Global Village FAQs

A Global Village trip is a short-term service trip where you can volunteer abroad or in your home country with Habitat for Humanity.

All trips vary based on the location and itinerary, but all of them offer a mix of work, rest and reflection. You’ll not only utilize your skills to build safe, affordable houses in places where they are desperately needed, but you’ll also have the opportunity to see another culture up-close and experience life from the perspective of a local.

Trip costs range between $1650 - $2500.

Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program works to ensure that trips are well planned and coordinated, safe and constructive for volunteers. The ultimate purpose of Habitat Global Village trips is to improve the housing conditions of families around the world and provide volunteers with rewarding experiences and cultural exchange opportunities.

The work that you do on your volunteer trip provides a housing solution for the one family, but the donation that you make ensures that future families can have strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Your donations make Habitat’s work sustainable and help us continue building after you return home.

The requested donation varies by location, but it includes a donation to the Habitat host program, ground transportation, meals, accommodations, select activities, travel accident and sickness insurance, trip cancellation insurance (only international trips) and in some instances, a subsidy for team leader expenses. Program donations do not include airfare in and out of the country, activities beyond what is outlined in the trip details, visa and exit fees and any associated vaccines. For more information, read about your program donation.

We welcome everyone who wants to contribute to our work, no matter your background, religion or race. Previous construction experience or fluency in a second language is not required. Please note, however, that manual labor is a part of the trip, so all volunteers should be in good health. 

If you’re interested in joining a Global Village trip, you can register for any trip listed on our website. As trips fill up, they are removed from the website so it’s best to register as soon as trip opportunities become available. Volunteers age 18 and older may participate in this program.

Habitat offers volunteer opportunities through Global Village for both individuals and existing groups.

Our host programs are able to accommodate typical dietary restrictions. If you have significant concerns, don’t let it stop you from serving with Habitat! Contact your team leader to request additional information about meals and what can be accommodated.

You can find new and unique ideas and information about fundraising for your trip in our Fundraising Handbook.

Habitat volunteers have the opportunity to use our peer-to-peer fundraising platform at no additional cost to fundraise for their trip. Details on setting up your fundraising page will be provided with your trip registration confirmation.

Once you set up your page, family and friends can donate directly to you and your trip.

Habitat has a long history of working in other countries, and volunteer health and safety is our top priority. Our partners in these nations know and live in the area, and help ensure a safe and valuable experience for volunteers year after year. We also regularly 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 also include travel accident and sickness insurance in the program donation. However, it is up to each individual to assess the Habitat host program guidelines and follow the instructions of team leaders and in-country coordinators for the best experience possible.

Well, the great news is that you don’t need to speak another language or have previous experience to join! You will likely need a passport, but requirements for passports, visas and vaccines vary by country. Visit the volunteer resources section for additional information.

Be sure to visit with your family doctor or a nearby travel clinic as your trip approaches. You should also review the information provided on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/travel for traveler’s health information, recommended preparations and vaccinations.

Habitat for Humanity International’s COVID-19 vaccination policy requires all volunteers to be fully vaccinated at time of registration to participate in a trip. Fully vaccinated for this purpose, subject to change, means two weeks following the second shot of the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or other recommended dosage of a vaccine that has been approved by the CDC or WHO.

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

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 travel medical and medical evacuation insurance policy, all Global Village team members participate at their own risk. Volunteers should refer to the volunteer waiver for further information regarding potential risks.

Building a house is no simple task! Construction activities around the world vary in length, but most likely you won’t build a house from start to finish in only one week. With the help of your donations, construction continues even after you return home as we work towards a world where everyone has access to affordable shelter.

Your trip isn’t just about the work you’ll complete on the build site. Habitat trips are holistic experiences in which you’ll deepen your understanding of the local culture and community in addition to working alongside homeowners to create strength, stability and self-reliance.

Habitat for Humanity International is recognized in the United States as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. For many U.S. citizens, the program donation is tax-deductible. Please consult a tax professional for current rules and interpretations. Citizens of other nations (e.g., Canada, Germany, Australia, etc.) will have different rules concerning tax deductibility, based on Habitat’s tax status in that nation. Consult a tax adviser for any other specific questions on the deductibility of your trip-related expenses.

You can read more about the program donation and tax information on our website.

Visit habitat.org/match to find your company’s matching gift guidelines. If your donation qualifies for a matching gift, make sure it includes your Habitat ID and trip event code in order to be applied to your program donation. Funds that are paid out and arrive at Habitat for Humanity by the payment deadline will be applied towards your trip. Matching gifts that do not meet the payment deadline will be an additional donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Every company has its own schedule for paying out matching gifts. Gifts may be paid out monthly, quarterly or even annually. Touch base with your company to find out what their matching gift schedule is.

Please be sure to indicate your trip event code (GVXXXXX) and Habitat ID when submitting the required paperwork to your company so that the funds are credited to the correct volunteer.

Habitat has been working with volunteers to travel internationally since 1989.

We’re lucky to have a passionate and diverse group of volunteer team leaders who spend countless hours organizing the Habitat trip experience for volunteers. Leaders serve in a volunteer capacity and have successfully completed a background screening and our training curriculum to effectively facilitate your volunteer experience.

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