How to Apply for Habitat for Humanity Global Village Trips

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing program that was founded in 1976 by Linda and Millard Fuller in Americus, Georgia. Habitat is devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing using volunteer labor. Homes are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. Habitat for Humanity's volunteer housing project has helped to shelter over 1 million people worldwide. In 1996, Bill Clinton awarded Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Want to join the program and devote some of your time the cause? Here's how to apply for Habitat's International Global Village Program.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Passport
• Internet

1. Visit the Habitat for Humanity website and scour the "Schedule and Trips Destination" page. On a piece of paper, write down the destinations, dates and contact information for the team leaders of programs that interest you. You must include three international destinations and three local destinations in your application.

2. Global Village trips afford volunteers a unique opportunity to experience a new culture while helping others in need in the most hands on way. An international build can last anywhere from two to six weeks and will cost no more than $2,000. The cost includes everything you'll need while on the build and also includes a donation to Habitat. Airfare is not included.

3. Grab your passport and log onto the application portal and fill out the application online. Once you have submitted your application, you are free to contact team leaders directly.

4. Contact, by email, each of the team leaders that are heading trips that you were interested in and tell them of you interest. They'll have access to you application and if they are interested in having you join the team, they'll contact you.

5. Candidates are chosen directly by the team leader heading each trip and are not on a first-come, first-served basis.

6. Once a team leader has selected you for his team, you'll need to send a nonrefundable/nontransferable deposit in the amount of $350 to Habitat for Humanity Internationals Global Village department. The rest of the balance is due 45 days prior to your departure. Payments may be submitted by personal check, money order, Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover.

7. Some volunteers choose to raise donations in order to cover the cost of their trip. Visit the Habitat for Humanity website to create your personal donations page. Donors may submit funds by credit card via the link: “Donate in Support of a Global Village Trip” or by telephone by calling the GV customer service coordinator at [phone], ext. 2549. Donors must have their credit card, your eight-digit Habitat ID number and GV event code in order for funds to be credited toward your trip. Participants and donors who submit funds by credit card will receive an automatic email confirmation.

Tips & Warnings

• You must be 18 or older to go unaccompanied on an international build and 16 or older in the United States and Canada.
• When filling out the application, have your passport handy.
• Donations and funding for Habitat for Humanity are tax-deductible.
• Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer-based housing program; in order to participate in a build, you must be able to pay the fees that are attached to it.

Resources

• Habitat for Humanity fact sheet
• Trips and Destinations page
• Application

[jessupsamuel]

on 3/25/2009 It's so neat that Habitat has gone global. What a great program. Thanks for sharing some of the ins and outs of how it works.