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Global Village ProgramVolunteer Tourism from Habitat for Humanity International
Sweat Equity is the currency used at Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Program, where volunteer tourists help new homeowners build their own homes .
Most people have heard about Habitat for Humanity and although many think that this volunteer organization only gives homes away to poor families - that isn’t the case at all. After a rigorous screening process, people “buy” homes with sweat equity. This means that potential homeowners join Habitat volunteers and build their own homes. Habitat says more than one billion people worldwide live in urban slums. The volunteer organization relies on the generosity of donors to help improve the lives of the people in these slums by donating time, money or supplies to Habitat projects. Habitat for Humanity International Global Village ProgramA program, popular with volunteers, is the Habitat for Humanity International Global Village Program, which offers short-term house-building trips. These volunteer travel expeditions give people who are adventurous and caring the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and work side by side with partner families to build houses and create a better future all across the world in the location of their choice. What is the Global Village (GV) Program?The Global Village Volunteer Program consists of short-term home-building trips designed to give concerned people the opportunity to observe and contribute to Habitat’s work on site. Habitat builds are located in Africa, Europe, Asia, Pacific, USA and the Middle East and the trip usually lasts for two to three weeks including travel, construction work and recreational activities. Short Term Volunteer ProgramsIt is certainly not all work and no play on these volunteer programs. Itineraries are balanced with plenty of work, rest and free time. Depending on the length of the trip, most teams spend a few days discovering the area and participating in local cultural activities. Volunteers are encouraged to learn as much as possible about the local people and their cultures and traditions. HFHI has affiliates in 100 countries, and many of them host short-term volunteer teams. Cost of a GV TripThe cost of a GV trip depends on the country visited; the HFH host affiliate and the length of the trip. A lot of the costs depend on the volunteers themselves. Some participants cover all of their costs, while many others engage in fund-raising campaigns. Depending on the participant’s country of origin, this trip’s cost may or may not be tax-deductible. Qualifications of Volunteers for a GV TripThere is no maximum age limit, but it is a good idea to be relatively fit and healthy as a lot of the work is pretty strenuous manual labor out in the open. Volunteers under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian or be part of a chaperoned school, church or institution group. All Year Round Volunteer TourismApplications are accepted year round. With poverty being so prevalent and housing always being needed, there can never be enough volunteers. For adventurous travelers who are thinking of doing a bit of volunteer tourism, joining a GV team is a great opportunity to make new friends while discovering the people and cultures of a new country in a very intimate way. Volunteer Tourism is a great experience for groups and for individuals to enjoy a vacation with a difference. A Global Village Vacation with a Purpose is a travel experience unlike any other.
The copyright of the article Global Village Program in International Volunteering is owned by Karen Lotter. Permission to republish Global Village Program in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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