Groups—Creating Your Own Team

Global Village trip provides a unique opportunity for your community, youth, church or corporate group to participate together in an exciting adventure that develops individuals, strengthens teams, and makes permanent improvements in people’s lives.


How can our group organize a Global Village team?
You will need one volunteer from the group willing to take the leadership responsibility. Ideally, s/he will already hold a place of leadership or authority in your community or organization and must be willing to commit to the leadership role.

Trips are arranged specifically for your team –dates, destination and itinerary can be determined by the needs of your group.

It takes a minimum of six months to plan a trip and complete the fundraising; nine-to-twelve months preparation time is recommended.


Where can we go?
There are more than 40 countries around the world hosting Global Village teams. If you would like to go to a particular part of the world, your Global Village coordinator can suggest countries which will provide a good hosting experience.

In Europe/Central Asia our affiliates are welcoming Global Village teams in: Armenia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Tajikistan.

For our projects in other parts of the world, click on the map.


Who can create a Global Village team?
For 2009, more than 30 groups and organizations decided they would like to create their own GV team. These groups included churches, universities, school, corporations and other community organizations.

It takes enthusiasm and motivation to put together a Global Village team. Yet the rewards for your group can be very high. They will include team work, a new vision for life, and a new understanding of the needs of people living in poverty. But for most people it is simply working alongside the new homeowners and sharing their joy and hope that provides the greatest impact.

We will work with you to plan your trip. At an early stage we will agree on various responsibilities between your group and our organization to ensure that planning goes smoothly. Part of our responsibility will be to:

• Send you our Global Village Getting Started pack

• Give you fundraising and PR ideas

• Train your team leaders

• Help with trip logistics and paperwork

• Help prepare budgets

• Help with team orientation

How many people make up a team?
Teams usually consist of 12-15 people. Minimum group size is 8 or 10, depending on the destination. Larger groups can also be accommodated.


How much does a Global Village cost?
Trip cost varies depending on trip length and destination. Most Global Village host countries have standard budgets for each volunteer team trip.

The standard trip cost includes: a donation to the Habitat host program and Habitat for Humanity; meals, accommodations, transport (excluding trip participant airfare), medical emergency evacuation and local cultural activities, team coordination and orientation materials. Participants still need to pay for their own airfare to the host country, and any applicable visa and exit fees. Any additional R&R (Rest and Recreation) or extended touring post-build also needs to be paid for separately.

In addition to contributing volunteer labour, Global Village teams also contribute financially by raising funds and awareness for their host Habitat program. This money is used to build or renovate even more Habitat homes in the host country.


What if I don’t have enough people to make a team?
We also run Global Village teams that are open to anyone. To join a trip that is already formed, please go to our individuals section.


What next?
Based on your location, contact your local representative who can give you more information on planning your own GV team trip:

From Netherlands, go to http://www.habitat.nl/
From Great Britain, contact globalvillage@hfhgb.org

From Germany and Switzerland, contact Ana Carola Baldivieso at anabaldivieso@hfhd.de
From Northern Ireland, go to http://www.habitatni.co.uk/
From Ireland, contact globalvillage@habitatireland.ie
From other parts of Europe, contact gv.europe@habitat.org
If you are from the United States and are interested in a trip to Europe/Central Asia contact gv@habitat.org