global village volunteer builds

Bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope

Global Village

Every year, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand and its Affiliates send hundreds of volunteers overseas to build homes in developing countries.

Through Global Village, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand makes it possible for low-income families in overseas countries to own a decent home. Our partner families are involved in building their own house (what we call ‘sweat equity’) alongside our volunteers, and make affordable payments to own their home. Rather than providing a hand-out, Habitat for Humanity provides a hand-up. With the participation of volunteers and partner organisations, Habitat For Humanity continues to alleviate poverty housing around the world.

For families who are determined to break out of poverty, the programme enables them to build a better future. For children, a new home offers a chance to grow and thrive in surroundings that are safe. A place to live where they are sheltered from bad weather, fall sick less, go to school more regularly, and get to enjoy childhood. For volunteers, it is the meaningful experience of building and interacting with Habitat partner families. Global Village promotes a sense of goodwill, seeing a fellow human have a decent place to live.

Nepal – October 2019

October 19-26

Nepal is a culturally diverse country made up of several ethnic groups and tribes that follow their own unique traditions. On this team, you will have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a local family and community who are actively engaged in rebuilding their own homes after damage inflicted by natural disasters such as flooding. Join Shane and Gaylene King-Turner’s team to help make a difference for these families.

Indicative Cost: $2,875 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Team Leader: Gaylene King-Turner (09) 5794111 (Global Village) / 021 232 8149
Email: gaylene.kingturner@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Myanmar – November 2019

November 10-16

Habitat for Humanity’s project in Myanmar involves building disaster-resilient houses in 15 villages in Thanatpin township, one of the poorest towns in the Bago region. The majority of houses are built on stilts because the town is flood-prone. You can join Paul Look’s team to be part of this important new project.

Indicative Cost: $2,535 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Team Leader: Paul Look Ph: 021 189 4646 / Email: plook53@gmail.com

Global Village: Tracey Mazur (09) 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Philippines – November 2019

November 3-9

In partnership with the local government and the MAY foundation, Habitat Philippines aims to create a holistic community home for 546 low-income families; most of whom are informal-settlers (squatters) who are living in danger zones or have been evicted from privately owned lands. You can be a part of this significant project by joining this team led by Marie Borell.

Indicative Cost: $2,450 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Global Village: Tracey Mazur (09) 5794111
Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Thailand – November 2019

November 3-9

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second biggest city in terms of size and fifth in terms of population, but the gap between the living standards of urban and rural areas is wide. Houses in the area are built improperly with limited resources, resulting in unsafe and unhygienic living conditions. Join Miles Cain and his team to help build a decent, permanent home alongside a local family who are currently living in substandard housing.

Indicative Cost: $2900 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Team Leader: Miles Cain Ph: 027 446 9225 / Email: cainmandm@gmail.com
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Cambodia Big Build 2019

November 17-22

Join over 200 volunteers from around the world to build safe, affordable, decent homes for some of the most vulnerable families in Siem Reap Province. These families include people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, young or female headed households, the elderly and those who have lost their homes as a result of natural disasters. New Zealand is planning to send two teams to join the Big Build, led by Mark Berryman and we’d love you to join us! This is a unique experience not to be missed.

Cost: $3,600 (plus airfares)

View the information flyer here

For more information or to register, contact:

Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111
Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Cambodia 2020 WOMEN’S BUILD

February 29-March 7

In recognition of International Women’s Day, we are sending a team of adventurous women to build in Siem Reap, Cambodia and you’re invited! Join us, as we work together alongside the local community to help build a brighter future for these hard working Cambodian women and their families.

Indicative Cost: $2,400 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:

Team Leader: Gaylene King-Turner (09) 5794111 (Global Village) / 021 232 8149

Email: gaylene.kingturner@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Nepal – March/April 2020

March 28-April 4

The 2015 earthquakes destroyed and damaged over 750,000 homes in Nepal. Habitat for Humanity has been helping families build back better with disaster-resilient houses. We also train and empower communities, provide technical (construction) assistance, educate communities on disaster risk reduction and coordinate financial support for families. Join this Global Village team and be a part of this vital work.

Indicative Cost: $2,800 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:

Team Leader: Jay Davies Ph: 022 677 0614 / Email: james.davies@habitat.org.nz
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Fiji -2020 PACIFIC YOUTH BUILD

March 28 – April 4

Join like-minded young people (approx.17-30yrs) from around NZ and work together to help build a house alongside a family in need of a safe home. Be challenged, inspired and have fun as you help a family achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance that comes from having a decent place to call home.

If you know a young person who would benefit from an experience like this, why not sponsor them to join the team? It could be life-changing!

Indicative Cost: $2,300 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Vietnam – April 2020

April 18-25

Join Paul Look and John Adams on this exciting team, building in the north of Vietnam, in Thai Nguyen. The northern provinces of Vietnam have some of the highest rates of poverty in the country, with inadequate housing, lack of access to clean water and poor sanitation. Habitat Vietnam is working to address all three of these issues, and you can be part of the solution!

Indicative Cost: $2,300 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Team Leaders: Paul Look and John Adams Ph: 021 1894 656 / Email: plook53@gmail.com

Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Mexico – April 2020

April 18-25

Nathan Collins is leading Habitat New Zealand’s first ever team to Mexico! This will be one not to miss! Join this team to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca State, where Habitat Mexico are working to address the issues of inadequate housing, and lack of access to basic services such as electricity, sewage systems and clean drinking water. Spend a week building alongside the local community to help families into safe and decent homes.

Indicative Cost: : $3,000 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Team Leader: Nathan Collins Ph: 021 855 552 / Email: nathan.collins@habitat.org.nz
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Fiji – April 2020 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

April 18-25

What better way to spend a week of the school holidays, than helping build a home alongside the local community in Lautoka, Fiji? It’s incredibly satisfying to work together as a team to start and finish building a safe, strong house that can withstand the annual cyclones that hit Fiji. Having a decent home, that belongs to them and provides a safe place for their family to live and thrive, means so much to these families. Join this team and come and see for yourself!

Indicative Cost: $2,400 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Nepal – May 2020

May 2-10

Janet Wilkinson is a seasoned traveler to Nepal and loves taking others to share the Habitat Nepal experience with her. You will spend a week building houses alongside the local community in the East region, where Habitat Nepal is working, not only to build disaster resilient homes, but also to empower and build the capacity of local communities. Habitat NZ is heavily invested in supporting this work and by joining a team you are making a significant contribution to this ongoing project.

Indicative Cost: $3,000 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Team Leader: Janet Wilkinson Ph: 027 2766797 / Email: janetwilkinson@xtra.co.nz
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Fiji – May/June 2020

May 2-9 , June 6-13

Habitat NZ has a long term commitment to support the vital work that Habitat Fiji is doing to build resilience in local communities. Building strong, cyclone-resistant houses is a major part of this work and volunteers such as yourself are key players in this. You will spend a week building a house from scratch, alongside the local community and will also be investing in long term projects like training local builders and working with communities to help them prepare for natural disasters that are a part of life for them. Join a team and let’s help our Pacific neighbours together!

Indicative Cost: $2,400 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:

Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

China – Guangxi August 2020

August 15-22

Another exciting first for Habitat New Zealand as we send our first Global Village team to the stunning province of Guangxi, China! While it is easy to see China only as a vast nation, teeming with millions of people, we at Habitat don’t want to forget that the majority of these are ordinary individuals and families struggling to survive in difficult circumstances. You will spend a week helping transform dilapidated houses into safe, and decent homes for families who have a family member living with a disability. Come join us and help make a difference for these families.

Indicative Cots: $2,500 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest

Bolivia – August 2020

August 22-29

Neil Pilbrow is leading our first NZ team to Santa Cruz, Bolivia! This team will be working on a project aimed at upgrading and improving housing conditions for families who have a child living with chronic illness or disability, so the children can return home from hospital to a safe environment, where clean water and sanitation are available. Would you join Neil and his team as they help build the strength, stability and self-reliance of these families, through having a decent place to call home.

Indicative Cost: $2,600 (plus airfares)

For more information or to register, contact:

Team Leader: Neil Pilbrow Ph: 027 208 3528 / Email: pilbrows@gmail.com
Global Village: Tracey Mazur Ph: 09 5794111 / Email: Email: globalvillage@habitat.org.nz

Register your interest