Habitat for Humanity Global Village: a re-envisioned volunteering abroad program
Dates for 2026 coming soon
Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program mobilizes volunteers to work with local communities to address housing needs around the world. The Global Village program addresses specific local challenges, fosters community development and promotes sustainable solutions worldwide, as well as helping volunteers become advocates for Habitat’s vision where everyone has a decent place to live.
Prior to the Global Village program’s suspension due to the COVID pandemic, it was active across 40 countries with over 13,000 annual volunteers. Habitat for Humanity used the suspension time to re-imagine the program: now, from the beginning, volunteers in this program learn more about the need for adequate housing around the world and the specific needs of a country where they will serve. Also, Habitat Global Village projects are now designed by local communities and focused on local ownership and local sustainability.
Examples of projects that leverage volunteers in Habitat’s Global Village program:
Habitat for Humanity Dominican Republic coordinated the regional 100,000 Floors to Play On campaign across Latin America and the Caribbean to replace 100,000 dirt floors with safe, durable concrete by 2028.
In Caruaru, Brazil, Habitat for Humanity’s Water for Lives program is constructing 16,000-liter cisterns, built with the help of volunteers from start to finish. These locally-designed systems collect and store rainwater, providing families in Pernambuco’s semi-arid region with reliable access to safe, clean water, significantly improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of long, often dangerous trips to distant water sources — especially for women and children.
In Cambodia, Global Village volunteers support communities in building homes designed to withstand the impacts of natural disasters. In regions frequently affected by flooding and extreme weather, this work addresses the urgent need for safer, more resilient housing, particularly in rural and informal urban areas where insecure land tenure and poor construction practices increase vulnerability.
Habitat is seeking people to become Global Village Team Leaders. Candidates need to be from organized groups, such as university classes or clubs, social clubs, communities of faith, volunteers or staff from local Habitat affiliates, employees from a company, etc. Candidates take the Global Village online trainings and then lead their organized group of co-workers, club members, students, congregation members or other association on a Global Village program trip abroad. Visit the Global Village team leader FAQ to find out if leading a team is right for you. The option for independent volunteers to join teams with whom they do not already have an association is not currently available, but you should sign up at the Habitat web site for updates in case this changes.
New Global Village build dates for 2026 will be released in July! Now is the perfect time to take the team leader trainings and to talk to your co-workers, fellow students, fellow members of your community of faith, other members of your civic club, or your local Habitat affiliate where you already volunteer about this program, to generate interest among your associates for possibly joining your team. That will help you to be ready to book early and secure your team’s spot in the Habitat program. Global Village groups usually consist of up to 16 individuals. Potential participants should understand that each Global Village volunteer raises funds among their associates or contributes a donation ranging from US$1,625-$2,700 that supports Habitat’s housing programs. Volunteers are responsible for paying for their own on-site accommodations (arranged by Habitat), meals, ground transportation and transportation to the country, as well as arranging for any necessary visas.
West Tuality Habitat for Humanity’s marketing manager, Jayne Cravens, was invited by a colleague at Habitat International to be on such a Global Village trip. Jayne fundraised on her own among her friends and will be going to Paraguay at the end of May, and is happy to answer any questions you might have about what the responsibilities of a team leader are. If West Tuality Habitat has a staff or volunteer that becomes a Global Village team leader, you will need to be a volunteer with West Tuality Habitat for at least several weeks to apply to be a part of our Global Village team.
