After a long hiatus, Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program is back!

A group of 18 volunteers from the Portland region recently traveled to El Salvador, rolling up their sleeves to help construct safe housing. This was the first Global Village build since 2020, marking a powerful return to international service after the pandemic.

In partnership with Habitat El Salvador, these volunteers worked to build homes for three families in the city of Ahuachapán. Alongside local masons, they dug foundations using pickaxes, shovels, and wheelbarrows. Some volunteers learned how to tie rebar, creating metal structures that would help support the future homes.

“I surprised myself with what I was able to do,” said Susie Vischer, a former Habitat board member and longtime volunteer. “I’d never wielded a pickaxe. And I really got into it, and came back empowered.”

Susie smiled, gesturing at her arms. “And empowered physically,” she added.

The work in Ahuachapán was very physical. Throughout the day, the team enjoyed breaks and meals together. They listened to music, had dance lessons, and shared stories.

This was Sarah Spry’s first Global Village build. She’s the Learning and Development Coordinator for Habitat Portland Region. Sarah said the Habitat El Salvador team made them feel welcome and cared for.

“(Volunteer coordinators) Francis and Roberto worked tirelessly while at the same time making us laugh,” she recalled. “They took us for walks through the town square eating ice cream after a hard day of work, and shared their personal stories and experiences with us,”

In her role with Habitat El Salvador, Francis Padilla works with both international and local volunteers. She loves having fun on the build site and helping local families.

“I think that’s the most valuable thing that you can have in your heart as a volunteer,” Francis said. “The satisfaction that you are helping to build the dream of three families.”

Some of the homebuyer families and local community members taught the volunteers how to make El Salvador’s most famous dish, pupusas. They’re a griddle cake, stuffed with various fillings. In return, the volunteers shared a dish of their own – peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

For Erin Maxey, that exchange was one of her favorite moments. She’s Habitat’s Homeownership Programs Director, and one of the Global Village team leads.

“There’s something incredibly rewarding about bringing people together to work toward a common goal—especially when that goal is building safe, affordable housing,” she said. “Seeing volunteers step out of their comfort zones, connect with a new culture, and gain a deeper understanding of global housing challenges is truly inspiring.”

By the end of the week, the trenches were complete. The volunteers mixed cement – entirely by hand, without machines – to create the first layer of foundation. According to Habitat El Salvador, the full build would take approximately seven weeks to complete.

You can tour the build site thanks to videos taken by ReStore Procurement Director Malia Tam Sing. She was another team leader, and chronicled the progress in Ahuachapán here.

First-time Global Village volunteer Wanda McNealy summed up her experience like this, “I did not know anyone attending this trip before coming here and it was so beautiful to be on the site every day with strangers working towards a common goal of helping others and creating a better world together.”

Habitat Portland Region contributes 10% of undesignated funding to Habitat programs in El Salvador and Ethiopia. It’s part of Habitat International’s vision where everyone has a decent place to live. Learn more about Global Village – https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/travel-and-build/global-village