It Takes a Village
Humanitarian Aid Volunteering Teams
It Takes a Village is a three-year Humanitarian Aid volunteering programme that brings together volunteers and local villagers to work side by side on projects that improve everyday life in rural communities. Whether it is helping with access to water, education, housing, environmental initiatives, or supporting young people and women, the goal is to strengthen the community from within. Rather than bringing ready-made solutions, volunteers listen, collaborate, and support local people in building a better future together. It started off in Summer 2025 in Tanzania, followed by a journey to Vietnam in spring 2026. In 2027, “It takes a village” will be rounded off by sending out one team to each country.
Project Streams:Â
LEARNING RESOURCES
Here you can find the key Intellectual Outputs of the “It Takes a Village” Project
Humanitarian Aid Volunteering Booklet
Explore the journey of our Humanitarian Aid Volunteering project through stories, photos, and key highlights. This booklet showcases the volunteers’ experiences, learning outcomes, community impact, and the activities that shaped the mobility from beginning to end
Curiosity Project Booklet
Discover the Curiosity Project, created by the volunteers as a creative advocacy initiative during the mobility. Through stories, visuals, and reflections, the booklet highlights local realities, community voices, and the learning journey behind the project.
Project Article
Read the featured article highlighting the goals, activities, and impact of the project. It offers an overview of the initiative, the volunteers’ journey, and the positive change created together with the local community.
Activity TimelineÂ
Arrival day
Camp tour (introduction to the campsites and SANA staff) in the afternoon and a short walk into the village in the evening
Arrival & Orientation
Participants took part in an arrival training, met their mentors, discussed their personal goals and intentions, and were introduced to SANA’s conservation activities and mission. Introduction to the Curiosity Project, Swahili language classes, a visit to the area’s sacred hill to learn about local culture and traditions, and a dinner with Dr. Jane Goodall.
Team Building & Community Introduction
Participants strengthened their connections through team-building activities before visiting the local school and dispensary to learn about Gongo’s education and healthcare systems. The day concluded with a scenic bicycle tour led by Johnson, offering a deeper connection with the local landscape and community.
Traditional Skills & Community Life
Participants learned traditional roof weaving, continued construction and reforestation work, supported local health and education activities, and strengthened their connection with the community through Swahili lessons, farming, and a local wedding celebration.
Batik, Conservation & Outreach
Participants learned traditional batik and tie-dye techniques with the Gongo Mamas, continued construction and conservation work, and visited nearby villages as part of the Science Communication project, strengthening connections with local communities.
Makuti & Coconut Traditions
Participants refined their traditional makuti roofing skills, learned how to produce coconut oil with local community members, continued conservation work and Swahili lessons, and embraced everyday life in Gongo through sports, teamwork, and cultural exchange.
Closing the Journey
The final week was dedicated to celebrating the journey, with participants revisiting the conservation site, learning traditional wood carving, supporting the monthly baby clinic, and sharing meaningful farewell moments with the Gongo community before saying baadaye—see you again.
Arrival day
Introduction to the programme, including orientation sessions, cultural
briefings, and team-building activities. During this time, participants got to know each other, meet the local partner (CSDS), and gain
a deeper understanding of the project’s objectives and approach.
Arrival at Thai Hai Village
The team travelled from Hanoi to Thai Hai Village, where they were introduced to the local community, its history, traditions, and traditional costumes. A guided tour of the village marked the beginning of their cultural immersion and volunteering journey.
Community Work & Youth Activities
Participants worked alongside the local community to rebuild the village’s bamboo fence while continuing to strengthen their connection with Thai Hai. They also organised educational and recreational activities for local children, creating meaningful moments of learning, play, and cultural exchange.
Bamboo & Village Traditions
Participants continued working with bamboo by building plant supports in the market area, met the founder of Thai Hai Village to learn about its vision and history, and discovered local beekeeping traditions during a visit to the village’s bee house.
Supporting Sung Village
Participants spent part of the week in Sung Village, working alongside the local Dao community to build a new access road to the rice fields and construct a pig pen, contributing to community infrastructure while experiencing another region of Vietnam.
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Returning to Thai Hai
Back in Thai Hai Village, participants continued environmental work by relocating young trees for replanting and organised their final educational and recreational activities with the village’s children, ending the week with gratitude and meaningful connections.
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Final Week in Thai Hai
Participants completed environmental and infrastructure work by creating natural green fences and improving village pathways. The week ended with a heartfelt cultural exchange evening, celebrating the friendships and memories shared with the Thai Hai community before saying farewell.
Departure Day
After 45 days of volunteering and cultural exchange, participants left Vietnam with meaningful friendships, a deeper appreciation of the Tay and Dao communities, and memories that will stay with them for years to come.
See for youself
project partners
The organisations and people behind the project who we join forces with and grow together.
Wheeling2Help
Greece
CSDS
Vietnam
Tartarukus
Mexico
SANA
Tanzania
Roes Cooperativa
Greece
The It Takes a Village project is approved by Dutch National Agency under the project number: 101192252 and it is co-financed by the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Commision.
This page and each element connected to this page reflect only the author’s view and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
