The most sustainable building materials on earth have been used in Tanzania for centuries. Learn from them.
Mud, bamboo, hay, stone, leaves, wood — the traditional construction materials of East Africa are low-cost, low-carbon, and deeply embedded in the communities that depend on them. Yet as the world races toward sustainable architecture, these ancient techniques remain underleveraged and undervalued.
Art in Tanzania is changing that — combining traditional African building knowledge with contemporary design thinking to create structures that are affordable, environmentally sound, and rooted in local culture. This programme puts you on the tools.
About the ProgramSince 1996, Art in Tanzania has placed approximately 250 participants annually in hands-on community programmes across Tanzania. Our Eco-Construction Program is one of our most physically immersive placements — giving you direct, practical experience in sustainable building, community infrastructure development, and environmental conservation in a context unlike any construction site you've worked on before.
Internships typically last 2–3 months, and placements are accepted year-round.
What You'll DoYour days begin with hands-on fieldwork in schools and communities, with afternoons dedicated to planning, reporting, and communications. Work spans eight interconnected areas:
🏗️ Eco-Construction Fieldwork Build with traditional, sustainable materials — mud, hay, bamboo, wood, and stone — using techniques that have housed Tanzanian families for generations, now being refined and integrated into contemporary, energy-efficient design. Minimising environmental impact while maximising community benefit is the core principle.
🔧 Renovation & Maintenance Repair and upgrade existing community infrastructure — school furniture, community facilities, and shared spaces that serve hundreds of people daily. Practical, visible, and immediately impactful.
Designing & Planning: Designing energy-efficient, sustainable structures for community use. Research water security and contribute to planning for environmental projects — applying engineering, architecture, or design training in a genuinely challenging real-world context.
🌳 Environmental Conservation Participate in reforestation projects and nursery management, particularly in the ecologically significant Kilimanjaro region. Contribute to environmental education activities that help communities understand and protect the natural systems on which their livelihoods depend.
📋 Project Documentation: Carry out field data collection, write progress reports, manage permits, and maintain the documentation that keeps projects accountable and fundable. In resource-constrained environments, good documentation is a critical skill.
🤝 Community Engagement Work directly with local communities to integrate traditional construction techniques into modern, sustainable projects — building trust, transferring knowledge, and ensuring the work is shaped by the people it serves.
📊 Monitoring & Evaluation Track sustainability metrics, conduct site visits to assess environmental impact, and support project management tasks that ensure long-term programme effectiveness.
📱 Social Media & Visibility Document and share construction progress and community development stories across Art in Tanzania's digital channels — contributing to the visibility and advocacy that keeps the programme funded and growing.
Structure & SupervisionAcademic-level team leaders oversee your placement daily, and a weekly planning and reporting system keeps your work on track and aligned with your academic requirements. Progress is monitored consistently to ensure you complete your tasks successfully and get maximum value from your time here.
You will work as part of a multi-professional, international team — bringing together students from architecture, engineering, environmental science, project management, and community development to tackle construction challenges collaboratively.
How It WorksHours: 6–8 hours per day, Monday to Friday Duration: Typically 2–3 months; flexible to your schedule Start date: Flexible — the programme runs continuously year-round Group size: 15–40 international students at any time, from 400+ partner universities worldwide
Your placement is tailored to your background, experience, and interests. Architecture, civil and structural engineering, environmental science, sustainable design, project management, and related fields are all excellent fits — as is any student with a practical mindset and a willingness to work with their hands.
Life in TanzaniaBeyond the build sites, Tanzania delivers an experience that stays with you. Extraordinary culture, remarkable wildlife, and some of Africa's most iconic landscapes are part of your everyday backdrop. Affordable, sustainable safaris and tours are available for you and visiting friends or family — and the Kilimanjaro region, where some of our environmental work is based, is among the most spectacular places on the continent.
FundingErasmus+ funding may be available for this placement. Speak with your student office about grant options that could fully or partially fund this experience.
Ready to Apply?📋 Apply now 🌐 Visit our website 🏡 See the compound ✈️ Pre-travel info 🎓 EVOLVET volunteer development programme 💬 Read testimonials 🎁 Benefits & perks
Get in TouchTell us about your background and what draws you to sustainable construction — we'll shape a placement around it.
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