Nurek, Tajikistan

April 25 – May 8, 2009

Are you the type of individual who believes that living and learning in another culture brings richness to life far beyond that experienced by the average tourist?
Do you enjoy the challenge of being outside your “comfort zone” knowing that the rewards are great?
Do you have a heart for service to others?
Would you like to work side by side with sweet, gentle local people, be invited to eat in their simple village homes and visit their relatives as a part of your mission trip?
Are you ready to be stretched physically, culturally, emotionally and spiritually?
Are you ready to travel with 10-12 other people with the same “heart” as you?

Then this may be the trip for you! There will be a place on our team for men and women of all experience and ages. No previous construction skill or experience is required.

About Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a small republic in Central Asia, bordering Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Afghanistan. The Tajiks, whose language is nearly identical with Persian, were part of the ancient Persian Empire that was ruled by Darius I and later conquered by Alexander the Great. In the 7 & 8th centuries, Arabs conquered the region and brought Islam. Various Uzbek and Afghan leaders successively ruled the Tajiks until the Russian Empire absorbed the region in the 1860’s In 1924, Tajikistan was consolidated into a newly formed Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union. It became a full-fledged Union Republic, with its present borders in 1929. Tajikistan declared its sovereignty from the Soviet Union in August 1990 and became an independent state in December of 1991. Its old Soviet era constitution was abolished and a parliamentary republic proclaimed in 1992.

Since the end of the civil war in 1997, Tajikistan has struggled with poverty. More than 80 percent of the people live below the poverty line and survive by subsistence farming. There are unfinished homes scattered across the country. Many families live in houses made of raw brick or clay, with dirt floors. Their homes are not only decaying and unsanitary, but were not built to withstand earthquakes in a region prone to such disasters.

About Nurek
Nurek is a rural city of about 40,000 people located in spectacular mountains southeast of the capitol city of Dushanbe. Established in 1960, this city is the site of the world’s highest hydro-electric dam. Habitat homes near Nurek are built for relocating families, currently living in mountain villages, whose homes are being destroyed by earthquakes or washed away by massive mud slides.

Tentative Itinerary

** Please note that the itinerary may change as we confirm flights and other trip details

Accommodations
The team will stay in a private apartment/house in Tajikistan with plenty of space for sleeping, bathing, relaxing and team meetings. Electricity and hot water are part of the accommodations. Laundry will be done by local women. Some meals will be prepared at the house, and some will be eaten at local restaurants. Lunch will be at the work site.

Cost
The anticipated cost of our trip to Tajikistan will be approximately CAD $1,970 + CAD $220 for R&R*. Not included in the above quoted prices are the following items that will need to be paid for by each individual participant: round-trip airfare, Visas (Turkey & Tajikistan), registration fee with Government in Tajikistan and exit fees. The trip cost includes lodging, food, ground transportation, traveler's medical insurance, orientation materials and a donation to HFH Tajikistan. Participants must make their own arrangements and pay for transportation from their point of departure to Tajikistan. This must be done in consultation with the team leader. Please note that the R&R payments should not be sent to Habitat for Humanity Canada, the team leader will collect them.

Please note that the cost of the trip & the R&R may be revised as trip details are finalized.

* Habitat for Humanity Canada will issue a charitable donation tax receipt for the cost of the basic trip and the airfare (not the R&R portion of the trip/fees).

Team Leader
My name is Tanya McMurdo. I have been involved with Habitat for Humanity for approximately 6 years as a volunteer with the Toronto affiliate and as of July 2008, I started working for Habitat Canada’s, National Office as the Global Village Program Coordinator for Europe & Central Asia.

Travel is one of my greatest passions in life – I love traveling to a new places and learning about the people and culture and seeing all the amazing sights. I have had the opportunity and pleasure of traveling through many interesting parts of the world and hope to continue doing so for many years to come.

I am looking forward to another exciting Global Village journey and meeting those of you who would like to join my adventure to Tajikistan.

Please feel free to contact me at tmcmurdo@habitat.ca if you would like to learn more about this trip or apply now using our on-line application!