During our Global Village trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia with Habitat Para La Humanidad, we worked on building a home with the Moya Family. When completed, the home will measure 624 square feet and cost $14,240 US. The family made a $2,000 deposit, so their mortgage will be $214 per month over 6.5 years. The couple has one son and is expecting a baby in December.

My team helped shovel, wheelbarrow and place thousands of pounds of sand, stone, brick and gravel over five work days. We moved, cut, bent and twisted countless feet of rebar that will be used to fortify the walls of the home. Each task, though at times tedious and strenuous, was a labor of love.

For our cultural activities, we toured a center for abused and abandoned children, saw a breath-taking traditional Bolivian dance performance, visited the famous Cristo de la Concordia, viewed the Habitat national office, shopped at the Main Plaza and La Cancha markets, toured the Natural History Museum and the majestic Palacio Portales.

Habitat Para La Humanidad Bolivia has served more than 50,000 families and built nearly 11,530 homes over 29 years. Utilizing Global Village teams, like ours, helps to offset their costs and increase progress on the homes. For example, our team raised almost $15,000 in funds, almost the total cost of the home, using peer-to-peer fundraising for our trip. That doesn't include the offline funds submitted by our volunteers and their supporters. Also, our team of 14 people was able to move enormous amounts of materials on the site in a short amount of time, saving the small construction staff at Habitat and the Moya Family time, money and energy.

I'd like to thank my team members Jerald, Karen, Jim, Andy, Tommy, Amy, Marci, Lori, Kate, Meriem, Ashley and Pieter for accepting the call to service and putting love into action during this trip. I'd also like to thank my supporters, especially my top donors, Bob and Roderick, for their generosity and helping transform lives in Cochabamba. Your compassion has helped make the dream of home ownership come true for the Moya Family!

Please take a moment to view my short video recap of our experience in Cochabamba.

If you can not view the video, watch it here.

I've learned that previous Global Village participants are interested in volunteering with another team, but need help securing their deposit. I have great news! You can fund raise with a Share.Habitat page for your $350 to hold your spot on a Global Village team. Recently, a member of my team set up a page and overnight she received more than $1,100 from family and friends! Get started today with your 8-digit Habitat ID number and trip code GV14516.

When this year's Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project begins on October 6, it will be the 30th time that Habitat's most famous volunteers have given a week of their time to help build and improve houses.

Don't miss Habitat World's special online presentation of 30 stories in 30 days — starting with the very first project and working our way toward this year's event, we will share a story each day, supplemented with photos and videos from then and now.

Help us thank the Carters for three decades of building homes, communities and hope!

- from Habitat for Humanity International

Around the world, 1.6 billion people live in substandard housing. That’s roughly one of every four people on the planet.  
Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 3 million people to secure decent, affordable homes. But the need is vast and growing — and we’re always seeking ways to do more.

BUiLD is a movement to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. 
The BUiLD campaign helps raise awareness of the global housing need. It also raises funds for our mission to create affordable housing.

Through BUiLD, people from all walks of life can contribute to our mission in ways other than volunteering to construct houses:

• Take the BUiLD pledge to show support for our mission.
• Follow us on social media sites.
• Donate to support our work around the corner and around the world.
• Participate in promotions from our corporate partners.
• Use the BUiLDERS toolkit to spread the word to friends and family. You can also download free web graphics, posters, signs and social media posts that will help you spread the word and give others an opportunity to get involved. The only cost is a few minutes of your time. 

Join the movement. 
What will you build? 
www.habitat.org/BUiLD 

Need encouragement to get started? Now you can get tips and strategies through our interactive webinar.
Join our Fundraising Workshop on Tuesday, April 2 at 8 PM EST.

Does fundraising make you uncomfortable? Are you unsure how to get started? We can help with that. 
A volunteer told us after this workshop, "I feel more empowered to get out there... I, too, am not one that typically would ask people for donations, but I am going to take the plunge and do it!"We'll talk about where donations go and the difference they make; getting over awkwardness; social media; who to ask and how; event fundraisers; and what has worked for other volunteers.

Register now: Email tl@habitat.org with your name and trip code. Spaces are limited to 25, so email now.

Habitat for Humanity is accelerating its mission to end poverty housing. We are building safe homes and healthy communities faster than ever. Join the call, take the GV Challenge, and help us hit the next milestone.
Our Fundraising Workshop takes place the first Tuesday of every month, so if you can't make it in April, RSVP for May. While you wait for the workshop, get some fundraising coaching: email us. Also check out some of our fundraising resources.

Clive Rainey made an exceptional and sustained commitment to advancing Habitat for Humanity’s mission through generously sharing his time and talents.
Clive joined Habitat in 1977, only one year after its founding, as a general volunteer in Americus, Georgia, doing whatever needed to be done, from stuffing envelopes to building houses. Since that time, he has been a steadfast champion for Habitat and its mission at home and abroad, including being HFHI’s first director in Africa and using his skills to raise awareness and resources for Habitat’s work worldwide as HFHI’s director of community relations.
In July 2010, Clive “retired” to Guatemala, but is still engaged in volunteer activities; including supporting Habitat Guatemala and serving with a ministry that rescues homeless children from the streets.
As a HFHI staff member, I've met Clive on a few occasions in our Operational Headquarters in Americus. I'm hoping to be able to introduce him to our team while we're building in Guatemala in June! You can read more about Clive in the September 2012 article from The Athens News.