Welcome to Women Build!

National Women Build Week, May 4-10, 2008
In the decade since Habitat for Humanity International officially created the Women Build program, thousands of women volunteers have built more than 1,200 Women Build homes through their local affiliates. To celebrate that accomplishment, Habitat and Lowe’s, the underwriter of the Women Build program, have declared the week before Mother’s Day, May 4-10, “National Women Build Week.”

Approximately 150 affiliates are organizing a Women Build day during this week. Find out more about the celebration – as well as how you can volunteer, and how media outlets throughout the U.S. are covering the event – by visiting our National Women Build Week page.

How Women Build helps build more homes
Women Build is a Habitat for Humanity International program that trains women to make a difference by building homes and communities. Thousands of houses have been built by women crews around the world – more than 1,200 since Women Build’s official creation in 1998. Each year hundreds more homes are added as affiliates, donors and sponsors discover the impact of women volunteers and their resources.

How to get involved with Women Build
Women Build has a variety of ways for you to get involved, from training to travel—all of it hands-on and designed to help you learn and work.

Where is the nearest affiliate to me?
Find a Habitat affiliate near you.

What if the affiliate near me is not participating in Women Build?
Locate the closest Women Build Project or a project you would like to visit. Find out how to get help starting a Women Build project.

Is it a problem if I don’t have any construction skills?
Don’t worry! Many women come to Women Build sites with no construction skills at all and still make a great impact. Training will be provided.

How do I help support the cost of Women Build?
You can help by donating to Women Build.

How do I get more information?
Contact Women Build

Partnerships:
Women Build’s underwriter and major sponsors
Lowe’s is the underwriter of the Women Build program. In 2006 and 2007, Lowe’s sponsored Habitat’s First Families Building Homes Across America initiative, which challenged women governors, state first ladies and women leaders from all levels of government to make a highly visible commitment to the eradication of poverty housing in their home communities. In 2008, Lowe’s is sponsoring “National Women Build Week” during May 4-10, 2008. Lowe’s also offers free how-to clinics to Women Build affiliates that teach volunteers construction basics while providing extensive hands-on opportunities.

Home Interiors and Gifts Partnership
Home Interiors and Gifts, Inc., North America’s largest direct seller of home décor products, has donated nearly $2 million to the Women Build program and sponsors multiple builds each year in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Home Interiors decorating consultants continue to raise funds for Women Build by selling products, such as candles-in-a-jar, designated specifically for Habitat for Humanity fundraisers. In addition, Christi Carter Urschel, chairman and founder of Home Interiors Charitable Foundation®, has committed all of her profits from her decorating book, Art of Accessorizing, to support the Women Build program.

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