Connect
Global Village Trips
  • About Global Village Trips
    • FAQs
  • Contact Me
    • Prayers
  • Team Members Only
    • Team Members
    • What to Bring
    • Staying Healthy
  • Blog

Global Village Blog

Read updates on my Global Village trips and the mission of Habitat for Humanity

Email me

TESTIMONIAL: "I no longer take access to clean water and plumbing for granted"

3/3/2015

 
GV team to Bolivia
Our Global Village team to Bolivia with our partner family and their home. (Meriem is the radiant smiling face in the red shirt.)
I remember our first conversation. I received her information from a fellow staff member at Habitat for Humanity International and learned that she was interested in joining my Global Village team to Bolivia. She was unsure if she could raise the funds to make the trip and a bit nervous about traveling out of the country alone.  

I realized during that phone call that Meriem had energy. She had drive. Most importantly, she was passionate about the mission of Habitat and helping families have a safe, decent and affordable place to live. I knew she could raise the money for her trip fee and airfare and make it to Cochabamba in spite of her fears...and she did!

Recently I asked Meriem to reflect on her journey as a Habitat for Humanity international volunteer for my blog. 

Meriem, use three words to describe yourself: Three words I would use to describe me are brave, positive and resourceful. I definitely agree with that!

Explain why you wanted to join our Global Village team to Bolivia: The reason I joined the GV team to Bolivia is because I wanted to do my part in continuing Habitat’s mission on a global level. I wanted to help combat poverty housing within the country. As a product of affordable housing programs stateside, I understand the value of quality affordable housing. Additionally, I knew that I would be able to use my Spanish speaking skills, if needed. 

Awesome! What was your biggest take away from the trip? My biggest take away from the trip was a greater appreciation for the small luxuries that we have in the United States. I no longer take things like access to clean water and plumbing for granted. My GV trip to Bolivia allowed me to see that it is very possible to live a life with joy without living in excess. Every person that we met, especially our homeowners that we were building for, were truly happy people. 

What challenged you the most about the trip? The only challenging aspect of the trip was overcoming my fear of traveling to another country alone. I am used to international travel but this was my very first time traveling alone. That fear quickly subsided after I met another young female traveler on the first leg of my trip. 

Why would you recommend a GV trip? I would definitely recommend a GV trip to someone. Since returning back from my trip, I have encouraged others to consider going on a GV trip in order to help them understand why quality affordable housing is a global concern. I also point out how my GV trip inspired me to give more of my time and money to combat poverty housing. I would let them know the benefits of participating in the construction of homes and how it pushes you to your limits. Lastly, the main reason why I promote GV trips is because GV trips allow you to do some serious self discovery and most people come back with a desire to do more.

Thank you, Meriem, for sharing your heart and being a part of making our world a better place to live in. Because of volunteers like you, we are making an impact in filling the need for decent and affording housing. Continue to believe that everyone deserves a decent place to live and work toward making it a reality for the 1.7 billion people worldwide living in inadequate shelter.

~Tammie, GV team leader
globalvillagetrip.com 

    Author

    Christ-follower. Mompreneur. @Habitat_org Global Village Team Leader. Crab claw lover. Advocate for adequate shelter, releasing children from poverty and ending human trafficking and slavery.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Categories

    All
    2012 Earthquake
    Accomodations
    Adventure
    Advocacy
    Advocate
    Affiliate
    Airport Greeter
    American Consulate
    American Embassy
    Americus
    Android
    Antigua
    App
    Apps
    Arrival
    Articles
    Atlanta Habitat For Humanity
    Attractions
    Babbel
    Baja Verapaz
    Banks
    Bible
    Black History
    Bolivia
    Books
    Boston
    Breezy Point
    Build
    Building Update
    Busuu
    Carter Work Project
    Cash
    Cdc
    Central Park
    Charity Miles
    Christianity
    City Center
    Civil Rights
    Classes
    Climate
    Clive Rainey
    Cochabamba
    Community
    Construction
    Cultural Immersion
    Culture
    Currency
    Demographics
    Destitute
    Devotions
    Disaster Recovery
    Disaster Relief
    Disease Prevention
    Documentary
    Do Good
    Dollars
    Dominican Republic
    Donate
    Donations
    Donor Relations
    Email
    Emergency
    Events
    Exchange Rate
    Exercise
    Ezra Millstein
    Facebook
    Faith
    Fall Out Boy
    Film
    Free Posters
    Free Web Banners
    Free Web Graphics
    Fundraising
    Georgia
    Giving
    Global Village
    Guatemala
    Guatemala City Airport
    Guatemalal Dream Project
    Guide
    Habitat For Humanity
    Habitat For Humanity Bolivia
    Habitat For Humanity Guatemala
    Habitat For Humanity International
    Habitat For Humanity Philippines
    Habitat For Humanity Westchester
    Habitat History
    Habitat Mission
    Habitat Para La Humanidad
    Hábitat Para La Humanidad Guatemala
    Habitat Restore
    Habitat World Online
    Haiyan
    Home Designs
    Home Expansion
    Home Improvements
    Homeless
    Homelessness
    Home Rehabilitation
    Homes Built
    Hotel Modelo
    Housing Solutions
    Hurricane Sandy
    Immunizations
    Incan Ruins
    Incas
    India
    Infection Control
    Internet Links
    IPhone
    Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project
    Koinoinia
    Ku Klux Klan
    Land Tenure
    Latin Music
    Lawton First
    Leadership
    Learn And Build Experience
    Lent
    Leyte
    Liloan
    Lodging
    Machu Picchu
    Magazine
    Mastercard
    Mayan Ruins
    Media
    Milestones
    Millard And Linda Fuller
    Mission Trip
    Money
    Money Exchange
    Movies
    National Office
    Needy
    Neighbors
    Newsletter
    Newspaper
    Ny
    Old Testament
    Online Giving
    Oppressed
    Oprah
    Own
    Packing
    Parks
    Partner Families
    Petition
    Photography
    Pledge
    Podcasts
    Poor
    Population
    Poverty
    Poverty Housing
    Prayer
    Prepaid Card
    President Jimmy Carter
    Promotions
    Property Rights
    Psa
    Q
    Quetzal
    Quetzaltenango
    Rabinal
    Repairs
    Rockaways
    Rockefeller Christmas Tree
    Rosalynn Carter
    Safety
    Salama
    Santiaguito
    Santo Thomas Volcano
    Scripture
    Security
    Serving
    Share.Habitat
    Shelter
    Siete Orejas Volcano
    Slum Housing
    Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
    Social Media
    Social Media Templates
    South America
    Spanish
    Statistics
    STEP
    Supporters
    Television Show
    Testimonial
    Thailand
    The Carpenter's Gift
    Tithe
    Toolkit
    Tourism
    Travel
    Traveling Grace
    Trip Fee
    Typhoon
    United Nations
    Update
    U.S. Consulate
    U.S. Embassy
    Vaccinations
    Video
    Videography
    Videos
    Visa
    Volcano
    Volunteer
    Volunteers
    Voluntourism
    Weak
    Weaving
    Webinar
    Web Site
    We Build Campaign
    Why We Build
    Women's Rights
    Workshop
    World Habitat Day
    Xela
    Youth
    Youtube

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to our Global Village Trip updates

Subscribe to Newsletter
© 2012-2019 Tammie Ferguson. All rights reserved.
Photo used under Creative Commons from amslerPIX