When volunteers from Habitat for Humanity Portland Region arrived at their worksites in Ahuachapán, El Salvador, there were just string lines marking where homes would someday stand.
By the end of the week, those same sites held hand-dug foundations, carefully tied rebar, and freshly poured cement — the first tangible steps toward safe, stable housing for local families.
That transformation didn’t come from machines. It came from people.
Starting from the ground up
This year’s Global Village build brought 13 Portland-area volunteers and two trip leaders to El Salvador, where they split into two teams to work alongside Habitat El Salvador staff and partner families.
Volunteers spent most of the week digging foundations and preparing structural bases before mixing and pouring cement during the final days. Without power tools, the work was entirely manual.
“It was really hard, but gratifying work” shared trip co-leader Rachel Axtman, Habitat Homeownership Program Evaluation and Data Manager. “People were super positive and supportive of one another.”
For trip co-leader Sarah Spry, Habitat Learning and Development Coordinator, this year marked a return — not just as a participant, but as someone stepping into leadership after joining last year as a volunteer.
“From day one you are fully immersed in the culture, history, and impact of Habitat El Salvador’s dedicated work,” she said. “I slept like a baby every night after a hard day’s work digging trenches, and I felt inspired to do it again — even more so to bring more and more volunteers to help build homes in the country I now feel so connected to.”
While the physical work was demanding, volunteers consistently described the emotional atmosphere as energizing.
For participant Chris Kondradt (pictured left, in center), the experience was both a challenge and a joy. At 76, she arrived unsure what tasks she’d be able to do — but quickly found her place.
“I tried everything except digging the foundation,” she said. “There were no judgments. I felt part of the team.”
Chris spent much of her time tying wire around rebar joints — a task she became so skilled at that the head mason asked her to continue after the first day. Her favorite moments included speaking with a local preschool teacher and clinic nurse, and watching the rebar structures she worked on finally stand upright in the ground.
Moments that stay with you
Throughout the week, volunteers shared meals, stories, and laughter with Habitat El Salvador homeowners and staff. For Sarah, one moment captured the heart of the experience:
“Sharing the Polaroid pictures we took of the volunteer team with the homeowner of the house we were working on, Yami — her excitement of having that tangible photo of us she could put on the wall of her new house went deeper than I ever thought it would.”
That exchange, she said, was a reminder that the impact of Global Village goes far beyond construction.
One homeowner whose house was under construction was also a pastor, and the group’s closing celebration took place at his church.
During that closing event, Habitat Portland Region President & CEO Steve Messinetti spoke about why volunteers travel thousands of miles to help build homes alongside skilled local teams.
He reflected that it’s not because communities lack ability — in fact, local builders are often faster and more experienced — but because housing is something that connects all of us. He shared a quote that resonated deeply with the group: our liberation is bound together.
“We are here because we believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home,” Steve said. “And to accomplish that vision, we must all work together — across cultures, across borders, as one global community.”
The team created a shared scrapbook during the trip, filling it with photos, reflections, and handwritten notes. One entry captured the spirit of the experience:
“With every blow of the pickaxe, bucket of cement, and load of the wheelbarrow, we show what we believe: decent housing for everyone.”
Another reflection read:
“The soul knows what the mind cannot imagine and the heart cannot forget… my soul knows that my heart is connected to El Salvador.”
Flip through a few pages of the Global Village scrapbook below:
Why they go
Participants often describe Global Village as life-changing and many say that’s not an exaggeration.
“You will get so much more out of it than you think you will,” Rachel shared. “Working with your hands, alongside people you’ve never met but have so much in common with, is incredibly refreshing and nourishing.”
Chris agrees — and encourages anyone considering it to take the leap. “I only knew one person when I signed up,” she said. “But I had a wonderful time with everyone.”
“Each time I go I learn something about myself and create connection with others,” Sarah reflected. “People I would otherwise never have the chance to meet, both in the country and within the volunteer team.”
For her, that sense of connection is what makes the experience so powerful — and why she hopes others will consider joining in the future.
We are currently planning the next international build! Fill out the Global Village Interest Form and we will keep you updated with those details.
