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Contents
From the director ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
About Habitat for Humanity......................................................................................................................................... 4
Mission ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Vision ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Mission principles ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Our strategic plan ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Build community impact ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Build sector impact .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Build societal impact.................................................................................................................................................. 6
What is Global Village? ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Global Village staff .................................................................................................................................................... 7
The 7 Mindsets ............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Leading a Global Village team .................................................................................................................................. 10
Terms to know ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Leading an open Global Village team...................................................................................................................... 10 Leading a closed Global Village team ..................................................................................................................... 11
Trip confirmation ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Budget ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Team leader costs ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Program donation .................................................................................................................................................... 14
Build your open team: Recruiting volunteers .......................................................................................................... 16
The application process .......................................................................................................................................... 16 Setting expectations with applicants........................................................................................................................ 16 Web flyers ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 Promoting your trip (open teams) ............................................................................................................................ 17 Accepting minors on your trip .................................................................................................................................. 17 Orientation packet and T-shirts ............................................................................................................................... 17 Payment procedures: Open teams .......................................................................................................................... 17
Build your closed team: Recruiting volunteers ....................................................................................................... 19
Setting expectations with interested team members ............................................................................................... 19 Registering your volunteers ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Accepting minors on your trip .................................................................................................................................. 19 Recruiting Quick Guide ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Payment procedures ............................................................................................................................................... 19
Final preparations ...................................................................................................................................................... 21
Travel and entry requirements ................................................................................................................................ 21 Trip cancellation insurance ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Health requirements ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Embassy registration ............................................................................................................................................... 21 Payment deadline.................................................................................................................................................... 21 Roster tool ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 Team leader travel expense advance ..................................................................................................................... 22 Final packet and predeparture call .......................................................................................................................... 22
While traveling ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
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Team dynamics ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
Returning home .......................................................................................................................................................... 24
Evaluations .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Expense report ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 Re-entry .................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Volunteer code of conduct ........................................................................................................................................ 25
Thank you for your service ....................................................................................................................................... 26
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From the director
Volunteers have always been at the heart of Habitat for Humanity’s work all over
the world. Because of Habitat volunteers’ hands, hearts and voices — and your
leadership — a world where everyone has a decent place to live looks possible.
Yes, the need for decent housing is enormous. One in 7 people around the world
lives in a slum. Seventy percent of people lack the proper documentation to the
land on which they live. Millions of people live in constant fear of eviction. The
impact of disasters all over the world gets higher and higher while hundreds of
thousands are forced to flee their home countries because of war. Seeing the
magnitude of the problem, it is easy to feel that efforts to improve lives through
safe, affordable homes are a drop in the ocean. Yet we know that every effort
counts and that, through your strong leadership of the Global Village program,
today’s reality can change. Thanks to your passion and commitment, we have seen lives improved and communities
transformed around the world.
You are the ones leading your team, the Global Village volunteers, to make a lasting impact that will continue long
after you return home. You are the ones guiding the volunteers to deepen their understanding of poverty issues and
of the role of housing in removing barriers to a better, healthier, more financially stable life. The contributions from
you and your team members make Habitat’s work sustainable and empower communities to build strength, stability
and self-reliance through shelter. Volunteers are coming back home changed, and their communities get richer and
stronger, all thanks to you.
Thank you for being the hands and feet of Habitat in its ongoing work to ensure that everyone has a decent place to
live. I am humbled to see Habitat’s vision and mission taken forward thanks to your leadership.
In partnership,
Laura Ferent
Director, Global Volunteer Engagement and Support
Habitat for Humanity International
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About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone deserves 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 1,200 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. 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.
Mission
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and
hope.
Vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Mission principles
1. Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ: We believe that, through faith, the minuscule can be multiplied to
accomplish the magnificent, and that, in faith, respectful relationships can grow among all people.
2. Focus on shelter: We have chosen, as our means of manifesting God’s love, to create opportunities for all
people to live in decent, durable shelter, and broaden access to affordable housing as a foundation for
breaking the cycle of poverty.
3. Advocate for affordable housing: We will advocate for just and fair housing policy to eliminate the
constraints that contribute to poverty housing. And, in all of our work, we will seek to put shelter on hearts
and minds in such powerful ways that poverty housing becomes socially, politically and religiously
unacceptable.
4. Promote dignity and hope: We believe that no one lives in dignity until everyone can live in dignity. We
believe that dignity and hope are best achieved through equitable, accountable partnerships.
5. Support sustainable and transformational development: We view our work as successful when it
transforms lives and promotes positive and lasting social, economic and spiritual change within a community;
when it is based on mutual trust and fully shared accomplishment; and when it demonstrates responsible
stewardship of all resources entrusted to us.
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Our strategic plan
Habitat seeks to maximize its impact by effectively allocating resources across three spheres of influence:
community, sector and society. Habitat’s scaling approach focuses on facilitating improvements for a sufficient
number of households, in a sufficient number of communities, to help the public understand the need and potential for
community change. This in turn drives:
Broader engagement in housing solutions.
Support for market development.
Demand for policies and systems that create new opportunities for those in need of adequate, affordable
shelter.
Build community impact
Direct engagement: The foundation for these changes begins with continued direct engagement with families and
communities, demonstrating what is possible when people from all segments of society work together to address the
problem of inadequate housing.
Goal: Help 650,000 people annually improve their shelter situation.
Build sector impact
Markets, policies and systems: Habitat for Humanity’s scaling strategy builds on the success of our direct
engagement with families and communities. Through similar direct engagement with the broader housing sector,
Habitat can influence the way others in the public, private and nonprofit worlds think about housing issues and how to
address them. By promoting approaches that assist low-income families in helping themselves, we in turn help drive
the market for housing-related financing and housing improvement services and products accessible to the poor.
Because enabling public policies also are essential in increasing access to affordable housing, the plan challenges us
to promote policies and systems that eliminate restraints contributing to poverty and inadequate housing.
Goal: Create housing opportunities for 2.5 million people annually through market development and 25
million through advocacy by 2020.
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Build societal impact
Awareness and engagement: Habitat for Humanity advances its ability to expand awareness of housing as a critical
foundation for eliminating barriers to a better, healthier, more financially stable life when we successfully mobilize
volunteers for the cause of affordable housing. Volunteer support not only raises walls, but also increases backing for
public policy and market changes that can lead to even broader impact. In the course of uniting around improved
housing for all, personal transformation occurs in all, turning both individuals and the process itself into powerful
conduits for demonstrating God’s love.
Goal: Mobilize 2.5 million people annually to join the cause of affordable shelter.
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What is Global Village?
The Global Village program began in response to increasing requests for international short-term volunteer
opportunities.
Today, Habitat sends thousands of volunteers each year to countries across the globe.
From our beginnings … … to where we are today
12 host countries 30 host countries
30 teams 550 teams
360 volunteers 5,000 volunteers
One sending program 16 sending programs
New home construction New home construction, vulnerable populations,
disaster response, community development, water
and sanitation
Global Village staff
The Global Village program is part of the Global Volunteer Engagement and Support department at Habitat for
Humanity International, which also supports Collegiate Challenge, a weekly alternative break program offered year-
round.
The department is divided into several teams:
Global engagement: This team focuses on supporting the 16 programs that send teams of volunteers and
ensuring that host programs are meeting standards to host.
Trip engagement: This is the team of specialists who support the team leaders and host coordinators who
organize Global Village and Collegiate Challenge teams.
Program development, training and communications: This team creates training curriculum for leaders
and assists host programs in developing deeper engagement opportunities for volunteers. They also oversee
communications activities related to the department and work to develop useful program resources.
Partner engagement and marketing: This team works closely with our affiliate teams, analyzing data related
to the Global Village program and managing the marketing plan for Habitat’s short-term trips.
Customer service and support: This team is the point of contact for Global Village and Collegiate Challenge
volunteers. They process applications, support inbound calls, manage back-end procedures and ensure that
all administrative tasks related to the two programs run smoothly.
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The 7 Mindsets
In order to serve the 1.6 billion people living in substandard housing across the globe, it will take more than Habitat
for Humanity constructing one home at a time. In the Global Village office, we offer encouragement through “The 7
Mindsets,” which have been created from years of research surrounding happiness and success. By changing our
mindsets and encouraging our volunteers through them, we’re not only able to focus our volunteers’ thoughts and
energies on a deeper and more enriching experience, but we’re also able to bring a world where everyone has a
decent place to live closer to reality.
Through the mindsets, we understand that access to affordable housing is larger than our individual Global
Village trips. You can find a reflection guide based on the 7 Mindsets in the appendix.
1. Everything is possible: The understanding that everything and every situation that currently exists did not at
one point. The keys to the “Everything is Possible” mindset are:
Dream big: Stretch yourself when setting goals.
Embrace creativity as part of the process: Understand that it will not be a straight line to success. Identify
opportunities to be creative.
Expect great results: Focus on how it will work, not how it won’t.
“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them
was superior to circumstance.” — Bruce Barton, author, advertising executive and U.S. congressman.
2. Passion first: In order to truly be happy and successful, you have to find ways to cultivate and develop your
passions.
Find your passions: Ask yourself, “If money wasn’t an issue or an object, what would you spend your time
doing for free?”
Focus on strengths, not weaknesses: Find those things you are good at and put your energy toward
those.
Combine your strengths and interests: Find creative ways to combine the things you are good at with the
things you love doing.
“There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but very few that will capture your heart. Pursue these.”
— Michael Nolan, author of Food Camp
3. We are connected: We must be able to see the value in every relationship we have.
Work with others: Find those people who make you feel and accomplish your best — your dream team.
Work for others: Find ways to give value to people without asking or expecting something in return when
developing relationships. Lead with value.
Work through others: Identify the other connections you need to make to accomplish your goals.
“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry
of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.” — Sandra
Day O'Connor, U.S. Supreme Court justice
4. 100 percent accountable: Take ownership of every action and every situation. At the end of the day, we are
100 percent accountable for our future happiness and success.
Identify and overcome limiting beliefs: We all have limiting beliefs — things we believe that stop us from
achieving our best. For example, “I’m not fast enough” or “I don’t have enough time.” Identify your limiting
beliefs and find ways to reverse the thinking.
Failure is feedback: Accept any failure as it happened, take personal ownership of it, forgive yourself for
it, identify lessons learned, and make adjustments to your actions.
Take ownership of our reactions: The past is the past. The future is not predetermined by us; what
determines it are our actions in the present. Start again.
“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be. If what we are now has been
the result of our own past actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced
by our present actions.” — Swami Vivekananda, 19th century Hindu monk
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5. Attitude Of gratitude: Energy grows where attention goes. Focus on the things you are grateful for, not what
you lack.
Express gratitude for the big things, express gratitude for the small things, and express gratitude for the
difficult things.
“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be
content.” — Helen Keller
6. Live to give: In order to receive anything in life, you have to be willing to give it first.
Give genuinely: Giving is not investing, we give for the sake of giving without expecting anything in return.
Receive graciously: Be able to accept without reservation.
Live authentically: Understand that the greatest gift you can give is to be your authentic self.
“You give but little when you give your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” –
Khalil Gibran, Lebanese-American poet
7. The time is now: Take purposeful action in the present.
“Do not wait; the time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may
have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” — Napoleon Hill, author of Think and
Grow Rich
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Leading a Global Village team
In the coming pages, you will learn the ins and outs of organizing a Global Village team, including the different team
types; the options for where to travel; how to speak with volunteers about the program donation and fundraising
opportunities; and how to prepare them to travel, facilitate the in-country experience and then reintroduce them back
to life at home. The basic steps are: 1. Propose a trip.
2. Build your team.
3. Prepare to travel.
4. Travel.
5. Return home.
Terms to know
Trip engagement specialist: This is your primary point of contact. Your trip engagement specialist will confirm your
trip, support you through the process, and answer any questions that you have while recruiting.
Host program: These are the on-the-ground coordinators who will work closely with your trip engagement specialist
to develop budgets and itineraries, manage in-country logistics, and confirm final preparations for your team. They
will often travel with your team in-country, serving as an interpreter and guide to ensure the trip runs smoothly.
U.S. sending program: This is the Global Volunteer Engagement and Support staff, located at their Americus and
Atlanta headquarters in Georgia.
Leading an open Global Village team
Global Village has two types of trips that you can organize: open and closed teams. The responsibilities of the team
leader are very similar, but the promotional, financial and application processes differ.
An open team is designed for volunteers who apply to Global Village as individuals and are not already part of an
organized group. The majority of volunteers will come from the United States and Canada, but teams originating in
the U.S. also attract applicants from other countries. Open teams are advertised on the Habitat for Humanity
International website (habitat.org/gv) once the trip is confirmed.
The dates and locations available for open leaders are preselected based on our marketing capacity. We have
also standardized the budgets and itineraries for open teams in order to maximize our offerings. These budgets and
itineraries cannot be modified, but if you’d like to customize your trip, organizing a closed team would offer more
flexibility. A closed team can consist of friends and family members, volunteers from an existing organization, or even
your local affiliate.
Currently certified leaders are eligible to lead open teams. Please reach out to [email protected] for more details
about team leader certification.
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
Proposals for open teams are accepted during specified dates throughout the year:
For trips traveling in January-June, proposals are accepted the previous calendar year beginning in June.
For trips traveling in July-December, proposals are accepted the previous calendar year beginning in
September.
Once the corresponding proposal submission process ends, the Global Village office reviews all received
proposals and matches leaders with trips based on the selected preferences. Leaders are evaluated based on many
factors, including the number of trips they’ve led, feedback they’ve received, locations they have traveled and tenure
with Habitat. If there additional leadership opportunities are still available after the proposal submission period ends,
they will be listed on the proposal website and reviewed on a weekly basis. Team leaders are welcome to lead more
than one trip per year, but each trip must be at least four months apart.
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You can review the proposal website and available opportunities at any time.
Leading a closed Global Village team
The responsibilities of a closed team leader are very similar to those of open team leaders, but the promotional,
financial and application processes differ.
A closed team is typically made up of volunteers associated with the same partnering organization: a church,
school, university, corporation, family, circle of friends, civic club, association, Habitat affiliate or any other type of
already formed group. The team leader is typically a member of the partnering organization or group and already
knows at least some of the prospective team members.
The team leader is responsible for recruiting prospective volunteers. Unlike open teams, closed team volunteers
are automatically added to the team roster once they submit their application.
For closed teams, the partner organization or group generally collects all funds and sends only the team donation,
any in-country expenses that can be prepaid, and the insurance premiums to the Global Village office. The team
leader might handle some of the team’s in-country expenses directly.
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
Proposals to lead closed teams should be submitted six to eight months before desired travel dates.
You can review the proposal website and available opportunities at any time.
Host country
Ideal team
size
Trip
length Project types
Estimated
program cost
Cambodia 12-15 people 10 days Home construction, healthy homes $1,700-1,800
India 12 people 10 days Home construction $2,000-2,100
Nepal 12 people 10 days Home construction $2,000-2,100
Myanmar 12 people 10 days Home construction $1,800-1,900
Thailand 15 people 10 days Home construction $1,830
Vietnam 15 people 10 days Home construction $2,000-2,100
Jordan 12-14 people 8 days Home construction $1,800-1,900
Kenya 12-20 people 10 days Vulnerable populations $2,200-2,300
Lesotho 12-24 people 9 days Vulnerable populations $2,100-2,200
Malawi 12-24 people 10 days Vulnerable populations $2,200-2,300
Poland 12 people 11 days Home construction, critical home improvement $1,800-1,900
Portugal 10-14 people 10 days Home construction, critical home improvement $1,800-1,900
Romania 12-24 people 11 days Home construction $1,700-1,800
Zambia 12-24 people 10 days Home construction, vulnerable populations $2,000-2,100
Argentina 12-24 people 10 days Home construction, community development $2,200-2,300
Bolivia 12 people 9 days Home construction $1,900-2,000
Brazil 12-20 people 9 days Vulnerable populations $2,100-2,200
Dominican Republic 12-16 people 9 days Home construction $1,800-1,900
El Salvador 12-24 people 9 days Home construction $1,600-1,700
Guatemala 12-24 people 9 days Home construction, healthy homes $1,800-1,900
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Honduras 12-24 people 9 days Home construction $1,600-1,700
Mexico 12-14 people 9 days Home construction, vulnerable populations $1,700-1,800
Paraguay 12 people 10 days Home construction $1,800-1,850
Trinidad and Tobago 12–24 people 9 days Home construction $1,900-2,000
Trip confirmation
Once your proposal has been accepted and the dates have been confirmed by the host program, you’ll be connected
with your trip engagement specialist, who will be your primary contact for the remainder of the trip planning process.
Your specialist will send your trip confirmation message, which will contain all of the information relevant to your trip,
including:
Your trip’s unique Global Village event code, which you’ll use in the subject line of all communication, to get
volunteers registered for your team, and to submit all trip finances.
A standardized host program handbook specific to your travel location, which provides you and your team
members with just enough information to be prepared without being overwhelmed.
A budget workbook that contains your budget and supporting budget information. Most budgets are based on
a standard team size of 12 members. For closed teams, the budget document also contains your deposit
invoice.
Your trip planning workbook, which provides trip-specific information, a milestone checklist, important trip links
and supporting documents.
A site info page with pertinent information relevant to your trip, such as lodging, food, cultural activities and
transportation.
A memorandum of understanding document that will be signed by the team leader.
Your confirmation message will also include information about completing a confirmation webinar specific to your
trip type, which will provide you with all the information you need to know about trip logistics, management and
financials. Once you complete the webinar, you’ll be able to actively recruit for your team.
Both open and closed teams will also need to complete a memorandum of understanding each time a trip is
organized. Additionally, closed teams will submit a $1,000 deposit within 30 days of the confirmation message in
order to secure the travel dates.
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Budget
Each year, the hosting programs review their trip budgets and provide options based on pricing, availability and
participant feedback
These budget options are used to create the standard budget for the calendar year. Each and every budget
includes funds for:
Program and host donation requirements.
Meals and accommodations for the duration of the trip.
Transportation once you arrive at the airport through the day of departure.
Cultural activities and community visits.
Medical and evacuation insurance.
Professional construction support and a translator for your group.
A portion of the team leader’s subsidy.
The budgets are based on the standard itineraries set by each host program and may vary between nine and 16
days.
The budget includes the costs of the team’s in-country travel and daily expenses while they are working with the
host program. Any extended recreation plans will not be included in the standard budget, and volunteers will need to
purchase additional activities they would like to participate in.
The program donation does not include:
Participant airfare.
Rest and recreation activities beyond local cultural activities.
Visa and exit fees.
Trip cancellation insurance.
Early arrival expenses for the team leader.
Team leader costs
Open team budgets will include a team leader subsidy intended to cover airfare, visas and program cost. This
subsidy is based on a minimum of 12 participants. You’ll be informed at the beginning of the planning process about
the minimum number of volunteers required for your trip in order to avoid cancellation. You will also be asked to
fundraise to make up the difference in cost if the minimum team size is not reached, or if your airfare costs are more
than the estimated amount*.
*Team leader airfare has been estimated based on an average price from both small and large airports from
across the U.S. The airfare estimate cannot be adjusted; this is to keep the prices for each location standard. If you
recruit a more than full team, however, you can be reimbursed for additional flight funds, contingent upon being
approved by your trip engagement specialist beforehand.
CO-LEADERS
Teams of 16 or more volunteers will require a co-leader. If both leaders recruit a total of 24 volunteers, Habitat will
subsidize both team leaders’ expenses and airfare as outlined above. However, if they recruit between 16 and 24
volunteers, a partial subsidy will be given to the second leader based on the number of participants.
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Program donation
Each volunteer contributes a program donation that covers the costs of meals, transportation and accommodations
throughout the trip and also helps Habitat grow our work in the field.
The program donation comprises two important components:
1. A direct contribution to Habitat’s work in the location you travel to and in support of all ongoing Global Village
program efforts.
2. The necessary funds to cover expenses incurred during the official dates of your Global Village build.* These
expenses include:
All meals and accommodations for the duration of the trip.
Transportation once you arrive at the airport through the day of departure.
Cultural activities and community visits.
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Medical and evacuation insurance.
Professional construction support and a translator for your group.
A portion of the team leader’s airfare and program donation.
*Please note that a volunteer’s airfare to the build location and visa fees (if applicable) are not included in the
program donation.
The portion of your program donation that is a direct contribution to the country you're volunteering in is extremely
valuable. This financial component helps to employ local host coordinators who are preparing for your team and
translators who provide support throughout the week, along with skilled masons and laborers whom you'll work
alongside during your trip and who will remain to complete the construction after you return home.
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Build your open team: Recruiting volunteers
Open teams will have a trip-specific flyer posted online at habitat.org/gv at least four months before the trip, after the
completion of the trip confirmation webinar.
Global Village receives thousands of inquiries each year. Potential team members indicate their preferred
locations and dates on their application (up to three choices). A copy of the application is then forwarded to the team
leader of each selected trip within two business days. Every time you receive an application, please contact the
applicant within 48 hours to schedule an expectations call to get to know more about the volunteer and share more
information about the experience. Afterward, an invitation indicating next steps should be extended to the volunteer.
The invitation letter template is located on the trip leader resources page.
If you decide you cannot extend an invitation to an applicant, you must let the Global Village office know by
contacting your trip engagement specialist.
The application process
When individuals apply to the Global Village program:
Their application is processed and they are issued a Habitat ID number. Individuals with applications already
on file are reissued the same Habitat ID.
Applicants are also provided with a list of the trips they’ve selected and the corresponding team leaders’
contact information.
The leaders of the selected trips are then forwarded relevant applicant information for follow-up.
Individuals should submit a new application each time they join a Global Village trip in order to update appropriate
information and complete the release and waiver of liability.
Setting expectations with applicants
As you receive applications, you must reach out to those applicants within 48 hours to set up an expectations call
about the trip.
Many volunteers express interest in more than one trip and will, therefore, be connected with more than one
leader. Applicants often will travel with the first leader who issues an invitation.
Interested volunteers may reach out to you before submitting an application to request additional information. Feel
free to set up a call and tell them more about the trip. Once you have, the next step for the volunteer will be to submit
an application to join your team.
Some good things to mention during an expectations-setting call:
Trip basics: where, when, how long, and how much.
Describe the Global Village experience: travel, type of work, accommodations.
Use open-ended questions to discuss their motivations.
Tell your story and why you love Habitat.
Conversation tips and sample questions are available in the trip leader resources.
Web flyers
We rely on team leaders to deliver a seamless experience for volunteers eager to serve with Habitat for Humanity. If
you’re close to reaching your recruitment goals and are turning volunteers away from your trip, it’s time for your web
flyer to come down from the website so that those volunteers will be routed to other open trips. Let your trip
engagement specialist know that you’d like your trip to be closed to recruitment.
If you have several expectations calls to organize and are close to reaching your recruitment goals, we can easily
remove your web flyer from our website temporarily as you sift through the applications and then repost it within
minutes once you’re ready to receive more interest.
It is important that you set your mind to accepting every volunteer who applies. Occasionally, a volunteer will not
be a good fit for a program, but generally, we want to provide everyone an opportunity to serve. Try to keep your
mind open to all types of volunteers, and allow your team to unfold naturally.
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Promoting your trip (open teams)
The primary recruitment tools for open teams are the Global Village website and you! Hundreds of thousands of
unique visitors review the trip list each year through organic searches, but here are other ways the Global Village
office can promote your team:
Through Habitat for Humanity International’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
In the Global Village volunteer newsletter.
You also can promote your team by customizing the recruitment flyer template on the team leader resources website.
Accepting minors on your trip
The following criteria apply to anyone younger than 18 who wishes to volunteer on open Global Village trips.
The minimum age to volunteer on any Global Village trip is 16.
Minors (16- and 17-year-olds) interested in traveling with Global Village can do so if they are accompanied
and supervised by their legal parent or guardian or if another responsible adult agrees to serve as their legal
guardian for the duration of the trip.
The full minor policy and restricted build site activities for minors can be viewed on the Global Village website.
Orientation packet and T-shirts
Orientation packets and T-shirts are no longer issued to volunteers. However, after submitting their deposit, they will
receive an email with appropriate information and resources pertaining to Global Village.
Payment procedures: Open teams
PROGRAM DONATION
The program donation for each Global Village trip refers to the trip cost and can be divided into two categories: the
direct contribution and expenses required to host the team during travel.
The direct contribution is largely a donation to the host program the team is visiting. A small portion is retained
by Habitat for Humanity International to serve homeowners in areas of the world where Global Village volunteers are
not able to travel. Direct contributions vary by country and are set by the host program.
The expenses required to host your team include accommodations, meals, local transportation (airfare to the
destination is not included), cultural activities, travel medical and evacuation insurance, contingency funds, and team
leader subsidy costs.
You will receive the budget information in your confirmation materials, and we encourage you to share this
material with the volunteers on your team.
SUBMITTING DONATIONS AND PAYMENTS
Detailed payment instructions are contained in the payment policies and procedures information listed on the
Global Village website.
When applicants are extended an invitation to join a Global Village trip, they must confirm their place on the team
by submitting a nonrefundable and nontransferable deposit of $350. The balance of the program donation must be
received no later than 45 days before departure.
Participants or donors may submit funds online at habitat.org/gv or through the corresponding volunteer’s
Share.Habitat fundraising page.
Checks and money orders should be made payable to Habitat for Humanity International and addressed to:
Habitat for Humanity International
Global Village
322 W. Lamar St.
Americus, GA 31709-3543
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Volunteers and donors should code all donations and payments with the appropriate Habitat ID number and event
code related to your trip. More details about coding the payment can be found on the payment policies and
procedures page online.
Please note: It may take up to 10 days for donations and payments to be posted to the team’s income report.
You can review your team’s income report anytime by visiting the Team Leader Report website.
ONLINE FUNDRAISING
All open team volunteers have access to fundraise their program donation online via share.habitat.org. You should
pass along details about Share.Habitat in the invitation letter you submit to applicants.
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Build your closed team: Recruiting volunteers
Setting expectations with interested team members
As you receive interest in your trip, and before registering anyone for your team, you should have in-person meetings
or phone calls to set expectations and give more details about the trip experience.
Conversation tips and sample questions for these meetings are available in the trip leader resources.
Registering your volunteers
All team members must register with Habitat for Humanity each time they join one of your trips. You should first send
them an invitation letter that includes all of the pertinent information related to your specific trip, including the
registration link. You can find the invitation letter for closed teams in the trip leader resources online.
Once your volunteers have submitted their registration, it is processed through the Global Village office within two
business days. Each team member will receive a confirmation email with his or her personal Habitat ID number. If the
volunteer has previously participated in a Global Village trip, he or she will receive the same Habitat ID number from
their previous builds. You, the team leader, will also receive a copy of each team member’s registration information
via email.
The registration process requires that each participant complete an electronic waiver of liability and participant
acknowledgment form that will be maintained at the Global Village office. Emergency contact information will also be
required for each participant; this information will be sent again to the team leader as part of the emergency contact
information in your final packet.
Individuals should submit a new application each time they join a Global Village trip in order to update appropriate
information and complete the release and waiver of liability.
Accepting minors on your trip
The following criteria apply to all volunteers younger than 18 who wish to volunteer on closed Global Village trips.
The minimum age to volunteer on any Global Village trip is 16.
Minors 16 and older may participate without their legal parent or guardian if they are a part of an institutional
group, such as a school, church or Habitat affiliate. The institution must have a memorandum of
understanding on file, in which the partner organization accepts responsibility for all minors, with the Global
Village office.
The partner organization and team leader must ensure that no minors on the team drink alcohol during any
part of the trip.
The full minor policy and restricted build site activities for minors can be viewed on the Global Village website.
Recruiting Quick Guide
A quick guide to recruiting Habitat Global Village team members is available at
habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/Recruiting-quick-guide_0.pdf.
Payment procedures
DEPOSIT
The dates and location confirmed for your team have been reserved but require a nonrefundable, nontransferable
deposit of $1,000 within 30 days of receiving the confirmation email. This deposit will be applied toward your team’s
total program donation. An invoice for the deposit can be found in the budget workbook included in the confirmation
email.
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PROGRAM DONATION
The program donation for each Global Village trip refers to the trip cost and can be divided into two categories: the
direct contribution and the expenses required to host the team during travel.
The direct contribution is largely a donation to the host program the team is visiting. A small portion is retained
by Habitat for Humanity International to serve homeowners in areas of the world where Global Village volunteers are
not able to travel. Direct contributions vary by country and are set by the host program.
The expenses required to host your team include accommodations, meals, local transportation (airfare to the
destination is not included), cultural activities, travel medical and evacuation insurance, support from local staff, first-
aid kit, contingency funds, and team leader subsidy costs.
Airfare, rest and recreation activities, cancellation insurance, and visa and exit fees are not included in the
program donation.
You will receive the budget information in your confirmation materials. We encourage you to share this material
with the volunteers on your team.
COLLECTING AND SUBMITTING DONATIONS AND PAYMENTS
Detailed payment instructions are contained in the payment policies and procedures information listed on the
Global Village website.
There are several ways for closed teams to collect and submit funds. In all scenarios, a final invoice will be issued
60 days before your trip, and all funds must be received by Habitat for Humanity International no less than 45 days
before trip departure. The following fund collection methods are acceptable:
If your team is part of an organization, we prefer that the team leader or organization collects funds from each
participant and submits one large check in the amount reflected on the final invoice and made payable to
Habitat for Humanity International.
Individual team members raise or submit funds separately through the Global Village website at
habitat.org/gv or through the corresponding volunteer’s Share.Habitat fundraising page.
Team leaders and participants can set up fundraising webpages that feed directly to the account. This means
that fundraising can happen either at the team level or through individual fundraising pages. Team leaders will
need to let their trip engagement specialist know how their team would like their fundraising set up.
Please note: Habitat affiliates cannot currently use the Share.Habitat fundraising platform because of tithe credit
implications.
Checks and money orders should be made payable to Habitat for Humanity International and addressed to:
Habitat for Humanity International
Global Village
322 W. Lamar St.
Americus, GA 31709-3543
Volunteers and donors should code all donations and payments with the appropriate identification number and
event code related to your trip. More details about coding the payment can be found on the payment policies and
procedures page online.
Please note: It may take up to 10 days for donations and payments to be posted to the team’s income report.
You can review your team’s income report anytime by visiting the Team Leader Report website.
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Final preparations
Travel and entry requirements
AIRFARE
Each team member is financially responsible for his or her own air travel to and from the trip location.
The itinerary included with your confirmation materials includes details about arrival and departure times
volunteers should consult when making airline reservations.
PASSPORTS
Each team member is responsible for obtaining his or her own passport and visa, if required. A passport is not
considered valid unless the expiration date is at least six months beyond the end date of the trip.
All volunteers should travel with a copy of their passport. Team leaders should no longer request copies of each
volunteer’s passport, nor should they be forwarded to [email protected]. An exception to this would be if our office
needs to assist with visa documentation letters. We may request copies of passports in this situation, as needed.
VISAS
Visas are often required for entry into a country. Some visas are issued upon arrival, but others must be applied for
well before departure. Some visas can be handled electronically or issued along with the airline ticket. Check with
your travel agent and the U.S. Department of State about visa requirements.
Trip cancellation insurance
We recommend that all volunteers invest in Cancel for Any Reason Trip Cancellation Insurance. Trip cancellation
protects travelers if a trip is canceled, if they can no longer participate in the experience, or if they experience an
airline delay. Details on cancellations can be found on the Global Village website.
Health requirements
The Centers for Disease Control website provides tips for staying healthy in country and recommendations for
immunizations. Neither you nor anyone at Habitat is authorized to give medical recommendations to your volunteers.
We do encourage all participants to be up to date on their tetanus shots and to visit their family doctor or a local travel
clinic several months before traveling.
Embassy registration
As a team leader, we ask that you register your team with the U.S. State Department’s STEP program before
traveling. In the event of an emergency, the U.S. embassy or consulate can be a source of assistance and
information.
Payment deadline
Every team member must submit the remaining balance of his or her program cost 45 days before departure. If the
team is under-recruited, the team leader will be required to make up the difference in cost in order for the team to
travel. Your team budget details the subsidy earned for each volunteer recruited.
Roster tool
A template is available on the trip leader resources website for you to use while recruiting for your team. You will
need to include rooming assignments, travel itineraries and dietary requirements, then return the roster to the host
program 30 days before traveling.
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Team leader travel expense advance
All team funds are held by Global Village until just before your team’s departure. Before your departure, our office will
advance you sufficient funds to cover your team’s budgeted expenses. We prepay as many funds as possible to the
host program directly, but details about what expenses you’ll be responsible for as the team leader can be found on
the “travel advance” tab of your finance workbook included in the confirmation materials.
Final packet and predeparture call
Two weeks before departure, you’ll receive a “final packet” via email containing an incident report form, insurance
information, the Global Village emergency management plan and participant emergency contact information. You’ll
also have a call with your trip engagement specialist before traveling to review all of these documents and answer
any outstanding questions you may have.
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While traveling
Team dynamics
ADDRESSING CONFLICT
It’s important to head off situations before they become problems. You should avoid letting people or problems stew
and be constantly aware of what is happening within the team. If you see a problem developing, take action to identify
and resolve it.
REFLECTIONS
Leaders will facilitate meaningful in-country discussions to deepen participants’ engagement and transformation
during the trip. Reflection time serves multiple purposes:
Allows the leader to set and maintain the focus of the team.
Gives the leader an opportunity to share important information with the group.
Provides the team an opportunity to reflect, express feelings, ask questions and give thanks.
Encourages team bonding. Through daily reflection, most team issues can be solved before they become
problems.
Creates an opportunity for the team to learn more about Habitat’s global work.
A reflections guide can be found on the trip leader resources page.
INCIDENT REPORTS
We need to hear about any and all injuries or issues that occur on your trip, no matter how small. File your incident
reports online here.
TEAM DYNAMICS QUICK GUIDE
A quick guide to team dynamics, including ideas from other team leaders for communicating before the trip, getting
every volunteer involved, dealing with frustrated volunteers, and more, is available at
habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/Team-Dynamics-Quick-Guide_0.pdf.
REFLECTIONS QUICK GUIDE
A quick guide to team reflection meetings, including ideas from other team leaders about how to get the most from
reflection time, can be found at habitat.org/sites/default/files/documents/Reflections-Quick-Guide_1.pdf.
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Returning home
Evaluations
Volunteers will be emailed a robust evaluation at the end of the trip. Encourage them to include things that went well
during the trip, in addition to areas that need improvement. A debrief call with your trip engagement specialist will
accompany this evaluation, and you’ll receive team leader feedback at this time.
Expense report
You should obtain itemized receipts from all expenses incurred throughout the trip, based on the funds that you were
advanced. These Travel and Expense Guidelines give more details about how your travel advance should be used
and what acceptable expenses are. You can use the daily spending tracker to track your funds while traveling and will
submit an expense report to the Global Village office within 14 days of returning home. These details will be included
in your predeparture email before traveling.
Re-entry
Your role as a leader doesn’t stop once you return home! A transformative experience just took place, and re-entry
may be difficult for some of your volunteers. Talking about what team members are feeling is the first step toward
dealing with re-entry. Start addressing re-entry while the team is still together. Near the end of the trip, the feelings
associated with re-entry will likely become a topic at reflection gatherings and other team meetings. The subject
definitely should be on the agenda for the final team meeting. Review the Re-entry Quick Guide for more information
on facilitating the re-entry period for your volunteers.
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Volunteer code of conduct
Volunteers like you are representatives of Habitat for Humanity and its ministry. When you accept a volunteer role
with Habitat for Humanity, you are committing to act in a way that promotes Habitat’s mission, respects the local
community, and ensures the safety of all participants. In addition to complying with all laws, regulations and Habitat
for Humanity policies, all volunteers are expected to follow the volunteer code of conduct outlined below.
1. Promote a respectful community: Treat all volunteers, employees and community members with respect,
courtesy, and dignity. This includes avoiding the use of insensitive or offensive language. Volunteers are also
expected to refrain from engaging in physical or emotional violence toward others. Another key way
volunteers can promote a welcoming, respectful environment is to make efforts to understand and honor the
local culture and by following all rules and policies set forth by a program staff member or supervising
volunteer.
2. Prioritize site safety: Safety rules and guidelines on the volunteer site have been created to keep you and
others safe as you volunteer and must be followed. Activities that pose a safety risk to yourself or others
should be avoided. Report any unsafe working conditions to the onsite supervisor.
3. Uphold a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs and weapons: The purchase or possession of drugs or
weapons is strictly prohibited on Habitat for Humanity property and volunteer sites. The purchase or
possession of alcohol is also strictly prohibited on Habitat for Humanity volunteer sites, even if permitted by
local laws or by the laws of the volunteer’s home country.
4. Model behavior that respects the human rights of all people and protects beneficiaries and children
from exploitation and abuse. Habitat for Humanity has adopted the standards established by the United
Nations to respect the human rights of all people and especially beneficiaries and children. Help model
acceptable behavior by making sure your actions reflect the standards Habitat for Humanity has adopted.
Inappropriate physical or sexual relationships with other volunteers, staff, and community members should be
avoided. And, at no time may volunteers engage in sexual activity with a child (a person under the age of 18
regardless of the legal age of consent) or any Habitat beneficiaries.
5. Follow the gift giving policy: To avoid potential misunderstandings, embarrassment, injured feelings or
jealousy, volunteers are asked not to exchange gifts with Habitat beneficiaries, staff members or community
members without consulting Habitat staff. Volunteers may speak with a staff member about appropriate ways
to exchange gifts and our staff is happy to suggest gifts that will benefit the entire community.
6. Safeguard ministry assets: Use reasonable care to protect and safeguard all Habitat for Humanity assets.
Stealing, misappropriation or diversion of Habitat for Humanity funds, property, or other assets for personal
benefit is not permitted nor is otherwise engaging in fraudulent activity regarding Habitat for Humanity’s
assets, operations, or beneficiaries.
7. Maintain confidentiality: Build trust with other volunteers and Habitat for Humanity by respecting the
confidentiality of volunteers, staff, Habitat beneficiaries, and community members. Unless you receive prior
written approval from HFHI, you will not disclose confidential HFHI information or confidential information
given to you by others.
All Global Village volunteers are given this code to read and sign before their service. Violations of this volunteer
code of conduct can be reported anonymously through mysafeworkplace.com.
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Thank you for your service
Our team leaders truly live at the heart of our mission. All the time and effort you put into organizing these trips and
crafting these experiences for so many Global Village volunteers fuels the work we do on the ground and makes an
incredible and lasting impact that continues long after you return home.
Thank you for being our fearless leaders, guiding our volunteers in service and further deepening their understanding
of poverty and their role in breaking that cycle. This work you do helps to make Habitat’s efforts sustainable and
empowers communities to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter all around the world. Our global
community is stronger thanks to you.
Thank you for being the hands and hearts of Habitat for Humanity, ensuring that everyone has a decent place to live.
We are forever grateful for your leadership.
The Global Village Team.
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