Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, this event's namesake volunteer, often talks about how Habitat can build bridges between vastly different people. That is evident on any Habitat build, but especially on an international Carter Work Project. This week in Léogâne, Haiti, 100 partner families are working shoulder to shoulder with nearly 500 volunteers from all over the world. Here are five stories about how powerful and personal those connections can be. — Compiled by Phil Kloer, Phillip Jordan and Tracie Troha