Global Village FAQs

Established in 1989, Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international short-term volunteer program. 

The program aims to build or improve homes by partnering with communities to address safety and livability standards, aligning with Habitat’s vision where everyone has a decent place to live.

If you are an individual volunteer looking to join a Global Village team, search open build opportunities. Once you find a build that interests you, contact the team leader to confirm it’s the right fit. The team leader will provide you with the registration link to sign up.

Have your own group such as a church, university, friends or family? Organize a private Global Village build. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Volunteer work varies based on the community’s project goals which can involve building, repairing, improving or updating homes.

Beyond housing construction, volunteers may work on ancillary projects that ensure homes meet safety and accessibility standards. For example, volunteers may replace open-flamed cooking stoves with smokeless ones to reduce indoor smoke inhalation or build water tanks so homes in a neighborhood can access water. 

We are constantly innovating based on what our communities need and volunteers show interest in.

A Global Village open build typically spans between seven to nine days.

For Global Village private builds and some builds with shorter itineraries, the length of the build can be customized to meet your group’s needs in select locations.

All volunteers are required to make a program donation ranging from US$2,000-$3,000. This amount may be fundraised to help cover the cost.

This donation covers:

• A donation to the Habitat country program. 
• Ground transportation, meals and accommodations.
• Travel accident and sickness insurance.
• Trip cancellation insurance (for international builds only).
• A possible subsidy for team leader expenses.

Airfare, activity costs outside of the itinerary, visa and exit fees and any associated vaccines are not included. For more information, read about your program donation.

Habitat offers volunteers access to a peer-to-peer fundraising platform for eligible teams. Details on how to fundraise will be provided with the registration confirmation. Learn more about fundraising for your Global Village build on our fundraising page. 

No specific technical or professional experience is required. Global Village is designed for volunteers looking to make a sustainable impact on the global housing deficit and advocate for adequate housing for all.

Each build is designed by the community around a local housing need and is tied to broader Habitat development initiatives.

New Global Village open opportunities are continually added throughout the year.

Private teams
These teams are comprised of individuals connected through an organized group, including:

• Friends and family networks: Formed from personal networks.
• Organizations: Comprised of individuals associated with universities, churches and faith-based organizations, and social clubs, among others. 
• Habitat affiliate: Some teams travel on behalf of a local Habitat for Humanity organization. The team leader can be a Habitat staff member, volunteer, board member, etc. Team members are usually recruited using the organization’s network.
• Corporations: Employee teams vary from small office groups to full company participation.

Want to organize a build for your group? Learn more about the process then contact [email protected].

Open teams
These teams have no specific affiliations and are formed by individual volunteers from around the world. Habitat facilitates the formation of these groups. Opportunities to join a team will appear on the Global Village build schedule. 

Some locations accept volunteers 15-17 years old. Volunteers 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, authorized adult or be part of an organized private group such as a school group. 

All in-country transportation, meals and accommodations are arranged by local Habitat staff.

You will stay in double-occupancy rooms at a local hotel. Single-occupancy rooms are available by request for an additional charge. Please contact your team leader to request a single-occupancy room. 

Meals will vary slightly from day to day. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. On build days, lunch will be provided on-site. Dinner will be at local restaurants or the hotel.  

Habitat can accommodate typical dietary restrictions. If you have significant concerns, contact your team leader to request additional information. Some locations may have limitations in their ability to accommodate special dietary needs.

Habitat has a long history of working in other countries, and volunteer health and safety is our top priority.

Our country program staff in these nations know and live in the area and help ensure a safe and valuable experience for volunteers year after year. We also follow international travel advisories closely. While we cannot guarantee personal safety, we do everything possible to keep volunteers out of harm’s way, both on and off the work site, and include travel, accident and sickness insurance in the program donation. However, it is up to each individual to review the Habitat country program guidelines and follow the instructions of team leaders and country program coordinators for the best experience possible.

You will need a passport, but requirements for visas and vaccines vary by country. For U.S. citizens, visit the U.S. Department of State website for additional information. For non-U.S. citizens, consult with your embassy or consulate in your build location.

The immunizations you need to travel internationally vary by country and by person. Visit your doctor and consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel site for details on immunization requirements and recommendations for the country or countries you will be visiting. 

Work assignments can involve strenuous physical activity ― sometimes at high altitudes. Team members should be in good physical health when considering a build.

Travel always contains some risks. While Habitat for Humanity International has a comprehensive safety and emergency management plan in place and all registered volunteers are covered under a travel, accident and sickness insurance policy, all volunteers participate at their own risk.

Team leaders are volunteers and do not receive payment for their work. Habitat is fortunate to have dedicated volunteer team leaders who work alongside staff to prepare groups for their builds.

For more information on leading a Global Village build, read our team leader FAQs.

Connect with your local Habitat for Humanity office for opportunities to continue to reduce the global housing deficit such as advocacy, volunteering for building and renovation projects in your community, or volunteering with a local ReStore. 

Continue volunteering globally by joining another Global Village open build or by organizing your own private team.

We understand things may not go as planned. Please review our cancellation policies and reach out to your team leader to initiate your cancellation.