Contribute your skills and time to Habitat for Humanity!

Volunteer in El Salvador!

10th – 24th November 2012

Four year-old Racquel Aparenga plays on a swing in front of her family's Habitat home in the Brisas del Sur community. © Habitat for Humanity/Ezra Millstein

• El Salvador has been struck by two natural disasters that have increased housing needs, both in urban and rural areas.

• Many families have no homes at all while others live in inadequate housing or in shelters made of corrugated metal and discarded wood.

• 37.8% (2009) of the population live below the poverty line.

• In El Salvador Habitat has provided more than 9,800 housing solutions, changing the lives of 49,000 people.

• Habitat El Salvador also helps families who lose their homes in natural disasters. In total, Habitat El Salvador has served 7,000 disaster victims through the construction of 1,400 houses.

Volunteering in El Salvador

Travel to El Salvador and work on building homes with local families. You will be working on building earthquake-resistant houses which are made of concrete blocks and structural steel reinforcement. The roofs are made of fiber-cement sheeting, and the floors of cement brick.

They have two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room and a latrine or toilet. Windows are shutter type, protected by steel bars in order to provide adequate lighting, ventilation and security. They have an area of approximately 42m2.

Volunteering in El Salvador

Day 1:You will arrive in San Salvador and you will be met at the airport and transferred to your destination.

Day 2:You will receive an orientation briefing from the Host Coordinator, you will learn about El Salvador and Habitat’s work, local culture and safety onsite. You will be also welcomed by the local community.

Day 3 – 7: You will be working onsite between 8AM to 4PM in partnership with the local families. You could be digging foundations, laying bricks, plastering walls, painting or cleaning the site.

In the evenings you will have time to meet the local communities and learn about life in El Salvador.

Day 8-9: Rest and relaxation! El Salvador has many tourist attractions to offer including pristine forests, active volcanoes and sparkling lakes. You can also explore one of the wonderful beaches, national parks and Mayan ruins

Day 10 -13: Back to work (See day 3-7)

Day 14: Dedication ceremony. For most of the volunteers dedication ceremony is a highlight of the trip. This is when you will see the outcome of your work.

Day 15: You will be travel to the airport and then home.

Volunteering in El Salvador

To get on the trip:

1) Apply online

2) We will give you an initial call

3) We will meet you to speak about your expectations

4) You will need to pay €250 deposit (which then goes towards the fundraising target)

5) You are a member of the team!

As part of our Global Village programme, you will fundraise to provide your team with the means to build new Habitat homes in the country you visit, as well as to raise awareness of inadequate housing and poverty issues at home.

You will need to fundraise approx €3,400 which will cover donation to Habitat for Humanity (€900), flights, accommodation, food, local transport, pre-departure training, weekend activities and comprehensive insurance.