Global Village volunteers return home with a sense of purpose

“Whether the borders that divide us are picket fences or national boundaries, we are all neighbors in a global community.”

This was once spoken by former US President Jimmy Carter, a long-time Habitat for Humanity supporter and leader of Habitat volunteer builds all over the world.

Habitat’s Global Village is an international volunteer programme built on the foundations of partnering with communities, lending a hand, and working together to improve access to decent homes.

Building and experiencing the connection of a global community gives you a sense of purpose that is hard to describe, but also hard to forget once you return home.

For recent Global Village volunteers Fralice and Stewart, that sense of purpose called them back for multiple volunteer builds over the past decade.

Fralice’s home in Hamilton is adorned with artwork and momento of her travels to many countries, but one country features heavily; Nepal.

Fralice was traveling in Nepal when the 2015 earthquake struck and experienced the devastation and displacement firsthand. When she saw that Habitat was sending a volunteer team of Kiwis in late 2016, she didn’t hesitate to join.

“It was a real privilege to be able to go back and actually do some good as well, not just be a tourist,” says Fralice.

In 2024, Fralice returned to Nepal for the third time with Global Village and had the opportunity to visit the same village she volunteered with in 2019.

“That has to be the most emotional day of my life,” she shares.

“Some of the ladies recognised me and I thought good grief, that’s five years [later]. The main change is in the people themselves. There was just a lightness to their step which is what it's all about really.”

When Stewart decided to build a house with Habitat in Nepal last October, it wasn't only his willingness to lend a hand that drove him. This build project marked exactly 10 years since he first volunteered with Global Village and, most importantly, it was the perfect way to continue the legacy of his late friend he had built alongside one decade ago.

“The leader of our previous [Global Village] group sadly passed away about three years ago,” says Stewart.

“My wife and I had been thinking how we could continue Graham’s legacy given he was so passionate about the work that Habitat does.”

“We were all there to help out. Volunteers have their heart in the right place. It’s an opportunity to assist, to contribute to the wellbeing of others.”