Volunteer
We would not be able to carry out the work that we do without our team of amazing volunteers.
Opportunities to volunteer with us
From helping us in the office, running events and coffee mornings, to teaching in a school in Rwanda or supporting disabled children in Kenya – we have lots of opportunities to work together.
About overseas opportunities
Hands Around the World offers fabulous volunteering overseas opportunities. You would need to self-fund these trips, but you would be on placements where there would be help and support in-country should you need it as well as full support from the UK team.
Volunteers share more than just their skills – caring, boundless enthusiasm and a sense of humour are essential, as are the ability to cope with creepy crawlies, basic accommodation and bumpy roads! Flexibility on dates is good as we would always send a minimum of two people to a project.
To date we have sent over 600 volunteers to partner projects!
For more information – please get in touch – [email protected]
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Current overseas opportunities
Skill sharing placement, available at multiple project partners
There are many opportunities to share your skills with our project partners – from schools and community centres to hospitals and environmental initiatives. We would love to talk with you about possible placements. The resources you might usually expect to have at home or at work may not be available at our project partners, so improvisation and a degree of flexibility to adapt to different circumstances is essential!
School support placement, Muko School, Rwanda
We’re looking for teachers, teaching assistants and anyone keen to support and engage children at our partner school in Rwanda. Whether you teach, play, help with sports, music clubs or lend a hand in other ways, you will be providing valuable help to vulnerable children. Muko School is located in Bugarama. Accommodation is in a nearby guest house with comfortable facilities and meals provided.
School support placement, St Lucy's School for the blind, Kenya
We’re looking for teachers, teaching assistants and anyone keen to support and engage children of all ages at our partner school in Kenya. Whether you teach, play, help with sports, art and music clubs or lend a hand in other ways, you will be providing valuable help to vulnerable children. St Lucy’s is a boarding school that also offers places for day students, it is located in a rural part of the country, and the on-site accommodation is in a small volunteer house.
Medical/ therapeutic support placement for children with disabilities, at PNA centre or nearby schools in Chipata, Zambia
Our partner in Zambia – PNA – supports children with disabilities in the local region, and your role would involve supporting these children in existing programs that PNA coordinate. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical professionals, counsellors, therapists and people who have experience working with children with disabilities would be particularly suited to volunteering here. Accommodation is in a shared house with other PNA volunteers.
Medical/ therapeutic support placement for children with disabilities, Disability Community Centre, Kenya
The DCC is a hub for families who need support: Children with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus and visual impairment are frequent visitors to the centre. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical professionals, counsellors, therapists and people who have experience with working with children with disabilities would be particularly suited to this role. Accommodation is comfortable and within walking distance in the nearby hospital grounds.
Medical support placement, Mwandi Mission hospital and One Stop Centre, Zambia
Medical support placement, Mwandi Mission hospital and One Stop Centre, Zambia
Mwandi Mission hospital is a large hospital set in rural Zambia, with an expanding level of services both in the hospital and the community. The hospital would benefit from physiotherapists, occupational therapists and medical professionals. The One Stop Centre based at the hospital would benefit from therapists and counsellors to support women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence. Accommodation is on-site.
General maintenance volunteer, Bugarama schools, Rwanda
We’re looking for willing helpers to join a team of Jersey/UK and Rwandan volunteers to carry out school maintenance tasks. You could be helping with painting and decorating or other tasks to make sure the classrooms are ready and welcoming for pupils to return after the holidays. There may also be opportunities to run sporting or other activities for children participating in holiday activities at the schools. Accommodation is in a nearby guest house with comfortable facilities and meals provided.
The 3 weeks I was there I felt fully prepared and comfortable by the support I received by various members of HATW team in Monmouth as well as Jersey. Not only did I feel comfortable going into the project but the members and associates of the charity in the town of Bugurama, Rwanda was overwhelmingly hospitable. I loved the generous welcoming nature involving celebrations of elaborate speeches and traditional dance; the unique gifts including live chickens. Above all I felt embraced into the routines of their lives making me rapidly feel a part of their community and an established friend.Emyr, Rwanda, July 2024
It is not easy to find words to describe what I have experienced while volunteering internationally with Hands Around the World. An experience so enriching and moving that helped me realise that we can be happy with so little. I continue to be inspired by the resilience of the Zambian people and how they can find joy in the hardest of times. HATW took care of everything, and I felt safe and taken care of throughout my time away. Being involved in multiple projects whilst in Zambia, including school and maternity unit visits, disability registration workshops and wheelchair assessment days, gave me a wider understanding of how people live and the hurdles they must leap to achieve an outcome. Thank you Hands Around the World.Cheryl, Zambia, August 2024
One month on from my three week volunteering trip to Pamodzi Ndi Ana in Eastern Zambia with Hands Around the World (HATW), and I can’t stop thinking about it! I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity, a truly incredible experience. We gained a real insight into the way people live and a deeper understanding of their culture which is so different from ours in many ways. The people we met were so friendly and welcoming, and happy to talk to you about their lives and share their story.Rebecca, Zambia, August 2024
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit?
We usually send people aged 21-75 but if you are outside of this age bracket, it may be possible depending on your personal circumstances, so please get in touch. You would need to be fit and healthy and disclose any medical conditions to HATW for insurance cover.
How much does it cost?
Placements are usually from 2 weeks to just under 3 months. The cost will vary depending on the length of stay as well as the time of year and how far in advance we can book your trip. A typical cost for a trip would be £1200-£2000 excluding inoculation costs. This would include flights, transport to the project, basic accommodation, DBS check, insurance, an orientation session and preparation for your trip as well as the debrief and follow up after.
Are there any other costs?
You would need to make your own way to the airport, arrange a visa (if required), purchase anti-malaria tablets (if required) and ensure you have all the inoculations advised by your local travel clinic. You would also need to pay for food during your stay (usually fairly cheap) as well as any travel/trips you decide to do.
How will you know I am suitable?
We conduct an informal interview, take up references (personal and work) and carry out a DBS check. You will also need to participate in our orientation training. We will not send anyone to our partner projects if we don’t think it will be a positive experience for all involved.
What is accommodation like?
Accommodation is basic and there may not always be hot water or electricity. It varies between projects but it will be safe, clean and comfortable. We can give more detailed information once we know where you will be going.
What happens when I come home?
You are invited to attend a debrief session – to share the experience with us, tell us about what went well/maybe not so well. We will be available to offer you support/guidance should you need it. We would love you to stay involved with our work and help promote what we do, so will be happy to discuss options for continued involvement.
Current UK opportunities
Join the 'Hands On Group'
There are times when we need specialist help and advice in particular fields. If you have expertise in any of the categories below, and are willing to be asked for advice and help, please contact us.
Building – Including plumbing, solar, water/sanitation
Education – including pre-school, special needs, vocational training, carpentry, mechanics, engineering
Medical – including nursing, physio
Agricultural – including permaculture, irrigation, soil studies
Admin – including management training, accounting, legal advice
Office admin assistance, Monmouth
Monday is our day in the office, and there are times when we could really use extra help with shredding, running errands in town, envelope stuffing and filing.
Proofreaders
If you’re a professional proofreader, or have a great eye for detail and enjoy report writing, we’d love to have you on board as part of our team when we produce reports and other publications that require a high level of accuracy.
Help with community engagement
We’re always looking for more helpers with our outreach events, whether that’s baking cakes or serving drinks at one of our local coffee mornings, running craft sales, or cheering on our runners at the Cardiff Half Marathon.
Sell HATW Items Online
We have a store of quality items that we would love you to sell on our behalf. Using one of the online platforms such as Etsy or Vinted, you could really help us by taking on this ‘volunteer from home’ opportunity.
IT and new technologies advisor
We’d love to hear from you if you’re confident with any of the following:
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft 365
- Chat GPT or any other AI for writing reports (this is something new to us, but we’re keen to hear how it might have potential in the work we do.)