breakfast, you’ll head to the local school or sports field where you’ll meet your team of eager young athletes. From there, you’ll dive into training sessions, working with the kids on basic techniques or more advanced drills, depending on their skill level.

Afternoons might involve planning your next session with the local coach or even organizing mini-tournaments to get the kids excited and competitive. 

This program is your chance to not only enhance the athletic skills of the youth but also to inspire them to chase their dreams, stay disciplined, and grow through the power of sports. 

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Trekking Experience in Cape Verde

Discover the stunning beauty of Cape Verde and dive into a week of epic adventure! From hiking through lush green mountains to exploring local rum factories, this trip is packed with exciting experiences.

Get ready to immerse yourself in Cape Verde’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and friendly people. You’ll trek through scenic valleys, hike along rugged mountain paths, and even cycle through charming local streets.

This adventure is perfect for hiking enthusiasts looking for something unique and off the grid in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean.

This action-packed trekking week will take you on a journey to explore Cape Verde in its raw, natural form. You’ll hit all the island’s hotspots while exploring some of the most picturesque hiking and trekking trails around.

Whether you’re navigating through green mountain ranges or uncovering hidden valleys, each day will be filled with unforgettable views and incredible experiences.

Schedule

Monday
On Monday, you will visit the Green valleys of the Northern Island of Santiago, see beautiful landscapes, and interact with local people in their villages. You will get a chance to visit a Local Rum production, including a tasting!

Tuesday
We will walk from Serra Malagueta to Achada Lagoa and Mato Brasil. This hiking track has spectacular views of all parts of Santiago North.

Wednesday
Walk with us in the mountains of Serra Malagueta and have lunch at an organic farm. In the valley of Lagoa, you will get impressions of a traditional Cape Verdean lifestyle. On our track, we will meet agriculturally imposing landscapes and a little oasis. You will meet a local family with whom you will spend some time to see how they live. Lunch will be served at the farmer’s house.

Thursday
The valley of Gon-Gon was named after the Bird Gon-Gon. This is a stunning landscape, and the hike has very spectacular views en route. It’s a hike for experienced hikers because of its duration and height difference.
We will start from the Nature Park of Serra Malagueta, go down to the Gon-gon valley, go up over a ridge, and go down in the valley of Principal until we reach the ocean. It’s very beautiful and diversified, as it is believed to be the best of all—the King of Tracks!

Friday
Mountain Cycling Trip! Today, we will discover the great natural surroundings around Tarrafal while going on a bicycle trip.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.