Braga, Portugal
March 20–29, 2010
This Spring, be a part of a team of 12 fantastic individuals who will work together to help build security and opportunity for a Portuguese family. No special construction skills or language abilities are required for this adventure—just a warm heart, positive attitude and a helping hand. This trip is guaranteed to be a rewarding experience for all involved because together, we will make a lasting impact on a family, a community and each other.
About Portugal
Portugal is situated on the west side of the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain. It became an independent kingdom in 1143, and it is one of the oldest existent nations in Europe. It was the Portuguese sailors who, in the 15th century, discovered the ocean routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, changing the way people understood the world around them.
Braga is situated in the northwestern part of the country and has been an important trading center since recorded times. In the 12th century, it became Portugal’s spiritual center and the home of the Catholic Church. Numerous cathedrals, buildings and relics testify to Braga’s religious significance. Modern Braga is also known for its unique handicrafts and delectable gastronomy. Wandering through the streets of Braga, you will find excellent pottery and wooden miniatures, but the city’s most characteristic handicraft is cavaquinho, or four-string baby viola, still manufactured in the traditional way.
About Habitat for Humanity Portugal
Housing is a major concern for Portuguese families, with 65 percent of the population living in dilapidated housing and 8.5 percent in shacks. One of the biggest challenges of HFH Portugal is a common dependency on government subsidies. The Governmental Social Housing program has been relatively effective in re-housing families that were living in poor conditions; however, support for the families that have been relocated does not exist. Social problems such as alcoholism, illiteracy, exclusion, lack of basic care and the creation of social ghettos are not solved with this kind of assistance. Only by promoting community-building and inclusiveness, and through educational and social programs, is it possible to break this poverty cycle.
Poverty housing in Portugal is spread throughout the country, with two distinct kinds of housing: “hidden poverty,” typical Portuguese houses with a small orchard that hides the poor housing conditions), and the obvious shacks of the big cities. Since the 1970s, Portugal has been the destination country for immigrants from the former Portuguese colonies and Brazil and more recently, for immigrants from former Soviet Union countries. Thus, the need for housing is growing, especially in the urban areas of the country.
The first Habitat house in Portugal was built in 1999 in the town of Vieira do Minho. The following year, HFH Braga began to build in Palmeira and Cunha and has served 28 families as of October 2008. In 2002, the organization began to renovate and repair existing homes and apartments and continues to find ways to serve more families. Learn more about Habitat Portugal at www.assoc-habitat.pt.
Types of construction for volunteers
Volunteers may work on new construction of single-family homes and apartments and single-family home renovation and repair.
The homes are made of traditional Portuguese materials: bricks, red roof tiles, shutter windows, and ceramic tiles inside the houses. They have two–three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom and are between 66–108 square meters.
Standard itinerary
(10-day itinerary)
Day 1, Saturday March 20, 2010: Depart for Portugal.
Day 2, Sunday March 21, 2010: Arrive in Porto, Portugal; travel to Braga; welcome and orientation with Habitat host program staff member; dinner.
Days 3–8, Monday, March 22, 2010–Saturday, March 27, 2010: Work days; breakfast served before traveling to work site; work from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. with lunch on site; free time after work to clean up; dinner in local restaurants; team activities; farewell dinner on Day 8. (Note: Thursday can be an optional cultural activity day or work day.)
Day 9, Sunday, March 28, 2010: Travel to Porto; free time; final team dinner.
Day 10, Monday, March 29, 2010: Departure day.
Note: Special events throughout the week include cultural experiences with host program staff, such as market tours, museum visits, walking tours, etc.
Accommodations
Hotels are simple and basic and typically located near the project site. Rooms sleep two people and include a private bathroom. All facilities are screened by HFH staff to ensure they are safe, clean and well-maintained.
Trip cost
$1,500
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
Jenny Koopman has worked on GV teams in Costa Rica (2005) and Zambia (2006) and led teams to Mexico (2008), South Dakota (2008) and El Salvador (2009). She also served as a Construction Volunteer Leader for Habitat for Humanity through AmeriCorps in Longmont, Colorado from 2008–2009.
Back in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jenny is pursuing a master’s degree in community planning and is very excited about bringing a dozen like-minded individuals together to work in Portugal over her spring break!
For more information regarding this trip, contact Jenny via e-mail at jlk211@hotmail.com.