The work
Volunteers may help with digging, mixing mortar, laying blocks, building and painting walls, and moving materials alongside construction teams and local volunteers.
Start here
What this guide is for
This is a shared volunteer handbook: a place to understand the project, keep track of practical actions, get a sense of place, and tell the story with dignity and care.
The approach
Frame the trip as partnership, not charity: communities, volunteers, JOA, and Habitat joining forces to build long-term independence, opportunity, and public understanding back in Jersey.
The place
The project is based around Area 27 in Lilongwe, with a possible learning visit to Dedza, around 78km and roughly 1.5 hours by road from central Lilongwe.
Project context
Why Area 27, and why housing?
Area 27 in Lilongwe is described in the JOA programme guide as an informal settlement with around 6,200 residents. Residents face pressures around eviction risk, limited access to basic services, overcrowded housing, sanitation, and affordable homes.
Habitat Malawi is working with local authorities to upgrade informal settlements, support land access, improve infrastructure, and build safe homes for vulnerable households. The volunteer team contributes by adding hands, time, attention, and solidarity to work led locally.
Habitat for Humanity Global Village
A long-running international volunteer programme connecting people across communities through building and renovation projects.
Home Equals
Habitat's global advocacy campaign for people living in informal settlements to have safe, secure homes and fairer access to essential services.
Possible Dedza visit
The guide mentions a possible social learning exchange to Dedza to learn about Circles of Care and see homes built by earlier JOA teams.
Daily build rhythm
Habitat's orientation material describes build days starting with a morning briefing, site work through the day, frequent water/rest breaks, and evening reflection with the team.
Deeper project context
What Habitat Malawi is working on
Habitat for Humanity Malawi frames safe and affordable housing as a path out of poverty. Its work combines home building, sanitation, disaster resilience, advocacy, land tenure, skills, and volunteer engagement.
Vulnerable group housing
Habitat Malawi builds homes and sanitation facilities with vulnerable groups, including orphans, people with disabilities, and low-income families. The programme guide links our build to this wider approach.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene
Housing is not just walls and a roof. Habitat's Malawi work also includes WASH facilities and community capacity to manage them.
Security of land tenure
The Area 27 guide specifically mentions persistent eviction risk. Habitat's advocacy work includes land access, adequate housing, and security of tenure.
Local skills and safer building
Habitat Malawi trains local masons and promotes sustainable construction materials, including cement blocks and soil-stabilised blocks.
Journey shape
The trip at a glance
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Registration and safeguarding
Complete HFH registration and the online safeguarding training, then confirm or forward proof as requested.
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Project contribution
£500 contribution due. For security, use the official email for bank details rather than sharing them publicly here.
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Depart for Malawi
Known outbound plan: 10:35 from Jersey to Heathrow, then 18:25 from Heathrow via Nairobi to Lilongwe. Return flight timings are not yet confirmed in the source material.
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Build, learn, reflect
Work alongside local teams, learn about the wider context, and capture respectful reflections on what the experience teaches.
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Return home
Bring back stories that centre partnership, dignity, independence, and the people and communities leading the work.
Maps and orientation
Where everything is
Use these maps as orientation, not operational routing. Exact hotel, build-site, and daily movements should come from the JOA/HFH leaders.
Lilongwe, Malawi
The programme is based in Malawi's capital region. The project guide names Area 27, Lilongwe as the focus location.
Open Lilongwe in OpenStreetMapKamuzu International Airport
Lilongwe's international airport, code LLW. Outbound route currently known as Jersey → Heathrow → Nairobi → Lilongwe.
Open airport mapDedza learning visit
Possible visit mentioned in the JOA guide. Routing check: roughly 78km, about 91 minutes by road from central Lilongwe.
Open Dedza mapVolunteer actions
Checklist for the team
Tick items off in this browser. Your progress is saved locally on your device only.
Past admin milestones
These deadlines are now behind us, so they are listed as completed/past rather than active checklist items for the shared guide.
- 29 May: HFH registration deadline.
- 29 May: HFH safeguarding training deadline.
- 31 May: £500 project contribution deadline.
Preparation guide
Before we travel
Paperwork and checks
JOA asked volunteers to support travel admin with passport details, recruitment checks, DBS information where relevant, indemnity forms, and medical forms. Keep private documents off public channels and send them only through the official route requested by JOA.
Health preparation
Habitat advises speaking to a health professional or travel clinic at least three months before departure. Discuss vaccinations, malaria prevention, prescriptions, medical conditions, and what documentation to carry.
What to pack for build days
Essential items include steel toe-cap boots, lightweight work clothes, long sleeves for sun and mosquito protection, a wide-brimmed hat, waterproof layer, 50% DEET insect repellent, sun protection, rehydration sachets, and a small first-aid kit.
Mindset and flexibility
Habitat's guide is clear that things may not go to plan. Different is different, not right or wrong. The aim is to be flexible, curious, willing to apologise, and ready to learn from local staff and community members.
Typical build day
Morning briefing, site work with local experts, frequent breaks and water, simple food, and evening reflection as a team.
Who supports us
Team leaders, deputy leaders, country programme coordinators, construction supervisors, and local masons all have defined roles in keeping the work safe and useful.
Team culture
Living and working closely requires patience, willingness to compromise, shared learning, and honest communication if something feels uncomfortable or unsafe.
Ambassadors for JOA
How to represent the trip well
As volunteers, we are not just travelling to take part in a build. We are also helping people in Jersey understand what thoughtful, accountable international development looks like.
Be accurate
Use the facts we have: Area 27, Lilongwe; 11 to 19 July 2026; Habitat for Humanity Global Village; safe, decent homes for vulnerable households. Avoid overclaiming what one week can do.
Be humble
The community, local artisans, Habitat Malawi, and JOA's partner network are the centre of the work. Volunteers are there to support, learn, and add capacity.
Be useful
Share practical stories: preparation, teamwork, the build process, what good safeguarding looks like, and why long-term partnership matters.
Be careful
Protect privacy and dignity. Do not post identifiable stories, photos, or details about children or vulnerable people unless the proper consent and guidance are in place.
Safeguarding in practice
Good intentions do not remove risk
The training material is clear: safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. It means preventing harm, recognising power imbalance, and speaking up if something does not feel right.
Common risk areas
- Photography and social media, especially involving children, vulnerable adults, families, or identifiable community members.
- Gift giving, sponsorships, promises, or creating expectations that cannot be met.
- Sharing personal contact details, asking for social media handles, or direct messaging community members.
- Sharing names, exact locations, family details, or other personally identifiable information.
- Ignoring signs of harm because something feels culturally unfamiliar or awkward.
- Blurring boundaries between volunteer, visitor, friend, donor, and helper.
A simple volunteer test
Before taking a photo, posting a story, giving something, or making a promise, pause and ask:
- Who benefits from this?
- Could this create pressure, embarrassment, or expectation?
- Would I be comfortable if the situation were reversed?
- Have the leaders or safeguarding guidance clearly said this is okay?
- If something feels wrong, have I reported it rather than tried to investigate it myself?
Storytelling with care
How to talk about the trip
The terminology guide is clear: the strongest stories lead with independence, partnership, shared values, and lasting change. Avoid pity or saviour narratives.
Independence
Show how development supports people to build foundations, become self-reliant, and determine their own future.
Partnership
Use active language: join forces, share knowledge, learn together, contribute together. This is a two-way street.
Dignity
Describe people through hopes, values, opportunity, determination, pride, and full potential, not helplessness.
Evidence
Facts matter, but they work best inside human stories and examples of real, believable progress.
Do
- Centre local agency and community leadership.
- Ask what the experience is teaching you.
- Be careful with photos, especially involving children.
- Use respectful, simple language.
Do not
- Invoke pity or portray people as helpless victims.
- Use "foreign aid" framing.
- Share personal contact information casually.
- Give gifts or make promises outside guidance.
Useful links
Official resources
Jersey Overseas AidJOA homepage and updates
HFH registrationVolunteer registration form
HFH safeguarding trainingOnline volunteer training
Habitat MalawiHousing need and programme details
Volunteer orientation manualHabitat GB packing, safety, and trip guidance
HEAL reporting lineHabitat Ethics and Accountability Line
Habitat for HumanityRegional Habitat information