Start early to build a true Christmas spirit of giving! Join us for an early December Habitat build in the community of Masachapa, located in San Rafael del Sur, about 62 kms west of Managua. The population density is of 4.776 inhabitants distributed in 810 families, where most of them live in overcrowded conditions and lack access to drinking water sources and basic sanitation. The families usually are formed by five or six members and have an overall income of less than US$200 per month.

For this Global Village trip, we are building a diverse team fascinated with Nicaragua, anxious to help families build a new life in a Habitat home and willing to travel and build with an open mind and a flexible attitude. No building experience is necessary, but “flexibility” is the key! We will be balancing the team with members who speak fluent Spanish, those who want to improve their language skills and non-Spanish speakers willing to work together with those who can help translate.

About Nicaragua
Nicaragua is bordered by Honduras to the north, Costa Rica to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The country is a tropical area with rich ecosystems supported by its climate and topography.

Country Profile
Climates in Nicaragua are dependent on the area of the country however temperatures remain fairly constant through most of the country averaging 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall can vary between 40 in. annually in the highlands to as much as 255 in. in the Caribbean lowlands with a rainy season of May-October.

Nicaragua is home to almost 6 million people, with an estimated 2.5 million people living in Managua and surrounding areas making this capital city the second most populous city in Central America.

About Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua
Habitat for Humanity began working in Nicaragua in 1984 in the community of German Pomares of Chinandega. Since then, families in Jinotega, Matagalpa, Estelí, Leon, Chinandega, Managua, Bluefields, Carazo and Rivas have built their homes with Habitat assistance.

Learn more at Habitat's Nicaragua country profile page. 

Types of construction for volunteers
Habitat Nicaragua builds homes of steel-reinforced cement block walls and roofs of galvanized zinc sheeting. The designs vary from project to project. Each house will have a mason and the future homeowner family doing construction in addition to volunteers.

Volunteers will aid in whatever skilled or unskilled work is needed. Some tasks include digging foundations, laying block, mixing mortar, moving materials, or cutting and tying rebar.

Standard itinerary
(9-day itinerary)

• Day 1 (Arrival day, typically Saturday): Greeted at Managua airport by Habitat Nicaragua staff; dinner.
• Day 2 (Sunday): Transported to host site; orientation and welcome.
• Day 3-7 (Workdays, Monday-Friday): Breakfast served before traveling to work site; work from 8a.m.- 4p.m. with lunch on-site; free time after work to clean up; supper of local Nicaraguan food; time for team activities.
• Day 8 (Saturday): Tour cultural sites; free time; final team dinner.
• Day 9 (Final day, Sunday): Departure day.

Accommodations
Work teams usually stay in hotels, retreat centers or dorm-style accommodations that are basic, safe and clean. The team will stay two to four people per room. Typically rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, though in some locations only shared bathrooms are available.

Program cost
US$1,930
(For more details about what is included in this cost, visit Global Village program cost.)

Increase your impact: Take the GV Challenge
Habitat for Humanity is accelerating its work to end poverty housing, and we need Global Village teams to help. Set a goal and fundraise to make your impact last longer than the days you’re in the field. Your support builds more homes, creates resource centers, educates families, and advances our projects to build sustainable communities. We’ll even provide tools to make fundraising easy. Take the GV Challenge – join us in sharing our story and building a better world.

Team leader
Kathryn Mutz is a biologist/lawyer living in Boulder, Colo., and working part-time on oil and gas issues at the University of Colorado Law School. She first joined Habitat as an international team member to Kyrgyzstan in 2003 and started leading trips in fall 2005. Kathryn has led seven other GV teams (Portugal, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Vietnam) including two builds in Latin America (Bolivia and Honduras). This will be her first trip to Nicaragua. For more information about this trip and team, please email Kathryn at: gvmutz@gmail.com.