Global Village volunteer handbook
Thailand
community
development
home
construction
disaster
recovery
Global Village volunteer handbook
Welcome to Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a
decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity
began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a
community farm in southern Georgia. The
Christian housing organization has since grown
to become a leading global nonprofit working in
more than 1,300 communities throughout the
U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families
and individuals in need of a hand up partner
with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a
place they can call home. Habitat homeowners
help build their own homes alongside
volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
Through financial support, volunteering or
adding a voice to support affordable housing,
everyone can help families achieve the
strength, stability and self-reliance they need to
build better lives for themselves.
About Habitat ThailandEstablished in 1998, Habitat for Humanity Thailand
improves the quality of Thai people’s lives through
building homes and transforming communities. HFH
Thailand works with like-minded partners, focusing
on holistic development and sustainable change to
achieve a positive and lasting impact. By providing
decent homes, HFH Thailand boosts a family’s
economic and educational opportunities, improves
health and social integration. According to the needs
of the families and communities, HFH Thailand and
its partners will facilitate job training, encourage
home-based businesses, set up health centers,
community centers and libraries, among others.
Disaster Response
During the time of natural disasters, especially flood
which becomes more and more catastrophic and
leaves more casualties each time it strikes, our
challenge is to deliver a response immediately to the
shelter-related needs in such harsh conditions and
to provide solutions in the Recovery phase by
repairing, rehabilitating and rebuilding houses.
In 2011, HFHT prepares to respond to the
nationwide disaster that affected more households
in a larger scale than ever before. HFHT continues
to work with private and public sectors to help flood-
affected households in the 8 provinces of
Phitsanulok, Uthai Thani, Lopburi, Saraburi,
Ayudhya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Global Village builds — Thailand
Thailand is one of the first GV destinations.
Since 1999 Habitat for Humanity Thailand
(HFHT) has hosted more than 100 GV teams
including youth and adult teams, church teams,
corporate teams and JET (Japan Exchange and
Teaching) teams from Japan, Singapore, China,
Hong Kong, Korea, Europe, Australia, New
Zealand and the U.S.A.
The first affiliate of Thailand to host Global
Village teams was Udon Thani, the first HFHT
affiliate. Following that, we began to get more
and more teams coming to Thailand. The next
affiliate that hosted GV teams was Chiangmai,
Lampang which hosted their first GV team in
November 2002 and Nakhon Ratchasrima
(Korat), hosted its first GV team in June 2003
and first builder team to Khao Lak Site in the
south of Thailand in March 2005
Hosting Capacity: Presently, HFHT has 7 HRCs
or regional offices which are located throughout
the country, HRC-North, South, Central and
Northeast.
Hosing Months: Teams are hosted year- round
Team Size : The minimum team size is 15
people; while the maximum team size that can
be hosted at all affiliates is 25 people.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Habitat Homeowner ProfilePATCHARIN FAMILY
For many years, Patcharin and her children lived in her mother’s tiny house with 18 other family
members in Pathumthani province near Bangkok. In 2015, Patcharin partnered with Habitat for
Humanity Thailand to build a new house. Living in a secure home, she was able to start a drinking
water distribution business with some savings.
She has also partnered with a community-based group to source locally made cosmetic products
which she sells in the weekly Sunday market. Her sons Ammarin and Atsavin, now have space to
study, to play and to sleep well. “This house means a lot to me,” she says, “It has given my family
the stability that we needed. It has enabled me to become independent and has given me
confidence to explore new opportunities.”
Global Village volunteer handbook
About The Projects
AYYUTTHAYA
HFHT has been present in Chiang Mai for years.
The city/region welcomes ten to twenty volunteer
teams every year. Chiang Mai is well known as
Thailand's cultural capital not only for its beautifully
preserved city centre but also for its strong creative
and arts society and the presence of a large student
population. It's culture is different from the rest of
the country since it was the seat of the Lanna
Kingdom which only became a part of the Kingdom
of Siam in the late nineteen hundreds.
Not far North from Bangkok, in the middle of
Thailand's central plains lies Ayutthaya. After being
sacked by the Burmese the capital of Siam was
relocated to Bangkok where it remains today.
Ayutthaya has been well preserved and the ancient
remains of the city are visited by swarms of tourists
every year. Next to tourism the local economy
consists mainly of agriculture with rice being the
most important crop. Since it is located in the central
plains of Thailand floods happen yearly during the
rainy season, sometimes with destructive results.
CHIANG MA
KANCHANABURI
Kanchanaburi is a region located in the west of
Thailand, topping the Isthmus of Kra and
bordering Myanmar Outside of Thailand it is
mainly known for the death railway built by
Japanese prisoners of war during the Second
World War; resulting in a host of museums,
monuments and graveyards commemorating the
events that took place. Although agriculture is
quite big, most people don't own land and work
for larger farms. This daywork doesn't provide a
stable income as farmers depend on the weather
to farm and thus hire workers.
Global Village volunteer handbook
About The Projects
KRABI
Many houses are built out of improper and
temporary materials facing rough elements,
especially during rainy season. Houses are also
old, being passed on throughout generations with
little renovation. Together with overcrowding, this
leads to unsafe and unsuitable living conditions.
Houses and business in this area were also greatly
affected by the 2004 Tsunami, of which the effects
are still lingering today, leaving some people still
struggling to get their lives back on track.
.
Krabi is known for its beautiful beaches and stunning
lime stone cliffs. High-end resorts are spread
throughout the province, nonetheless, living
conditions for most locals are less than agreeable.
Many people live in old houses constructed out of
temporary materials. It won't come as a surprise
then that those houses, exposed to the coastal
elements, are anything but safe. Due to poverty, a
lot of people, have to live with their family, often
creating cramped, overcrowded and unhygienic
living conditions. Krabi's inhabitants worked in
agriculture. In recent years tourism has become an
important source of income.
.
PHANG NGA
PATHUM THANIAbout an hour and a half driving from Bangkok
lies Pathum Thani. Although the city is close to
Bangkok it is surrounded by rice fields. Next to
rice farming, manufacturing and low level
administrative jobs make up for most of the local
economy. Poor building materials often lead to
unsafe housing conditions. And since the area is
part of Thailand's central plains, floods easily
destroy many houses during rainy season. On top
of that many homes are overcrowded. All of these
factors obviously lead to unsuitable living
conditions.
Global Village volunteer handbook
About The Projects
Rayong is a famous province for tourists as it
has a lot of exciting activities; with more than
100 kilometre-long coastline. There are beautiful
beaches and scenic waterfalls amid natural
surroundings. Rayong is also rich in sea-life
resources and considered a major agricultural
and industrial province. Boasting indispensable
sea-life resources, Rayong is one of the
country’s major agricultural and industrial
provinces. On the other hand, the province has
maintained its traditions and customs in the daily
lifestyles of the locals.
Phuket is one of the southern provinces of
Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the
country's largest island, and another 32 smaller
islands off its coast. The island is famous for its
beaches and many tourists traveling to Thailand
arrive in Phuket. The island was badly hit by the
2004 tsunami and most of the tourist
infrastructure has been restored. Yet many poor
households didn't have the means to rebuild and
are still suffering from the consequences of the
disaster. Apart from that many of the same
symptoms around the country occur. Large
families living in small houses, houses are either
old and decrepit or constructed out of temporary
materials, creating cramped, unsafe and
unstable living conditions..
PHUKET
RAYONG
Global Village volunteer handbook
What Will You Build?
8
Day 1 Day 5
WHAT WILL YOU BUILD? - A CONCRETE HOUSE
Made from concrete hollow blocks, 1-storey. Roof structure is made of steel bars with tiles
used for roof. The size is 42 SQ.M.
BUILDING TASKS
1. Moving the earth and filling the ground beam
2. Mixing cement and cementing the floor
3. Mixing cement and laying bricks as walls
4. Digging a hole for septic tanks
PROGRESS
Volunteers will start off each house from the beginning (day 1 photo) and will finish every
wall on day 5.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Airport Travel – By LocationAyutthaya -
• Habitat staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang
International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. Then volunteers will travel by vans to
the hotel in Ayutthaya (1 – 1 hour and 30 mins drive).
Kanchananburi -
• Habitat Staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang
International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. Then volunteers will travel by vans to
Kanchanaburi (3 hours drive) **VOLUNTEERS SHOULD ARRIVE BANGKOK NOT LATER
THAN 2 P.M. TOGETHER BEFORE TRAVELING TO KANCHANABURI
Krabi -
• Habitat Staff will be at Krabi International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up. 1.
Volunteers can fly directly from abroad to Krabi International Airport 2. Volunteers can fly to
Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first
then take a domestic flight from either airport to Krabi (1 hour & 20 mins flight)
Phang Nga -
• Habitat Staff will be at Phuket International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up.
Volunteers then will travel by vans to Phang Nga ( 1 hour drive) 1. Teams can fly directly
from abroad to Phuket International Airport 2. Teams can fly to Suvarnabhumi International
Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first then take a domestic flight from
either airport to Phuket (1 hour & 20 mins flight).
Phuket -
• Habitat Staff will be at Phuket International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up. 1.
Volunteers can fly directly from abroad to Phuket International Airport 2. Volunteers can fly
to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok first
then take a domestic flight from either airport to Phuket (1 hour & 20 mins flight).
Rayong -
• Habitat Staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang
International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign. Then volunteers will travel by vans to
Rayong (3 hours drive) **VOLUNTEERS SHOULD ARRIVE BANGKOK NOT LATER THAN
2 P.M. TOGETHER BEFORE TRAVELING TO RAYONG
Chiang Mai -
• Habitat Staff will be at Chiang Mai International Airport with a Habitat sign to pick teams up.
1. Volunteers can fly directly from abroad to Chiang Mai International Airport 2. Volunteers
can fly to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in
Bangkok first then take a domestic flight from either airport to Chiang Mai (1 hour flight).
Pathum Thani -
• Habitat staff will be at either Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Mueang
International Airport in Bangkok with a Habitat sign.
9
Global Village volunteer handbook
About The Trip – Before You Leave
IMMUNIZATIONS AND HEALTH
REMINDERS For your personal health safety, please
contact your doctor or local travel clinic to find
out which immunizations you will need to get
for travel to Thailand. This could vary
depending on factors such as your health and
immunization history. Some immunizations
might need to be administered a certain
number of weeks before departure, so you'll
want to make sure you’re on top of this. Here
is a link to the CDC website where you can
find additional information on what is
recommended:
PASSPORTS AND VISASYour team leader will provide you with
passport and visa information.
PACKING SUGGESTIONS
Thailand is a conservative and predominantly
Buddhist country. Volunteers need to respect
to local people, customs and culture to avoid
causing offence. This includes wearing
conservative clothing, particularly for women,
both while at the worksite and during our time
off.
General guidelines:
• Long pants are recommended as being
more respectful off-site and safer at the
worksite, for both men and women.
• For women especially, clothing should be
loose-fitting. Wear skirts and pants that
reach below the knees.
• If visiting a pagoda, it is recommended that
men and women wear long pants (for
women, a long skirt is also acceptable).
• Everyone should avoid sleeveless tops at
all times and wear shirts that cover the
shoulder. No shirts exposing the midriff
please
Specifically for the worksite:
• We highly recommend quick-dry sport-type
shirts instead of cotton shirts. They are
easy to wash in your sink at night, dry fast
and wick away the sweat better than
cotton.
• For sun protection and to save your arms
from cuts and scratches, we suggest light,
long-sleeved shirts
• Please also have a carry bag that can get
dirty to bring what you want to have with
you on the worksite.
Global Village volunteer handbook
About The Trip – Upon Arrival
NAVIGATING THE AIRPORTOnce you’ve cleared customs and
immigration and have retrieved your luggage,
head to the exit. There you will be met by a
representative of Habitat, who will escort you
to the hotel and help you check in. It’s often
helpful if you wear your Global Village t-shirt
at the airport on arrival so that it is easy to
recognize you.
IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BEFORE THE
SCHEDULED ARRIVAL DATE
Habitat can help arrange the hotel shuttle to
meet you at the airport, if you plan to stay
your extra days at the team hotel. Another
option is to take a taxi, which can be arranged
at booths at the airport.
AIRPORT SAFETYThe airport can be a little chaotic, so please
be sure to keep close guard of your personal
belongings at all times. You should be
careful with your bags and do not allow
people to touch or carry them unless directed
by Habitat staff. Avoid accepting help with
your bags unless you are prepared to pay a
tip.
DELAYED OR CANCELLED
FLIGHTSIf for some reason your flight is delayed,
cancelled or you have other travel mishaps,
you will need to contact Habitat by phone
right away at the numbers listed on the
Emergency Contact information sheet that will
be provided to you by your Team Leader.
You are provided with several emergency
numbers – keep trying them in the order they
appear on the sheet, until you are able to
reach someone. Remember to carry the
emergency contact information with you (not
in your checked luggage) while traveling.
LOST LUGGAGEIf your luggage is missing, be sure to inform
the Habitat representative meeting you at the
airport. Also talk to your airline agent
representative at the airport if possible. It’s a
good idea when travelling to keep a few days’
worth of clothes and other necessities in your
carry on in case your luggage if it’s lost.
Global Village volunteer handbook
About The Trip – General Info
LODGINGHFHT will reserve the most decent and
suitable accommodation for volunteers but
special requirements are possible to be
arranged.
MEALSWe will provide lunch at site each day. It is a
Thai-styled lunch with all you can eat. Food
options will be according to volunteers’
dietary requests. Snacks, drinking water,
energy drinks and soft drinks will be provided
at site all day.
TRANSPORTATIONVolunteers will transport from the hotel to the
build site with vans (up to 10 pax/van). Every
van has AC and safety belts.
COMMUNICATIONInternet access will be available at the hotel
and other places nearby where we are
staying. Please be prepared for very slow
speed and frequent interrupted connections.
If you plan on using your cell phone to call
home while you are traveling, be sure that
you have a good calling plan for international
calls. Otherwise it can be shockingly
expensive. A better alternative if you have a
GSM unlocked phone, is to purchase a local
SIM card and airtime credit to call or text the
United States. To purchase a SIM card,
foreigners need to have photocopies of their
passport photo page and Phillipines visa
page, as well as one passport photo. SIM
cards are 3G mobile data enabled and
standard SIM and micro SIM cards are
available.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Thailand’s Culture
LANGUAGEThe official language of Thailand is Thai, a
Siamese language closely related to Lao,
Shan in Burma, and numerous smaller
languages of southern China and northern
Vietnam. It is the principal language of
education and government and is spoken
throughout the country. The standard is based
on the dialect of Bangkok, and it is written in
the Thai alphabet, an abugida that evolved
from the Khmer script.
Several other Tai languages exist: Southern
Thai is spoken in the southern provinces, and
Lanna is spoken in the provinces that were
formerly part of the independent kingdom of
Lanna.
Thailand is also host to several minority
languages. The largest minority language is
Lao, a dialect of Isan spoken in the
northeastern provinces. The region in where it
is traditionally spoken was historically part of
the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang.
In the far south, Yawi, a dialect of Malay, is the
primary language of the Malay Muslims.
Varieties of Chinese are also spoken by the
large Thai Chinese population, with the
Teochew dialect being best represented.
HISTORYThailand, formerly known as Siam, is situated
in Southeast Asia. It covers an area of roughly
514,000 km² with Myanmar and Laos
occupying the area beyond its Northern
border, Cambodia to the East and Malaysia to
the South. It is estimated that the population
of Thailand is approximately 63 million people
of which 75 percent is ethnically Thai and 14
percent originating from China. Thailand is
also often referred to as the Kingdom of
Thailand since it is a constitutional monarchy.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the
House of Chakri, has reigned since 1946
making him the longest-serving monarch in
the world. The king also acts as the head of
state, the head of the armed forces, and the
upholder of the main religion in Thailand,
Buddhism.
RELIGIONThe main religion in Thailand is Theravada
Buddhism which is practiced by nearly 95
percent of Thai people. Those remaining are
either Muslims, Christians or other faiths.
FOODThai cooking places emphasis on lightly
prepared dishes with strong aromatic
components and a spicy edge. It is known for
its complex interplay of at least three and up
to four or five fundamental taste senses in
each dish or the overall meal: sour, sweet,
salty, bitter, and spicy. Unlike many other
cuisines, Thai cooking rejects simplicity and is
about "the juggling of disparate elements to
create a harmonious finish".
Global Village volunteer handbook
Sample Cultural Experiences*
WAT PHRA THAT DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE
• Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Theravada wat in Chiang
Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as
"Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the
mountain where it's located. It is a sacred site to many
Thai people. The temple is 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from the
city of Chiang Mai. From the temple, impressive views of
Chiang Mai can be seen. The temple is said to have been
founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built. Over time,
the temple has expanded, and been made to look more
extravagant with many more holy shrines added.
DOI INTHANON NATIONAL PARK
• Doi Inthanon National Park, nicknamed "the roof of
Thailand", is in the Thanon Thong Chai Range, Chom
Thong District, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It
includes Doi Inthanon, the country's highest mountain. It
includes Karen and Meo Hmong villages of about 4,500
people. Within its borders are a number of waterfalls: Mae
Klang Falls, Wachiratan Falls, Siriphum Falls, and Mae Ya
Falls.
LONG NECK KAREN TRIBE VILLAGE
• Most people know of the Karen people from television
documentaries, magazines and encyclopedias as the
"long-neck" or "giraffe" tribe. But the women who wear
these brass rings on their neck belong to a sub-group of
the Karen known as the Padaung. There are other sub-
groups who do not and never have practiced this custom.
THAI COOKING CLASS
• You will be able to find the best Thai chefs n the world to
teach you the intricacies of Thai cooking. For hundreds of
years Thai cooking wisdom has been passed down from
generation to generation. People continue this custom by
offering Thai cooking classes to carry on the Thai
homemade culinary tradition while, nonetheless,
enhancing the art of living and well-being.*Cultural experiences will depend on hosting location within the country.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Cultural TipsBeing aware of differences in our culture to yours
will help you avoid unfortunate situations of
unintentional offence, and make your stay in
Thailand even more enjoyable. Here are a few
cultural tips for you to keep in mind:
• THE MONARCHY - The king and the royal
family are much loved by the people of
Thailand. Criticism or any negative comments
regarding the royal family is not only
considered offensive and inappropriate, it is
against the law.
• GREETINGS - Thais do not shake hands;
they “wai” – a gesture made by placing your
hands together in front of your face as if in
prayer and bowing slightly. Generally, you
should not wai to a child, and a younger
person should wai an older person first.
• RELIGION - Buddha images are sacred,
whatever size or condition. Some
photographs of images or statues are
forbidden. Always dress “politely” when
entering a temple or religious shrine. Shorts,
tops that show bare arms and open-toed
sandals are considered inappropriate. In most
temples, you must remove your shoes before
entering, and you may have to rent sarongs
and strips of material to cover yourself up
before being permitted to enter.
• THE HEAD AND FEET - Thais regard the
head as the highest part of the body, i.e., the
temple. Touching someone’s head is
considered offensive and inappropriate.
Conversely, the foot is the lowest part of the
body. It is inappropriate to point your feet
toward someone when sitting down.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Basic Thai Phrases
16
No English Burmese
GREETINGS
1 Hello/goodbye Sawasdee Ka (Female)/Krap (Male)
2 Thank you Kob Khun Ka (Female)/Krap (Male)
3 Thank you very much Kob Khun Mak
4 It’s nothing Mai Pen Rai
5 Sorry/Excuse me Khaw Tod Ka (Female)/Krap (Male)
6 See you later Pop Gun Mai
USEFUL PHRASES
8 How’s it going? Pen Ngai Bang
9 How are you Sa-bai dee mai How are you Sa-bai dee mai
10 Fine/Well Sa-bai dee
11 I am well Sa-bai dee
12 Glad to know you Yin dee tea dai roo juk
13 I’m glad to see you again Dee jai ti pop khun eek
14 Can you help me? Chuay pom(male)/chan (female) die mai
15 What is your name? Khun chue ar-rai
16 My name is… Pom/chan chue…
17 I understand Khao Jai Ka (female)/Krap (male)
18 Congratulations Yin dee duay
19 What’s this Ni kue are rai
20 Where is the…? …You tea nai
21 Bathroom Hong nam
22 Post office Prai-sa-nee
23 This way Thang ni
24 Can you reduce this price? Can you reduce this price? Lod dai mai
25 I’m lost Pom/chan long tang
26 I’m Tired Pom/chan noo-ay
27 I’m not well Pom/chan mai sabuy
Global Village volunteer handbook
Safety On The Work Site
• No alcohol or drugs are permitted on site at
any time. Volunteers who need prescription
drugs (inhalers, etc.) should make sure
they have a sufficient supply on site.
• Wear sun screen of a suitable factor and
reapply it throughout the day.
• Wear appropriate clothing for the tasks
involved.
• Drink plenty of water — at least 2 liters a
day, even more when it is hot.
• Wear your hard hat at all times on site,
except in designated break areas.
• Proper gloves can protect your hands
from:
Cuts when carrying sharp-edged
materials and equipment.
Skin irritation from cement, paint, lime
wash and other chemicals.
Getting a corn while working with the
tools for long time.
• Wear ear protection when:
Any equipment is being used nearby
that may cause damage to your ears.
Heavy machinery is working nearby
you for prolonged time.
• Wear a face mask when:
You understand the mask type and its
designation.
Using chemicals, painting lime wash,
mixing cement.
Scraping old paints and sanding the
items to smooth.
• Wear eye protection when:
You or someone nearby is using a
hammer, chisel or planer.
You or somebody next to you is using
any type of power tool.
Using lime wash or chemicals or
mixing or pouring cement.
• Wear proper footwear at all times:
Open-toed shoes are forbidden on the
site.
Footwear must be covered and hard-
soled.
Steel-toed safety boots must be worn
in demolition works.
• When lifting an item:
Know your capacity and weight limits.
Ask your site supervisor.
Keep legs slightly apart, bend the
knees, keep the back straight.
Grab by both hands, and lift with the
legs, not the back.
Global Village volunteer handbook
Gift Giving PolicyFrom the perspective of Habitat’s partner families and communities who are often in great need,
foreigners are assumed to be wealthy. Although they are asked not to make such requests, at
some point during our stay, you may be approached by the home owners or local laborers or
others in the community with requests for material contributions (clothing, money, gifts, etc). Or
you yourself, after witnessing the great needs in the community, might be compelled to give gifts.
But, it is very important that everyone realize the unintended consequences that giving gifts can
have, and to strictly adhere to Habitat’s gift giving policy.
While well intended, gift giving can run counter to the purposes of the Habitat’s goal of
empowering families and communities, and compromises Habitat’s goal of instilling a sense of
responsibility and motivation from the family to make house payments. It is common that gifts
can create a dependence on others to provide assistance, while the Habitat model focuses on
breaking the dependence.
Giving gifts may also lead not only to conflicts within Habitat’s development activities and
relationships with their local partners, but to embarrassment and sometimes resentment. It could
create a situation where others in the community become upset because they feel left out. A
team can come and go from a community without realizing the major problems they have left for
Habitat to fix.
But we do understand that relationships will be made. In order to ensure consistency in what
volunteer teams do give, we must ask that everyone please strictly adhere to the following
guidelines:
• Do not give gifts individually. Each team should collect and compile all gift items from team
members. With the help of the local Habitat staff, we can then decide how best to share the
gifts with the community. This sends a clear message that all the families in the community
are valued. Gifts will be given out at the end of the build or at the farewell celebration. Some
ideas of what you might bring include: books for the community center, sports balls,
playground equipment, extra work gloves, tools, etc.
• It is okay to bring toys to the worksite such as toys. In fact, it’s a great way to fill
downtime, playing with the children that will likely be nearby. But these items must be taken
back with you at the end of each day. They can be donated and distributed at the end of the
build.
• Leaving behind clothing and work boots is always appreciated. Clothing should be in
good condition. Please have the clothes cleaned or include a small donation to pay for the
laundering of any donated clothing. Donated clothing is distributed by the local host program
to those most in need.
• Never offer to give money, especially to make a mortgage payment.
18
Global Village volunteer handbook
Global Village volunteers’ experiences
“It was AMAZING!!! It was my first ever global village trip,
and while I had minor skepticism going in, my expectations
were mostly very high. Everything about this trip exceeded
my expectations. The planning, coordination, information
and execution allowed me to feel comfortable and
confident about traveling to a new area and all of the
people on the team were of like mind and ambition and the
camaraderie was incredible. The organization was well
done, and I truly felt that the community was happy and
welcoming to have us there and appreciated the
contribution we were able to provide. 1,000 thumbs up!”
—Danica C.
Habitat Global Village volunteer 2017
“GV is a fantastic way to see different cultures and meet
new people-both the local people and other volunteers on
the team. And GV also provides a way for travelers to
enhance their travel experience with community and
humanitarian service which makes our world a better
place to live. The work projects are well organized, the trip
leaders have been fantastic and the local Habitat leaders
are talented and great to work with. A GV trip also
includes local cultural activities which add to the trip's
"fun" experience, and it promotes team cohesion as well.
A GV trip is a valuable, effective and enlightening travel
opportunity for those who want to put a bit more into as
well as get a bit more out of their world travels.”
—Mark. J
Habitat Global Village volunteer 2017
makes a differenceevery hand