Can you imagine joining a volunteer program in Morocco, just a few hours from Spain, and experiencing daily life in an Amazigh community? Hands That Unite is Fundación CiENViDAS’ volunteer program in Kasr Tarda, in Errachidia Province: an educational, community-based and cultural exchange experience away from the usual tourist routes.
During your stay, you will take part in educational and recreational activities with local children, learn about the community’s routines and spend time with local families. This is not simply a trip to help others. It is an experience of learning, cooperation and cultural immersion in which every volunteer contributes their skills and discovers a different way of seeing the world.
See full details and current availability on the official Hands That Unite program page. If this is your first experience abroad, read our guide to choosing ethical volunteering and a trustworthy NGO, and explore all opportunities on our international volunteering page.
Hands That Unite: CiENViDAS’ volunteer program in Morocco
Hands That Unite was created to build a respectful exchange between international volunteers and the local community. It combines education, recreation, creativity and cultural exchange, enabling volunteers to work directly with children while learning about local customs.
Its community dimension makes it different. You do not come merely to complete a few hours of volunteering: you live alongside the community, share routines and learn from the people involved in the project. A short journey from Spain opens the door to a different language, cuisine and relationship with time, place and community.
Kasr Tarda and Errachidia: where the project takes place
Kasr Tarda is a traditional village in south-eastern Morocco, in the Drâa-Tafilalet region and Errachidia Province. It lies close to the Ziz Valley, surrounded by palm groves, mountains and desert landscapes.
The area retains traditional adobe buildings and a way of life closely connected to the community and its surroundings. The program offers an opportunity to experience Morocco beyond its best-known tourist destinations and respectfully engage with everyday life in a rural community.
What activities will you do with the children?
A central part of the program consists of educational and recreational activities with village children. You do not need to be a teacher. Initiative, respect, adaptability and a willingness to prepare useful, enjoyable activities matter most.
Games and recreational activities
Volunteers organise team games and recreational activities. Spanish games are shared and local games are learned in return, encouraging communication, cooperation and positive relationships.
Creativity and logic workshops
Creative activities support imagination, motor skills, spatial awareness and different cognitive abilities. Volunteers help design and deliver sessions that bring together learning, cooperation and fun.
Spanish-language workshops
Volunteers can introduce basic Spanish words and expressions through songs, games and age-appropriate exercises. The aim is not to reproduce a formal classroom lesson but to spark curiosity and make communication enjoyable.
If education is your main interest, find practical guidance in our article on educational volunteering and how to make a meaningful contribution.
Cultural immersion and exchange
Learning goes both ways. Two afternoons are dedicated to discovering the work of rural women and joining a cooking workshop with a local family. These activities show that cooperation also means listening, learning and sharing without imposing.
What happened during the first program
The first program took place in August and lasted ten days, combining workshops with children, community activities and cultural immersion. Participants highlighted the shared learning, their relationship with the community and the need to adapt. The experience showed that responsible volunteering is not measured only by the number of tasks completed: listening, respecting local rhythms and spending meaningful time together matter too.
Living together: accommodation and meals
The volunteer house
Participants stay together in a house similar to traditional village homes. It is simple and welcoming, with shared spaces for resting and spending time together. It is not a hotel: you will sleep on floor mattresses, share a room and help keep common areas organised.
There is no Wi-Fi in the house and mobile coverage may be limited. The program includes a SIM card with 3G data, but volunteers should be ready to disconnect and adapt to intermittent connectivity.
Community living means sharing spaces, respecting local customs, eating mainly Moroccan food and accepting a simpler level of comfort. That simplicity is part of the experience: walking to the school, meeting neighbours and looking across the landscape from the terrace bring you closer to the village’s real pace of life.
Food and dietary requirements
Two women from the community prepare meals using local ingredients. Volunteers enjoy a range of traditional Moroccan dishes and pastries. With advance notice, meals can be adapted for allergies, intolerances and vegetarian or vegan diets.
Excursions and free time: Errachidia, Merzouga and Todra
The program leaves time to discover the surrounding area. One afternoon includes a trip to Errachidia for a swim and a walk around the city. An optional two-day excursion to the Merzouga Desert and Todra Gorge is also available for €165 per person; it is not included in the program fee.
Day 1: Merzouga Desert
The journey includes a 4×4 desert route, a stop in Khamlia and a traditional lunch. After sunset, the group travels to the camp for dinner, live Amazigh music and a night beneath the stars. The following morning includes a sunrise camel ride and visits to Rissani market, a fossil workshop and the Ouled Chaker oasis.
Day 2: Todra Gorge
After breakfast, the excursion continues to Todra Gorge, where the rock walls rise to approximately 300 metres. There is time to walk, enjoy the scenery and take photographs, with a possible visit to Amazigh carpet workshops in the valley.
Requirements for joining
No specific qualification is required. The main requirements are:
- Be 18 or over when the program begins; any possible participation by a minor must be discussed in advance and requires consent.
- Have a basic level of English.
- Be willing to learn, cooperate and live with others.
- Respect local culture, customs and the local team’s guidance.
- Be able to adapt to simple and unfamiliar living conditions.
If you are under 30 and wondering whether this experience is for you, discover why more young people are choosing international volunteering.
Morocco volunteer program dates
Hands That Unite has three annual intakes: Easter, summer and Christmas. The next planned dates are 27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and 21 to 28 March 2027. Confirm availability and the terms of each intake with the team before booking flights. If you are still deciding when to travel, see our guide to volunteering outside peak season.
Cost of the Hands That Unite program
- Hands That Unite program: €350.
- Certified contribution to the project: €200.
- Total: €550.
Pickup at Errachidia Airport on the program start date is included. For the special Christmas 2026–2027 intake, you may also arrive in Marrakech and request transport to the project for an additional €140; in that case, arrive one day earlier. Always confirm the airport, time and logistics with CiENViDAS before booking flights.
What the program includes — and what it does not
The program includes
- Orientation about Morocco, local customs and the project.
- Pickup at Errachidia Airport and transport to the village on the start date.
- Accommodation in the volunteer house.
- A SIM card with 3G data.
- Three meals per day.
- Cultural immersion activities, including Arabic, henna, cooking and a visit to Errachidia with pool time.
- Supervision and assistance throughout the stay.
- Administrative costs.
- A certified €200 contribution to the CiENViDAS project.
- A Fundación CiENViDAS International Volunteering Certificate.
The program does not include
- Flights.
- A visa, when required for your nationality.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- The return transfer to the airport.
- Personal expenses.
- Optional excursions.
If you arrive in Errachidia, airport pickup takes place on the program start date. If you arrive in Marrakech, you must travel one day earlier and confirm the transfer cost for your intake in advance. Do not book flights until the team has confirmed the logistics.
How to apply for volunteering in Morocco
The first step is to open the Hands That Unite program page and complete the pre-registration form. The team will review your application, answer your questions and help you prepare. If you need to clarify dates, transfers or dietary requirements before applying, you can also contact Fundación CiENViDAS.
Before travelling, you will receive guidance about the project, local customs and practical recommendations. International volunteering does not begin when you land: it begins when you choose to learn, prepare and participate responsibly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need previous experience?
No. Initiative, respect and adaptability are what matter. The team provides guidance before and during your stay.
Is there Wi-Fi in the house?
No. Mobile coverage may also be limited, although the program provides a SIM card with 3G data.
Can vegetarian or vegan meals be provided?
Yes. Allergies and intolerances can also be considered when communicated in advance.
What is the total cost?
The program fee is €350 and the certified project contribution is €200, making a total of €550. Pickup in Errachidia is included; the Marrakech transfer and optional excursions are paid separately.
When does the program run?
There are intakes at Easter, during summer and over the Christmas holidays. Exact dates and availability must be confirmed with the team.
Will you join Hands That Unite?
If you are looking for volunteering in Morocco that combines education, community life and cultural exchange, Hands That Unite could be your next experience. View the program and pre-register to start preparing for Errachidia.
