El Minya, Egypt
May 14–22, 2010
Help Build It! Join me on this adventure where we will help build homes and communities in an area rich with history, culture and one of the wonders of the world.
About Egypt
Egypt is situated in northeastern Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Israel and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. It is a land of extremes—a country with stark contrasts between arid desert and fertile valleys, rich and poor and educated and illiterate.
With over 76 million inhabitants, Egypt is the most highly populated Arab country, vibrant with life along the mighty Nile River. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, however, an estimated 20 million people are living in substandard housing, with no means of improving their situations.
About Habitat for Humanity Egypt
Egypt’s national Habitat program was founded in 1989 and has constructed more than 10,000 houses that have turned despair into hope for thousands of families in 15 communities. HFH Egypt has set a goal of serving 400,000 families by 2023.
In addition to its conventional new housing projects, HFH Egypt is offering no-profit loans to replace inadequate roofs with wooden ones. This change alone can create a secure home, protect families from the elements and also allow families the opportunity to build a second floor in the future.
Another area where HFHE is making a difference is in the governorate of El Minya. Unemployment and poverty rates are high in El Minya, but HFH is boosting the local economy by employing local builders and purchasing construction supplies, including white limestone from the quarry. As a result, many who would have otherwise migrated to seek work elsewhere are able to stay in the community with their families. HFHE continues to expand its work in the governorate.
Types of construction for volunteers
Most Global Village teams will be based in rural Egypt, where they will be working alongside a low-income family to help them build or renovate their new home. Not only will teams be helping to build a home, they will be lending a hand of service to a very poor community.
Team members assist with sifting sand, mixing cement, hauling bricks or blocks, bricklaying, painting, plastering and wood roofing. Housing solutions in Egypt are built using appropriate, locally-available building materials that meet specific housing requirements. Houses have cemented or tiled floors, plastered or limestone brick walls and secure wooden roofs.
Standard itinerary
(9-day itinerary)
Day 1, typically Friday: Depart for Egypt.
Day 2, Saturday: Travel day.
Day 3, Sunday: Arrive in Cairo; shuttle bus from airport to Baron Hotel; free time at hotel to rest and relax; lunch at hotel; travel to affiliate (4- to 5-hour bus ride); dinner at hotel.
Day 4, Monday: Travel to El Minya work site; welcome and orientation with local community board; build in the community; lunch on site; time for team activities in the evening.
Days 5–6, Tuesday–Wednesday: Breakfast at hotel; work at build site 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; lunch on site; dinner at hotel; time for team activities in the evening.
Day 7, Thursday: Breakfast at hotel; work on site 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; lunch on site; travel to Cairo by bus; dinner in Cairo; stay at Baron Hotel.
Day 8, Friday: Free day of cultural activities.
Day 9, Saturday: Breakfast at hotel; depart for home.
Accommodations
In Cairo, teams will stay in double-occupancy rooms (with private baths) at a four-star hotel near the Habitat office called the Baron Hotel. Accommodations in El Minya will be a three- or four-star hotel with double-occupancy rooms and private baths.
Trip cost
$1,510
Trip cost includes: donation to the Habitat host program and HFHI; meals; accommodations; transport (excluding trip participant air fare); medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance; some local cultural activities and team coordination and orientation materials. The team leader’s trip cost and estimated air fare may be included in the trip budget. The trip cost does not include trip participant air fare, R&R activities or visa and exit fees (not applicable for all destinations).
Team leader(s)
Cody Logsdon is currently an employee of Habitat for Humanity International and works in the Volunteer Mobilization department. She has previously led trips to Guatemala and India. The thing Cody loves most about the Global Village program is the opportunity to meet and work with incredible and hard-working families around the world; it is truly a life changing experience.
For more information about the trip, please contact Cody at clogsdon@habitat.org.