Established in 1989, Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international short-term volunteer program. The program aims to build or improve homes by partnering with communities to address safety and livability standards, aligning with Habitat’s vision where everyone has a decent place to live. In 2019, Global Village operated in 30 countries and managed over 13,000 local and international volunteers annually.

Global Village welcomes groups made up of 12-16 volunteers who are all at least 18 years old. Each group must select a leader to represent the team, submit a program donation and complete required training. Not part of a group? Individuals are encouraged to check back for future Global Village opportunities that are open to independent volunteers.

Volunteer work varies based on the community’s project goals which can involve building, repairing, improving or updating homes. Volunteers may work on ancillary projects that ensure homes meet safety and accessibility standards. For example, volunteers may replace open-flamed cooking stoves with smokeless ones to reduce indoor smoke inhalation or build water tanks so homes in a neighborhood can access water.

No specific technical or professional experience is required. Global Village is designed for volunteers looking to make a sustainable impact on the global housing deficit and advocate for adequate housing for all.

All volunteers are required to make a program donation ranging from $1,625-$2,700, which can be fundraised. This donation covers: A donation to the Habitat country program. Ground transportation, meals and accommodations. Travel accident and sickness insurance. Trip cancellation insurance (for international builds only). A possible subsidy for team leader expenses. Airfare, activity costs outside of the itinerary, visa and exit fees and any associated vaccines are not included.

Habitat has a long history of working in other countries, and volunteer health and safety is our top priority. Our country program staff in these nations know and live in the area and help ensure a safe and valuable experience for volunteers year after year. We also follow international travel advisories closely. While we cannot guarantee personal safety, we do everything possible to keep volunteers out of harm’s way, both on and off the work site, and include travel, accident and sickness insurance in the program donation. However, it is up to each individual to review the Habitat country program guidelines and follow the instructions of team leaders and country program coordinators for the best experience possible.

You will need a passport, but requirements for visas and vaccines vary by country. For U.S. citizens, visit the U.S. Department of State website for additional information. For non-U.S. citizens, consult with your embassy or consulate in your build location.