PROJECTS

El Salvador Work Camps

Since 1993, Habitat Charlotte has been committed to contributing the equivalent construction cost of one home in El Salvador for every home that we are blessed to build in Charlotte.  To date, we have tithed over 1 million dollars to our sister affiliate in El Salvador, enabling them to construct thousands of homes for low-income families in one of Central America’s poorest countries. 

On average, a single-family home in El Salvador costs about $4,000. Modest by American standards, this standard home consists of 2 to 3 rooms with simple electrical and plumbing systems. For families earning only from $6.25 to $25 a day, it's a home of infinite value and opportunity. Each house allows families to move out of mud, cardboard or tin shanties and into decent, affordable homes that are built to keep them safe during El Salvador’s frequent earthquakes and inclement weather.       

The most valuable part of our relationship with Habitat El Salvador is our El Salvador Work Camp Program, which allows Charlotte residents to travel there and work on construction efforts in communities throughout El Salvador.  3 times a year, Habitat Charlotte staffers lead volunteers on 10-day service excursions to our sister affiliate.

As an organization, we take our mission to eliminate substandard housing throughout the world very seriously, and encourage everyone to join us to put their faith into action abroad.  In Charlotte and El Salvador, volunteers and donors have the opportunity to build side-by-side with the future homeowners, as they endeavor to improve their quality of life.

UPCOMING TRIPS

October 24-November 2, 2008 Leaders: Nancy & Christy Pugh

• Contact Nancy at npugh@habitatcharlotte.org or 704-716-7074
• Information/Orientation Meetings: Sat 8/9 (9am) and Wed 8/13 (6pm) at the Habitat office, 3815 Latrobe Drive.  The meeting will last about an hour.  The meetings are identical in content so please choose the one that best suits your schedule.

February 2009, Leader: Beth Van Gorp

• Contact Beth at bvangorp@habitatcharlotte.org, or 704-716-7077
• Information/Orientation Meetings: TBA

If you are interested in traveling with Habitat Charlotte to El Salvador, sign up for our El Salvador mailing list (see "join our mailing list" at the top of the page).  When you sign up, you'll receive the latest e-mails about upcoming orientations. If you have any general questions please contact Beth Van Gorp, bvangorp@habitatcharlotte.org, 704-716-7077.

Important information about upcoming trips:

• Trips Per Year: We are hoping to have volunteers from Charlotte journey to El Salvador 3 times a year for 10-day work camps.
• What are the trips like?: Volunteers work side-by-side with families, helping them to build their new homes, forming relationships, not just building houses. Some time is usually reserved for visiting cultural or interesting locations.
• Trip Cost: The cost of the trip will be $675 (beginning with Oct. 2007 trip) plus airfare.  The $675 covers all transportation, food, and lodging expenses while you're in El Salvador.  The cost of airfare is usually between $550-$750. Other costs may include: a passport, immunizations, and an entrance and departure fee.
• Group Size: We'll have room for up to 20 people on each trip.
• Why go? If you've been on a Habitat work camp overseas, you know how powerful the experience can be. It's a chance to connect with families who really need the physical help that Habitat provides. But, at the same time, they become our teachers, helping us to understand what is and is not truly important in our lives. We arrive as strangers and leave as friends.
• Living Conditions: The living conditions of the trip are basic. We usually stay in modest hotels and eat mostly local style food.
• More Information: View our information packet which contains many more details, or find an application here.
• Expected Schedule:

Friday-      arrival in San Salvador, capital
Saturday-  visit attractions around San Salvador
Sunday-    orientation and travel to site
Mon - Fri - work on Habitat home build sites
Saturday - relax at the beach 
Sunday -   return home

Learn more about Habitat El Salvador by visiting their web site - click here

To learn about work camp trips to other countries, please visit the Habitat International web site at http://www.habitat.org/gv/default.aspx.