Volunteer in Cape Verde with Abroad Escape

Culture Week runs from Monday to Friday and includes a different mix of activities throughout the week.

Highlights:

• Learn some basic Kriolu, the local language
• Visit historical and cultural sites in and around Tarrafal
• Visit the Tarrafal concentration camp
• Explore the local market
• Learn about traditional crafts, including pottery and weaving
• Take part in a traditional cooking session and learn how to prepare Cachupa
• Spend time with local fishermen
• Visit local farms and learn more about agriculture
• Take part in activities such as fishing and snorkeling
• Get an introduction to the volunteer projects and the local area

The exact order of activities can change depending on weather, local conditions and other circumstances.

A typical week

Monday
Orientation, introduction to the area, a walking tour, museum and historical visit, the local market and a first cultural activity.

Tuesday
Kriolu, pottery, a visit to a local chapel and time connected with fishing and the coast.

Wednesday
Kriolu and a traditional cooking session, including learning about Cachupa.

Thursday
More Kriolu, followed by traditional weaving and other cultural activities.

Friday
Kriolu, fishing, a visit to local agriculture and an introduction to the volunteer project you’ll be joining.

Who is it suited to?

Culture Week is particularly useful if:

• It’s your first visit to Cape Verde
• You want some time to settle in before starting your project
• You’re interested in the country and its culture, rather than only the volunteer work
• You want to understand more about the community where you’ll be staying
• You’re combining more than one volunteer project

Good to know

Culture Week is recommended, but not mandatory. You can start directly with a volunteer project if that makes more sense for your plans.

The week is based in Tarrafal, on Santiago Island. Activities are organised locally, so the schedule can change when weather or local circumstances require it.

How it fits into your trip

Most volunteer projects in Cape Verde can be arranged around your own travel plans, with starts generally on a Monday. This means Culture Week can be used as the first week of your trip, followed by another volunteer project, or you can choose to begin directly with your chosen project.

If you’re not sure whether Culture Week makes sense for your trip, tell us what you’re planning and we can advise you.

Highlights

• Conversational English
• Classroom support
• Games and songs
• Small-group and one-to-one activities
• Lesson planning
• Preparing teaching materials
• Creative and recreational activities
• School events and community activities
• Working alongside local teachers

What you’ll do

Your role is to support the local teachers rather than replace them. You’ll help with English lessons and other activities according to the needs of the school and students.

Depending on the class and the needs at the time, you may:

• Help students practice basic conversational English
• Use songs and games to make English practice more engaging
• Assist the teacher during classroom lessons
• Work with smaller groups of students
• Provide one-to-one support where appropriate
• Help plan lessons and prepare teaching materials
• Bring creative ideas and activities into the classroom
• Take part in school events and community activities
• Keep a record of lesson plans and activities

Who is it suited to?

Teaching is a good fit if you enjoy working with children and are interested in education, languages or working in a classroom setting.

You don’t need to be a qualified teacher to take part, but you should be comfortable working with children, prepared to get involved and willing to work according to the needs of the local teachers and students.

Working with the local teachers

You’ll work alongside local educators rather than working independently. They provide the local context and guidance, while you support their existing classes and activities.

Being prepared and punctual is important, particularly when you are helping with planned lessons or classroom activities.

A typical week

The Teaching project runs from Monday to Friday.

Your activities can include assisting in regular classes, working with smaller groups or individual students, preparing lessons and materials, and organising creative or recreational activities.

The exact activities depend on the needs of the students and the school at the time.

Good to know

The focus is on supporting conversational English and classroom learning. Your role is not to arrive with your own teaching system or take over from the local teachers.

Being flexible is important. Classes, student needs and activities can vary, so the most useful volunteers are those who are willing to adapt and work with what is needed locally.

If you enjoy working with children and want a project where you can contribute through language, creativity and classroom support, Teaching could be a good fit for you.

Highlights

• Working with children aged 2–6
• Daycare and kindergarten activities
• Educational activities
• Creative play
• Daily routines
• Basic childcare
• Preparing activities and materials
• Working alongside local staff

What you’ll do

Your role is to assist the local staff with the daily activities and routines of the children. Depending on what is needed, you may:

• Help with daily childcare routines
• Take part in educational activities
• Organise creative activities and play
• Support children during meals and other daily routines
• Assist with basic care
• Help with teaching activities
• Prepare materials for activities
• Spend time playing and interacting with the children

Who is it suited to?

Childcare is suited to people who enjoy spending time with young children and want to experience what early childhood education and care looks like in a local setting.

Patience, flexibility and a willingness to get involved are important.

Working with the local staff

You’ll work alongside local staff rather than taking responsibility for the children independently. They provide guidance and help determine what support is needed each day.

A typical week

The project runs from Monday to Friday.

The first day includes orientation, an introduction to Kriolu and the local area, and time to get familiar with your surroundings.

From Tuesday onwards, activities generally include childcare and educational activities in the morning, followed by caretaking, teaching activities and preparation of materials in the afternoon.

Good to know

The focus is on supporting the local childcare setting, not replacing the local staff. The activities can vary depending on the needs of the children and the daily routine of the centre.

If you enjoy working with young children and want a practical introduction to childcare in Cape Verde, this could be a good fit.

Highlights

• Supporting children, young people and young adults
• Daily care routines
• Educational and creative activities
• Sensory activities and games
• Communication and interaction
• Supervised physiotherapy and motor stimulation
• Recreational activities
• Feeding and food distribution
• Working alongside trained local staff

What you’ll do

The work takes place at a local care centre and your role is to support the people who use the centre in their daily activities.

Depending on the needs of the centre and the people you are supporting, you may:

• Assist with daily routines
• Take part in educational activities
• Organise creative and recreational activities
• Use sensory games and activities
• Support communication and interaction
• Assist with supervised physiotherapy and motor stimulation
• Help with food distribution and feeding
• Help create a safe and welcoming environment
• Support activities designed around inclusion and participation

Volunteers with relevant professional experience or training may be able to contribute additional support, but this is always done under the supervision of the local professionals.

Who is it suited to?

This project is best suited to people who are patient, empathetic and comfortable working with people who have different physical, cognitive or sensory needs.

It can be emotionally and mentally demanding. Progress may be gradual, and communication can sometimes be difficult. Being able to respect boundaries and work patiently is important.

Working with the local team

You’ll work alongside trained local caregivers and professionals. This is not a clinical placement, and volunteers do not provide independent medical or therapeutic care.

The local team guides the activities and determines where support is needed.

A typical week

The schedule depends on the activities of the centre and the needs of the people there.

The first week includes orientation and an introduction to the local area before moving into the care centre activities. During the second week, volunteers can become more familiar with the routines and take a deeper role in the activities.

Good to know

This is one of the more demanding volunteer projects in Cape Verde. It requires patience, resilience and a willingness to work at the pace of the people you are supporting.

If you have a genuine interest in disability support and want to work alongside an existing local care team, this project may be a good fit.

Highlights

Painting
Brickwork
Carpentry
Landscaping
Repairs
Murals
School and community facilities
Practical, hands-on work
What you’ll do

The work depends on the current needs of the schools and facilities. Tasks can include:

Painting classrooms and other spaces
Brickwork
Basic carpentry
Landscaping
General repairs
Helping improve playgrounds
Renovating libraries and classrooms
Creating murals and other improvements to learning spaces

You’ll work as part of a practical team and the specific tasks can change during your stay.

Who is it suited to?

This project is suited to people who prefer practical, hands-on work and don’t mind getting stuck into physical tasks.

Previous construction experience can be useful, but the project is also suitable for volunteers who simply enjoy working with their hands and learning as they go.

Working with the local team

You’ll work alongside the people responsible for the project and follow their guidance on the work that needs to be done.

Safety is important, particularly when carrying out physical work or using tools and materials.

A typical week

The project runs from Monday to Friday.

The first day includes orientation, an introduction to Kriolu and the local area, followed by the start of the project.

From Tuesday to Friday, you’ll generally spend your working days on site carrying out renovation, repair or improvement work.

Good to know

This is physical work. Expect to spend time outdoors and on practical tasks rather than in a classroom or office.

The exact work depends on what the schools and facilities need at the time, so flexibility is important.

If you prefer doing something tangible and practical during your volunteer trip, rather than working primarily with children or in conservation, this could be a good option.

Highlights

• Football
• Basketball
• Warm-ups and drills
• Skill development
• Team games and matches
• Team-building activities
• Working with different ages and abilities
• Recreational activities

What you’ll do

You’ll work with children of different ages and abilities, helping to organise and support sports activities.

Sessions can include:

• Warm-up exercises
• Football or basketball drills
• Skill development
• Team-building exercises
• Practice games and matches
• Cool-down activities
• Recreational sports activities

You’ll coordinate with the local sports coordinator, who can help determine the activities and level of the sessions.

Who is it suited to?

This project is suited to people who enjoy sport and like working with children and young people.

You don’t need to be a professional coach, but you should be comfortable taking part in physical activities and working with different ages and ability levels.

Working with the local team

You’ll work with the local sports coordinator rather than running the sessions independently. The activities can be adapted according to the ages, abilities and needs of the participants.

The focus is not only on sporting ability. Sessions can also encourage teamwork, confidence, discipline and resilience.

A typical week

The project runs from Monday to Friday.

You’ll take part in sports activities throughout the week, with the exact sessions depending on the ages, abilities and interests of the children and young people taking part.

Good to know

The project focuses on football and basketball, so it is particularly suitable if one or both of these sports interest you.

You should be prepared to adapt activities to different levels rather than expecting everyone to have the same sporting ability.

Highlights

• Soil preparation
• Planting
• Harvesting
• Animal care
• Working alongside local farmers
• Traditional farming practices
• Outdoor, hands-on work
• Seasonal activities

What you’ll do

Your activities depend on what the local farmers need and what is happening during the growing season.

You may help with:

• Preparing soil
• Planting crops
• Harvesting
• Caring for animals
• General farm work
• Other practical tasks required on the farm

The work gives you the opportunity to spend time with local farmers and learn how farming is carried out in the area.

Who is it suited to?

Farming is a good fit if you enjoy being outdoors, prefer practical work and are interested in local agriculture.

You should be comfortable with physical work and with the fact that the work can vary from week to week.

Working with local farmers

You’ll work directly with local farmers and follow their guidance on the tasks that need to be done.

The work is based on what is actually needed on the farm rather than a fixed list of activities.

A typical week

The project runs around the farming activities taking place at the time of your visit.

A typical week may include orientation on Monday, farm work from Tuesday to Thursday, followed by field activities or reflection on Friday.

The exact schedule can change according to the season and growing conditions.

Good to know

Farming is seasonal. The type of work available depends on growing conditions and what needs to be done locally when you arrive.

Highlights

• Night-time beach patrols
• Monitoring nesting turtles
• Nest relocation
• Hatchery protection
• Biological data collection
• Beach clean-ups
• Conservation awareness activities
• Overnight beach camping

What you’ll do

The project focuses on the protection and monitoring of loggerhead turtles during the nesting season.

Depending on the work required, you may:

• Patrol beaches at night
• Monitor nesting females
• Record information about nesting activity
• Help relocate nests when required
• Help protect the hatchery
• Collect biological data
• Take part in beach clean-ups
• Support conservation awareness workshops

The project takes place around Ribeira da Prata and Tarrafal beaches in northern Santiago.

Who is it suited to?

This project is suited to people who are genuinely interested in wildlife conservation and are comfortable with a very different routine from a daytime volunteer project.

You need to be prepared for night work, long hours outdoors and sleeping at the beach.

A typical night

The conservation work takes place overnight.

A typical schedule starts with dinner around 7:30 pm, followed by departure for the beach at around 8:00 pm. Patrols then continue through the night, with volunteers returning around 6:00 am.

The exact schedule can change depending on turtle activity and local conditions. Some work may also take place on Saturdays.

Good to know

This is a seasonal project with fixed start dates. Unlike the other Cape Verde projects, you cannot simply choose any Monday to start.

The project also involves overnight beach camping and night-time conservation work, so it is important to understand the routine before choosing it.

Start dates

The Turtle Conservation project has fixed seasonal start dates. The available dates are updated each year, so check the current dates when planning your trip.

2026: September 21, September 28, October 5, October 12, October 19, October 26

2027: July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16, August 23, August 30, September 6, September 13, September 20, September 27, October 4, October 11, October 18, October 25