Kenya House Building Trip

We believe that every child deserves a safe, secure home - one with a sturdy roof, a comfortable bed, and a quiet space where they can study and grow. Without this basic foundation, it's impossible for them to fully engage and thrive in their education.

Since 2014, we are proud to have built 62 homes, providing shelter for 276 children. Through our house-building trips, international volunteers have contributed to 36% of these homes, working alongside local volunteers and builders.  By joining our efforts, you can be part of a dedicated team laying the foundations for a brighter future for children in Kenya.

Sending one or more of your employees to take part in the building not only helps bring shelter to families currently living in desperate conditions but also has the potential to:

  • Give employees a greater sense of perspective and level of appreciation for what they have
  • Improve attitude, work ethic, team working, interpersonal and problem solving skills
  • Increase productivity and ability to work under pressure
  • Take down cross-departmental barriers
  • Bring people from different walks of life together when working towards a common goal
  • Make a meaningful contribution to your organisation's CSR objectives
  • Provide your staff with a valuable and unforgettable experience
  • Build bonds that last a lifetime

Summer 2026 trip dates - 25th July to 7th August 

This unique opportunity to build houses in Kenya, offers you the trip of a lifetime.  Our trips are offered at cost price and in addition we kindly ask each volunteer to raise a minimum of £1,000 towards the cost of building materials, land, solar panels, furniture and the leasing of an additional plot of land for each family to use for farming.  The next building project will take place in Karatina, Kenya.

The standard 14-day trip package includes:

Accommodation 
Minibus transport
Internal flights ✔​
Airport pick up
In-country 24 hour volunteer support
Pre-departure and visa support
Meals and water

 

Cost £1,499 for a single person OR £1,399 pp for a twin or double room 

Please note that this does not include international flights, visas, vaccinations or the optional 3 day Masai Mara Safari after the main trip.
A sample itinerary can be found below.
Days 1-3
  • Guests arrive any time into Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
  • Transportation to hotel in Nairobi - dinner, bed & breakfast included
  • Internal flight to Eldoret and drive to Iten
  • Check in to Hotel
  • Visit GEF village/building site and the 4 families we will be building for
Days 4-10
  • Building houses
Days 11-14
  • Officially open new houses
  • Internal flight to Nairobi - Check in to hotel for 2 night
  • Relax by pool at hotel
  • Optional activities
  • David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
  • Giraffe Centre
  • Fly home after 10pm
Optional 3 day Masai Mara safari: Days 15-17
  • Depart Hotel 8am
  • 7 hour drive to Maasai Mara
  • Check into the camp
  • Evening game drive
  • Full day game drive and sunset (weather dependant)
  • Depart camp 9am for 6-7 hour drive with lunch stop
  • Arrive back at Nairobi - Fly home after 10pm

This optional 3 day safari costs £575.

A comprehensive information document, covering everything you need to know including costs for each of the above itinerary options, will be available soon.

We are always incredibly grateful to companies who sponsor elements of the building work.  Sponsors play a huge role in making it possible for us to build the target number of houses on each trip; enabling us to purchase the likes of timber, iron sheet, windows, doors, land, tools and team t-shirts.

Our thanks goes out to the following companies for your contributions to the 2023 project:

  • The Budge Foundation
  • The Alternative Board Aberdeen and Shire (TAB Aberdeen)
  • The York Ghost Merchants
  • On The Right Path Ltd
  • Ramsay & Chalmers
  • Load Monitoring Systems
  • CHAP Group Aberdeen

Please get in touch with any questions about future trips to Kenya with us, to register your interest or to receive sponsorship package info.

The whole experience was inspirational and what made it even more humbling was that the people we were building for were with us on site every day.

Garry Willis, Health & Safety Manager, Linear Group

Unlike most charity donations/events I have done before, this trip gave me the opportunity to see first-hand the difference that our money, clothes, toys and hard work would make to severely underprivileged children.

James Ferguson, Framer, Stewart Milne Group

Seeing the excitement of the children as they prepared to move into their new homes was incredible. They appreciate the small things in life. It was inspiring to see what a weight it was off their mum’s shoulders to have a safe place for her and her children to sleep.

Jess Thom, Psychologist, CHIMP Management

I started volunteering with GEF in 2015. Arriving in Kenya with a team of strangers and starting with just a slab base to then working together to build three or four houses within 7 days really changes you for the better and gives you a greater understanding of how fortunate we are. Whether you are a joiner, librarian, receptionist, doctor, student or someone who has never picked up a tool before, everyone is an asset and plays an important role in the construction.

Darren Cocker, Site Manager, Bancon Homes

It is great to see what we achieved in such a short space of time. The impact it brings to locals is fantastic and clear to see.

Steven Smith, Engineer, Network Rail

For anyone contemplating joining any of the GEF trips – just do it – you’ll never, ever regret it.

Joanna Robertson, Data Control Supervisor, Baker Hughes

Having seen the great things that are achieved with people coming together to help other far less fortunate, we are grateful to be involved along with many others giving what they can to assist in the process of all the great works that the charity achieves.

Jamie Tosh, Director, Bancon Homes

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