Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S GLOBAL VILLAGE PROGRAM
build a house to replace a shack
MEXICO & WORLDWIDE
I've published books, been on national TV, flown planes, met celebrities,
built a car from a kit, had my picture in the
New York Times
…but on my
deathbed, I'm betting I'm going to say, “Boy, I wish I'd built more Habitat
houses!”
—Chris Goodrich, coleader of a Global Village build in Isla, Mexico
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Ever wonder why so many Mexicans try to cross the U.S. border? The average wage for
more than half of Mexico's working population is less than $30 a month. Try paying a mort-
gage on that. For that matter, try buying meals—even one—for a family of five. No wonder
more than ten million (or one out of every ten) Mexicans live in a house that can't withstand
wind or rain, much less a hurricane.
Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity Mexico has been working to correct the disparity. In
that time, its volunteers have built more than 16,000 homes in the country, many of these
through the Global Village program.
Global Village volunteers enlist for building blitzes lasting anywhere from one to three
weeks in Habitat locations around the globe. They work hand in hand with future homeowners
and volunteers from all backgrounds, races, and religions. Global Village volunteers often de-
scribe their experience as life changing.
Every Global Village trip is different, but the itineraries are flexible and balanced between
work, rest, and free time. Most teams spend a few days taking in the local culture. On an eight-
