Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tentative Itinerary
TEAM ONE (Team Two dates at bottom)
Sept 5, Sat
Participants depart US
Some participants may arrive in Maputo, Mozambique all in one day; others may overnight depending on their itinerary.
Sept 6, Sun
Participants arrive in Maputo, Mozambique no later than 5pm
Rest
Welcome and Orientation by Habitat National Office staff
Overnight in Maputo at United Methodist Church Guest House
Sept 7, Mon
Bus travel to community of Massaca
Settle in to Spanish Mission houses
Orientation to community
Sept 8, Tues
Van travel to work site
Safety briefing
Begin work!!
Sept 9 - Sept 12, Wed-Sat
Work on houses
Local community tours as planned by host (orphanage, school, medical clinic)
Sept 13, Sun
Church service in community
Rest
Sept 14 -15, Mon-Tues
Work on houses
Sept 16, Wed
Work on houses in morning
Farewell to community
Sept 17, Thur
Bus travel back to Maputo
Farewell lunch with Habitat National Staff
Depart from Maputo airport for Johannesburg, South Africa
Overnight at private guesthouse
Sept 18, Fri
Tour of Soweto Township, homes of Desmund Tutu and Nelson Mandela, Apartheid Museum
Personal shopping
Debriefing and Evaluation Session
Overnight at same guesthouse
Sept 19, Sat
Lion Park and/or Cultural Village
Personal shopping
Return to Johannesburg for departures, no sooner than 8pm
Sept 20-23, Sun-Wed
Option R&R - Safari in Kruger National Park (see separate blog listing for information)
Note: While in the village, we will begin each day with breakfast at 6:30 am near the guesthouse, and then travel to the worksite. Building starts at about 7:30 am, stopping for lunch which is provided on-site. The work day will end at about 4:00 pm with travel back to our lodging. There is time for showers and relaxation before dinner between 6 and 7 pm. Evenings are for team meetings, social activities with other volunteers, time for reading, or simply relaxing. Cultural activities may be planned by the host, which we won't know until our arrival.
TEAM TWO (Team One dates above)
Sept 26, Sat
Participants depart US
Some participants may arrive in Maputo, Mozambique all in one day; others may overnight enroute, depending on their itinerary.
Sept 27, Sun
Participants arrive in Maputo, Mozambique no later than 5pm
Rest
Welcome and Orientation by Habitat National Office staff
Overnight in Maputo at United Methodist Church Guest House
Sept 28, Mon
Bus travel to community of Massaca
Settle in to 3 Spanish Mission houses (2-6 participants/room)
Orientation to community
Sept 29, Tues
Van travel to work site
Safety briefing
Begin work!!
Sept 30 - Oct 3, Wed-Sat
Work on houses
Local community tours as planned by host (orphanage, school, medical clinic)
Oct 4, Sun
Church service in community
Rest
Oct 5 - 6, Mon-Tues
Work on houses
Oct 7, Wed
Work on houses in morning
Farewell to community
Oct 8, Thur
Bus travel back to Maputo
Farewell lunch with Habitat National Staff
Depart from Maputo airport for Johannesburg, South Africa
Overnight at private guesthouse
Oct 9, Fri
Tour of Soweto Township, homes of Desmund Tutu and Nelson Mandela, Apartheid Museum
Personal shopping
Debriefing and Evaluation Session
Overnight at same guesthouse
Oct 10, Sat
Lion Park and/or Cultural Village
Personal shopping
Return to Johannesburg for departures, no sooner than 8pm
Oct 11 - 14, Sun-Wed
Option R&R - Safari in Kruger National Park (see separate blog listing for information)
Note: While in the village, we will begin each day with breakfast at 6:30 am near the guesthouse, and then travel to the worksite. Building starts at about 7:30 am, stopping for lunch which is provided on-site. The work day will end at about 4:00 pm with travel back to our lodging. There is time for showers and relaxation before dinner between 6 and 7 pm. Evenings are for team meetings, social activities with other volunteers, time for reading, or simply relaxing. Cultural activities may be planned by the host, which we won't know until our arrival.
Costs and Airfare Information
Expenses are $1940. This includes:
- $500 donation to Habitat and the Mozambique building program - *MINIMUM
- All expenses while in Mozambique, including:
all meals in Maputo and Massaca
all accommodations in Maputo and Massaca
transport to/from Maputo airport
ground transportation to/from Maputo to the host community of Massaca
ground transportation to/from the work site
social activities
- All expenses while in Johannesburg, South Africa including:
transport to/from airport
all ground transportation for cultural activities
guesthouse accommodations
all meals
cultural activities, entrance fees in Johannesburg
- Mandatory medical travel insurance
- Mandatory trip cancellation insurance
- Orientation materials
It does not include:
- airfare to/from Maputo with enroute stopover on return in Johannesburg, South Africa
- enroute travel expenses before arriving in Maputo or after leaving Joberg airport
- expenses associated with international travel such as visa, passport, and immunizations
- optional R&R activities (Safari in Kruger National Park)
Funds must be received by July 24 for Team One and by August 14 for Team Two
*MINIMUM $500 donation explanation - all you HAVE to raise is the expenses listed. We encourage people on our teams to challenge themselves (it's not a competition between team members) to go beyond that minimum donation. 100% of that additional money will go to Mozambique for their house-building program. The more raised, the more houses built, simple as that. And for every person or group you contact for a donation is that many more people that are then aware of the poverty housing issues in Mozambique, and as important, the desperate plight of the orphans and vulnerable children.
So, as you consider your fundraising strategy, put the listed cost of $1940 as the MINIMUM that you want to raise. Even if you could pay for this trip right out of your pocket, we would still encourage you to fundraise because that is the number one tool for raising awareness as well. When you tell the story, explain the need, you are letting others know about the challenges of poverty housing in Mozambique. And when you do that, donations usually follow. It doesn't need to be an extravagant fundraising strategy. It could be as simple as writing an email to ten of your closest colleagues, friends, and family members, just stating what you're doing and asking them to JOIN you in eliminating poverty housing. Most people appreciate the opportunity. In the end, we hope that you can say you not only raised $xxx, but you also made xxx number of people aware in joining the challenge!!
Ideas on fund/awareness are posted on this blog under that that heading.
Planning Your Air Travel
Airfares vary depending on your departure city. We have found one agency that has "humanitarian travel" contracts with major airlines, and your Global Village trip qualifies. We have used this agency several times, as have many former participants, and have experienced timely and dependable service. Contact Eldon at Golden Rule Travel at wagler@goldrule.net, for a quote, or your own travel agent.
Your itinerary must have you arriving in Maputo no later than 3pm on Sept 6 (Team One) or Sept 27 (Team Two). You are certainly welcome to arrive earlier, even the day before (you would have to pay for an extra night at the guest house), if you want to feel more rested before we get going on a very full schedule which starts with dinner at 5pm that Sunday.
Your departure from Maputo to Johannesburg should be on South Africa Airways #145 departing MPM at 3:55pm and arriving JNB at 5:05pm on Sept 17 (team one) or For Team One or Oct 8 (team two).
Your final departure from Joberg airport should be no earlier than 8pm on Sept 19 (team one) or Oct 10 (team two), unless you are going on the optional safari in Kruger Park. If so, book your flight for no earlier than 6pm on Sept 23 or Oct 14 (note: this time is earlier than the 8pm time originally posted)
No team member can arrive later or depart earlier than the posted itinerary. Your team leader can give you more information.
Make sure that you book flight under the SAME NAME with the SAME SPELLING as that in your passport - no shortened names or nicknames.
In order to apply for a Mozambique visa, you must have a confirmed flight itinerary. Therefore it is important for flights to be investigated soon after your acceptance on the team.
Housing Needs & Habitat for Humanity Mozambique
The Housing Need
Mozambique has suffered a series of setbacks in its struggle to develop during 32 years of independence. After a 10 year liberation struggle starting in 1964, the country was embroiled in a 13-year guerilla war that took the lives of 1 million people and left 5 million displaced.
Only with the rise of the ANC and the end of apartheid in South Africa, was Mozambique able to broker peace and disarm the guerrillas in 1992.
During its 15 years of peace, Mozambique has had one of the fastest growing economies in the region, yet the country has a steep hill to climb. To make matters worse, in 2000, the country was devastated by the largest flood ever recorded in Africa which left in its wake half a million people homeless. Since the war, HIV/AIDS has been sweeping through the country, with an estimated 17% of the population infected in the country and as much as 30% or more in certain cities along transport lines. As a result of these deaths, children are left orphaned, often without adequate shelter and sometimes homeless.
Habitat for Humanity Mozambique (HFHMz)
Formed in 2000, Habitat for Humanity Mozambique (HFHMz) has worked with communities, local volunteers, partners and international teams to build hundreds of houses in Maputo Province and up country in the provinces of Manica and Gaza. HFHMz’s original houses were made of cement blocks, but the program changed its technique in the last few years to adopt local materials and methods in order to lower costs, increase efficiency and community involvement, and begin reaching the very poorest families in each community as rapidly as possible. It is anticipated that over 10,000 orphaned and vulnerable children will be housed under this new program in the next three years!!!!! Read more at the next posting under "Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program (OVC)" and start anticipating how you will be a part of this amazing program!!
Mozambique has suffered a series of setbacks in its struggle to develop during 32 years of independence. After a 10 year liberation struggle starting in 1964, the country was embroiled in a 13-year guerilla war that took the lives of 1 million people and left 5 million displaced.
Only with the rise of the ANC and the end of apartheid in South Africa, was Mozambique able to broker peace and disarm the guerrillas in 1992.
During its 15 years of peace, Mozambique has had one of the fastest growing economies in the region, yet the country has a steep hill to climb. To make matters worse, in 2000, the country was devastated by the largest flood ever recorded in Africa which left in its wake half a million people homeless. Since the war, HIV/AIDS has been sweeping through the country, with an estimated 17% of the population infected in the country and as much as 30% or more in certain cities along transport lines. As a result of these deaths, children are left orphaned, often without adequate shelter and sometimes homeless.
Habitat for Humanity Mozambique (HFHMz)
Formed in 2000, Habitat for Humanity Mozambique (HFHMz) has worked with communities, local volunteers, partners and international teams to build hundreds of houses in Maputo Province and up country in the provinces of Manica and Gaza. HFHMz’s original houses were made of cement blocks, but the program changed its technique in the last few years to adopt local materials and methods in order to lower costs, increase efficiency and community involvement, and begin reaching the very poorest families in each community as rapidly as possible. It is anticipated that over 10,000 orphaned and vulnerable children will be housed under this new program in the next three years!!!!! Read more at the next posting under "Orphans and Vulnerable Children Program (OVC)" and start anticipating how you will be a part of this amazing program!!
The Orphans & Vulnerable Children's (OVC) Program
Holistic Housing Solutions
for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
PROJECT SUMMARY
1.5 million Orphans, 500,000 due to HIV/AIDS
Unable to ignore this urgent need, HFH Mozambique has developed a program that provides shelter for the poorest of the poor – orphaned and vulnerable children and their caretakers. But merely putting a roof over their heads does not address the multi-dimensional needs vulnerable children have for legal protection, clean water, proper sanitation, food, safety, education and social supports. By partnering with other organisational partners, HFH Mozambique is able to provide more comprehensive support for these families.
The proposed 3-year project will provide safe, healthy and legally protected shelter for 3,600 families – 10,800 orphans and vulnerable children – in 10-15 rural communities in Maputo (South), Manica (Central), Nampula (North) Provinces in the North, Central and Southern region. Each house includes a ventilated pit latrine for improved sanitation; cement floors help keep out pests and moisture; mosquito nets to protect from malaria; and a supply of Certeza water treatment liquid to ensure access to clean drinking water.
The use of local materials and reliance on local workers helps ensure that economic resources remain within the community. Partner organisations will help protect the inheritance rights of an additional 3,000 children and will provide health education workshops to increase knowledge about HIV/AIDs prevention, care and treatment; malaria prevention; and foster changes in behaviours that can have a positive impact on family health.
(picture: children in front of a new home)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY MOZAMBIQUE
Habitat for Humanity Mozambique (HFH Mozambique) has built over 300 houses for poor families since its founding in 2000. HFH Mozambique’s traditional model of providing affordable home loans for poor families meant that there was a growing subset of poor families not being reached. Their resources had been so exhausted that even paying USD2-4 per month was beyond their means. In 2004, HFH Mozambique began focusing specifically on those vulnerable groups. With funds from private donors and USAID matching funds through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, HFH Mozambique centred its efforts on the housing related needs of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) specifically. Currently, all of the houses built in Mozambique are fully subsidised (i.e. free housing) and are designed to reach the lowest income families caring for orphans impacted by HIV/AIDS and/or other illnesses.
The OVC Program exp
ansion is a key component of HFH Mozambique’s three-year (FY09-11) strategic plan. This growth includes strengthening community capacity to serve exponentially more vulnerable families in subsequent years. Active projects are underway in the Southern and Central regions and, in FY09, HFH Mozambique will develop its first initiatives in the Northern region from an office in Nampula. Partnerships with community-based organisations, other NGOs and government agencies are critical to provide more holistic support. As the project grows, more partnerships will be formed.In addition to the OVC program, HFH Mozambique also plans to develop programs in Housing Microfinance, Land and Asset Security and Advocacy as well as providing technical assistance for community resettlements and shelter interventions that mitigate loss in flood and cyclone prone areas.
THE NEED
Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries, ranking 172 / 177 on the United Nation’s Development Report. Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 38% surviving on less than USD1/day.
An estimated 1.7 million Mozambicans are living with HIV/AIDS and the prevalence rate is currently 16% among 15-49 year olds, according to the Ministry of Health. Every single day there are about 500 new HIV/AIDS infections. Youths aged 15-24 are the most heavily affected and account for 60% of new HIV infections.
UNICEF estimates at least 500,000 of the 1.5 million orphans in Mozambique have lost their parents to AIDS and at least 100,000 children under the age of 15 are living with HIV/AIDS. By the year 2010, it is expected that nearly half of the 1 million maternal orphans in Mozambique will be orphaned due to HIV and AIDS.
The impact of this epidemic is profound.
Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest countries, ranking 172 / 177 on the United Nation’s Development Report. Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 38% surviving on less than USD1/day.
An estimated 1.7 million Mozambicans are living with HIV/AIDS and the prevalence rate is currently 16% among 15-49 year olds, according to the Ministry of Health. Every single day there are about 500 new HIV/AIDS infections. Youths aged 15-24 are the most heavily affected and account for 60% of new HIV infections.
UNICEF estimates at least 500,000 of the 1.5 million orphans in Mozambique have lost their parents to AIDS and at least 100,000 children under the age of 15 are living with HIV/AIDS. By the year 2010, it is expected that nearly half of the 1 million maternal orphans in Mozambique will be orphaned due to HIV and AIDS.
The impact of this epidemic is profound.
Orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) are more likely to live in poor households headed by women, elderly people and/or by an uneducated person. Some households are even headed by a child, or the children have to act as the main provider due to the illness or disability of the adult family members.
They have very limited means of generating income and thus often have to resort to risky coping strategies, such as early marriage, transactional sex and hazardous child labour. They also have limited access to basic services such as health, education, food, legal, financial and psychosocial services. In addition to these challenges, children orphaned as a result of AIDS are often living with social stigma and discrimination and potentially face exclusion from their communities. OVC are also prone to discrimination in the allocation of resources because they are not direct biological descendants of the household head. Inheritance claims by relatives often lead to dispossession of property in child headed households.
The average monthly income of an elderly caretaker in rural Mozambique is USD12. The estimated monthly cost of looking after an orphan is about USD21, while caring for someone living with AIDS costs USD30. Unable to meet their most basic needs for food, other critical necessities like shelter are unattainable. Renting is prohibitively expensive and the labour-intensive repair of existing structures can be an extreme hardship for sick or elderly caretakers. As a result, many OVC families live in unsanitary, temporary housing conditions with mud floors and leaking roofs. These conditions are conducive to the spread of disease and pose an acute problem for children and those with HIV-weakened immune systems.
Less than 20% of Mozambique’s rural population has access to adequate sanitation facilities. Some share a common facility bu
t most families simply relieve themselves outdoors. Only 36% of the population has access to safe drinking water. Lack of proper sanitation and hygienic practices increases the risk of diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. According to the WHO, “no single type of intervention has greater overall impact upon national development and public health than does the provision of safe drinking water and proper disposal of human excreta.” Recent studies also indicate that access to potable water can delay the emergence of opportunistic diseases among people who are living with HIV/AIDS and make treatment with anti-retrovirals more effective.
Another major health risk is malaria. Currently, malaria accounts for 60% of children in hospitals and 30% of hospital deaths. The World Health Organisation estimates that insecticide treated mosquito nets can cut malaria transmission by 60% and child deaths by a fifth. Sadly, most families cannot afford mosquito nets.
HFH MOZAMBIQUE DEVELOPMENT MODEL
Living a Normal Life
HFH Mozambique strives to create a more holistic program that meets the complex and interrelated needs of vulnerable children and their families. While project design methods and some components are being standardized, housing models, training courses and community development activities differ and mould to the needs of each community. The project design model requires a few weeks of participatory research in each community in order to set up a program that will function at a local economic level. Project components include:
§ Healthy housing and latrines for families
§ Family health education on HIV/AIDS, malaria and other related health issues
§ Inheritance planning and writing of wills to ensure the house remains an asset for the children
§ Provision of mosquito nets and water treatment kits
§ Partnerships with local community organizations that identify and care for vulnerable families through food, training and basic social support.
Targeted families are considered the “poorest of the poor” from a local community perspective. Families are identified by the government and local community organizations as families in most need. Usually parents are (or were) people living with HIV and must use whatever income they have on transport to hospitals and food for children at the expense of other basic necessities such as shelter. Beneficiaries will include:
§ 10,800 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and their caretakers will benef
it from safe, healthy housing.
§ 19,800 children will be protected from asset grabbing by legal inheritance plans. The inheritance rights of 10,800 OVC will be protected directly by HFH Mozambique trainings and assistance and an additional 9,000 OVC protected by partners running inheritance workshops and initiatives after being trained by HFH Mozambique.
§ 3,600 families caring for 10,800 OVC will benefit from clean water treated by Certeza tablets, treated mosquito nets, improved sanitation with VIP latrines; training in home maintenance and HIV/AIDS
§ An estimated 10 trainers from five different CBOs or NGOs will be trained as trainers on the inheritance curriculum.
§ HFH Mozambique funds provide work and financing for 30-50 people in each community all located within 2-5 km of the family homes (likely 300-500 contracted workers by end of project based on an average of 5-10 homes constructed per week in each community).
Ultimately, the intention of the program is to keep OVC within their communities by strengthening the resources and ability of caretakers and others in the community. HFH Mozambique does not believe that institutional orphanages are a solution, unless there are no other alternatives. Taking a child away from the extended family structure of neighbours, grandparents and relatives in the community is more likely to cause trauma and pain. With their own home, the children will have a base from which to succeed and a network of neighbours to help them. And by involving community based partners at every stage of selection, design and implementation, community ownership and solidarity are reinforced.
Home designs provide enhancements like cement foundations to traditional reed and thatch structures to increase durability while allowing families to remain in homes that do not separate them from the community in aesthetic or financial appearance. Giving widows and children an asset worth hundreds or thousands of dollars can actually increase their vulnerability. If the community perceives that the child is better off than the surrounding families it will be less likely to offer the ongoing daily support so desperately need.
CORPORATE SYNERGIES
Rural Housing & Development
Water & Sanitation
Gender Equality & Women's Rights
HIV/AIDS - Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Research & Capacity Building
Communication Development & Transformation
Volunteer Mobilisation
Vulnerable Groups: Orphans and Vulnerable Children and Caregivers
Families must meet the Mozambican government’s basic criteria for OVC:
· Orphans are children who have lost one or more parent
· Vulnerable children are children with sick parents, abandoned children, and/or children living in economic hardship situations (lack of food, etc.).
Health: Insecticide treated mosquito nets
HFH Mozambique aims to prevent malaria by ensuring that every household member sleeps under an Insecticide Treated Net. Nets are provided free of charge because otherwise the targeted beneficiaries would not be able to afford them. HFH Mozambique has partnered with Population Services International (PSI) since 2006 to train local and national staff to lead workshops on the importance of and proper usage and mounting of treated mosquito nets.
Water: Certeza Water Treatments kits
HFH Mozambique’s project partner PSI will also train staff on Certeza, a water treatment liquid that can be incorporated into common household practices to make water appropriate for drinking and cleaning vegetables.
HFH Mozambique plans to cover the costs of a year supply of Certeza for each beneficiary family. If the families appreciate the benefits of Certeza in providing clean drinking water, the hope is that that family will continue to pay for it after the subsidy ends. The cost for a month’s supply of Certeza is 8 MT (USD 0.33). HFH Mozambique will institute a quarterly family monitoring form to track product use and family health indicators over the course of the three-year project.
Education: Women and Inheritance Planning
Families (mostly single mothers and grandmothers) learn about property and land rights and discuss the necessity of protecting their assets from relatives and neighbours. The training includes a day of discussion and learning about the laws and rights of Mozambicans and their children, traditional practices and their impacts, and discussions of peoples’ feelings about all the subjects. In every training group conducted to date, at least one woman has already been removed from her previous home, which creates lively discussion.
HFH Mozambique facilitates the process of writing a legal will by bringing a jurist/magistrate to the community to talk to each family and fill out the forms necessary for families to certify their succession wishes in a formal government document. These official documents and the local leaders' participation, along with large groups of women with knowledge of their legal rights, will help protect the children from property grabbing.
Going on Safari - An Optional R&R Event
This portion of the website will need to be updated as soon as we receive more information. Basically, however, we are offering an optional R&R after the final team dates (September 19 and October 10) - an amazing opportunity to go on Safari in famous Kruger National Park!! the pictures you see here are ones we took last year.
R&R has historically been included in the team activities, but as of this year, team leaders can only offer an R&R activity as an option after the team dates are complete.We will depart Johannesburg, South Africa, for the Park on September 20 (team one) and October 11 (team two). We use private vans for the 5 hour journey. After we check into our accommodations, we will have the opportunity for a few hours of animal sightings or to just relax and enjoy our surroundings. The next two days will be full days of venturing into the park in our private safari vehicles with our own experienced guides. We return to Joburg
on Sept 23 (team one) and October 14 (team two) for your departure that evening. 
We have requested all three nights to be at the Cheetah Inn, which was the favorite accommodation for our team last year (pictured here).We have also requested the same awesome guide we had
last year. The safari was a hit for everyone in 2008, and we hope all of you will join us again this year. 
Cost: approximately $400 (updated costs will be posted as we know it, but shouldn't change a whole lot) - this includes all transportation, guides, park fees, accommodations, breakfast and dinn
er (budget an additional $5/day, approximately, depending on what you order, for lunch in the park and about $7/day for tipping guides). Also budget $35-50 for your one night in Joburg (Sept 19 or Oct 10) before the safari begins. Right now, we are going to try to collect all the payments and send them in together, which means paying by check. A 50% deposit needs to be paid immediately upon deciding to go, with the balance due by September 1, regardless of which team you are on. These costs can NOT go through your GV accounting at Habitat. It is not a tax-deductible expense. You can still "fundraise" for this activity, but it must be clear to those who support you that their gift must go directly to you, be clear as to how it is being used (not for Habitat), and that they will not receive any receipt. It is a personal gift to you for your own personal use.
er (budget an additional $5/day, approximately, depending on what you order, for lunch in the park and about $7/day for tipping guides). Also budget $35-50 for your one night in Joburg (Sept 19 or Oct 10) before the safari begins. Right now, we are going to try to collect all the payments and send them in together, which means paying by check. A 50% deposit needs to be paid immediately upon deciding to go, with the balance due by September 1, regardless of which team you are on. These costs can NOT go through your GV accounting at Habitat. It is not a tax-deductible expense. You can still "fundraise" for this activity, but it must be clear to those who support you that their gift must go directly to you, be clear as to how it is being used (not for Habitat), and that they will not receive any receipt. It is a personal gift to you for your own personal use. 
How to Apply for This Team
This is Sarah from our 2008 team, sharing a smile with an orphan child. Picture yourself building homes for children in need in 2009.
If you have an application already on file with Global Village, then all you have to do is call the Global Village registrar at 1-800-422-4848 ext 7530, or write gv@habitat.org and request that your application be forwarded to the team leaders at lesliebell47@yahoo.com. If your application is more than a year old, or needs updating, simply go online and submit a new application. All other forms must be less than a year old as well. Contact the team leaders by email to let them know that you have requested your application to be forwarded. Read the information below on the Interview Process.
If you are new to Glo
bal Village, filling out an application form is easy, takes little time, and does not commit you to any team. Nor does it mean that you have been invited to join a team; but you must have an application on file in order to be interviewed for a team.
The Application
The Global Village application forms that must be submitted consists of: the GV application form; the Emergency Contact Information (ECI) and Release and Waiver of Liability form; the Participant Acknowledgement form. All of these forms can now be filled out online. Later, you must also submit a copy of the ID page of your passport, which must be valid for six months beyond the travel dates. You submit this to us, the team leader, not to GV. When we have them all collected we send a copy to GV. Do not send this copy to us until you have been selected for the team.
TIPS on filling out the forms:
If you are new to Glo
bal Village, filling out an application form is easy, takes little time, and does not commit you to any team. Nor does it mean that you have been invited to join a team; but you must have an application on file in order to be interviewed for a team.The Application
The Global Village application forms that must be submitted consists of: the GV application form; the Emergency Contact Information (ECI) and Release and Waiver of Liability form; the Participant Acknowledgement form. All of these forms can now be filled out online. Later, you must also submit a copy of the ID page of your passport, which must be valid for six months beyond the travel dates. You submit this to us, the team leader, not to GV. When we have them all collected we send a copy to GV. Do not send this copy to us until you have been selected for the team.
TIPS on filling out the forms:
- If you do not have a current passport, or do not have easy access to your passport, you can still submit your application and submit passport information later.
- Make sure your email address is spelled correctly, as that is how you will be contacted with your 8-digit account number.
- If you are applying for more than one team (other than our Mozambique teams), fill out the countries and dates for each team on ONE application form. If applying only for one of our Mozambique teams, give Mozambique as your preferred destination and the exact dates of the team you are applying for (Team One and/or Team Two).
- The ECI also asks for health insurance information; you do NOT have to have health insurance to apply, but if you do have insurance, please submit that information.
Application Process
Global Village receives electronic applications via the online application Web page, www.habitat.org/gv. The application and other forms can be filled out online, or downloaded for a paper copy to submit by mail or fax. The online process is immediate whereas applications by mail or fax may take up to two weeks. We have to have a copy of this application before the interview.
When the application is entered into the database you will be advised of your 8-digit Habitat ID number. Once this number has been received, contact the Mozambique team leaders, Bob and Leslie Bell, at lesliebell47@yahoo.com to request an interview.
The Interview
All participants, including former team members on our past teams, must have a telephone interview. If there are multiple participants in one family, each participant must be interviewed, whether in a group or individual interview.
Please make sure you read ALL of the information on this blog before the interview.
The purpose of the interview is for YOU to be able to ask all the questions you have concerning this team in order to know whether or not it will meet your expectations. The team leaders also asks questions to make sure you are a candidate that will meet our expectations. If an invitation is extended, it usually happens within 24
hours of the interview.
Accepting or Declining
When an invitation is extended, it must be accepted or declined within three days. If accepting, you must immediately make your non-refundable, non-transferrable deposit of $350 before you are recognized as a team member by Global Village. For more information on making the deposit, read Payment and Donation Procedures & Policies.
Pictures: Lindsey and new young friend; Barb, also from 2008 team, with her new friend, one of the local "master builders".
Payment and Donation Policies & Procedures
This information applies to everybody who commits to a GV trip, so please read this carefully. We hope the following guide also proves helpful for those of you who are fundraising the financial support necessary to make your trip a reality. Be sure to review the information here before beginning your fundraising efforts. These guidelines are in place to ensure that you have the opportunity to join others in the mission of Habitat affiliates around the world to help build decent, affordable houses in partnership with low-income families.
Deposit and Balance
Once you are invited to join the team, you must confirm your place on the team by submitting a nonrefundable and nontransferable deposit to Habitat for Humanity International in the amount of $350. The balance of the trip payment (trip cost minus the $350 deposit) is due no later than 45 days prior to departure (July 24 and August 14)
Submitting Payments
This information is for depositing your own funds, or to give to potential donors to make deposits on your behalf.
All payments toward your trip must be made in U.S. dollars to Habitat for Humanity International, and designated to the Global Village department (see "coding" info below). Payments may be submitted by personal check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover.
You or your donors may submit funds by credit card online. Go to www.habitat.org/gv and click on the link called "Donate in Support of a Global Village Trip”. You can also submit funds by telephone by calling the GV customer service coordinator at (800) 422-4828, Ext. 7530. To submit payments online or over the phone, you and your donorws will need: a credit card number, your eight-digit Habitat ID number, and the GV event code for Mozambique, (GV10116 for Team One and GV 10117 for Team Two). Participants and donors who submit funds by credit card will receive an automatic e-mail acknowledgment that the payment was received.
Checks and money orders must be made payable to Habitat for Humanity International and mailed to:
Habitat for Humanity International
Global Village Department
P.O. Box 369
Americus, GA 31709-0369
Make sure the check or money order is coded correctly (see below). Tracking down funds that are not submitted correctly can take a tremendous amount of time and sometimes cannot be found in order to be credited to the participant.
Note: It may take up to two weeks for donations to post to your account. Your deposit and any payments you submit toward the cost of your trip will automatically be credited toward satisfying your financial obligation only when coded as per the instructions.
All donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt regardless of how the funds are submitted.
Coding Your Donations
For a donation to be credited toward your trip, your personal eight-digit Habitat ID number and GV event code for Mozambique (GV10116 or GV10117) must be included on ALL funds submitted to the Global Village program on your behalf. For online credit card payments include your eight-digit Habitat ID number and GV event code in the fields provided. For personal checks or money orders please write the eight-digit Habitat ID number above the name and address in the upper left corner of the check, and the GV event code on the memo line located in the lower left corner.
Make sure all of your donors are given this information if they intend to submit their donation directly to Habitat.
If you are uncertain of your eight-digit Habitat ID number or the GV event code, please contact your team leader.
Fund Raising Web Site
To use the fundraising web site, point your web browser to www.habitat.org/gv/create.html and in just a few minutes you can create a personalized fundraising web page for your trip. You can then direct potential donors to your web site where they can learn more about the Global Village program, HFHI and your specific trip. You can also direct potential donors to this blog. More information is in this blog on the post called Setting Up Your Fundraising Web Page.
Matching Gifts
Contact your company’s matching gift officer prior to submitting a matching gift form. Not all companies’ matching-gift policies allow for the matching of participation fees. If applying for matching gifts, notify your team leader. Note: Matching gift funds often take 6 months to be received by Habitat. Make sure your application for matching gifts is done well in advance
Tax Deductibility
Funding raised toward the cost of a Global Village trip also includes the cost of food, lodging and transportation during the trip. Only a portion of the required trip payment supports the charitable purpose of the hosting Habitat program. Depending on the participant’s country of origin, this trip’s cost may or may not be tax-deductible. Please consult a tax adviser concerning your specific situation.
Acknowledging Donations
All donors who contribute via check or money order payable to Habitat for Humanity International, or make a credit card donation designated to a Global Village team, are sent acknowledgment letters by Habitat for Humanity International. Those who donate online (via a personalized Web page or via the link “Donate in Support of a Global Village Trip”) receive a prompt e-mail confirmation that the donation was received, and will also be mailed an acknowledgement letter. Discourage your supporters from sending cash, as Habitat for Humanity International cannot acknowledge cash donations. Talk to the team leader about cash that you collect as a donation at your own fundraising events.
How to Find Out the Status of Your Account
Keep track of any funds that you submit yourself or on behalf of your donors. To know what other donations have been made to your account, contact your team leader (NOT the GV Department). The Team Leader receives updated accounting about every two weeks.
Donation checks Made Payable To You Instead of HFHI
If a donor makes a check payable to you, but would like an acknowledgment letter from HFHI, you may write “Payable to Habitat for Humanity International,” along with your signature, on the back of the check. Include the event code and your eight-digit Habitat ID number on the front of the check.
If the donor does not want an acknowledgement form, you may submit this gift yourself and receive the acknowledgement form, or, with the donor's permission, use the gift for your own personal use towards your airfare or other travel expenses. You can use cash that you receive in the same manner.
Funds Raised in Addition to the Published Trip Cost
One of the stated purposes of the Global Village program is to raise funds for the building efforts of Habitat affiliates worldwide. To remain consistent with our mission, the Global Village department is not able to roll additional funds over to a future GV trip. Habitat for Humanity International will direct any additional funding you raise (beyond the published trip cost) to additional support for the building programs in the team’s host country.
Fundraising for Airfare
As of Jan. 1, 2008, funds raised at HFHI in excess of the trip cost may no longer be used to cover all or part of a GV participant’s airfare. Participants may still be able to claim their airfare as a tax-deductible expense even if the funds are paid directly from the participant to a vendor, as long as the trip is in pursuit of a charitable purpose. Team members will need to contact a tax adviser concerning their specific situation. Team members can, however, receive "miles" in an airline mileage program as a donation. No receipt, however, can be given to the donor.
Cancellation Policy
No refunds are offered if you must cancel.
Cancellation More Than 45 Days Prior to Departure
All payments excluding the $350 deposit may be transferred for use on a future GV trip within one year of your original trip date. All cancellation notices must first be given to your team leader before notifying GV. All transfer requests must be sent in writing to the Global Village sending coordinator. Ask your team leader for more information.
Cancellation Within 45 Days of Departure
One hundred percent of your payments and donations will be retained by HFHI to meet current obligations.
If Habitat for Humanity Must Cancel
GV will make every effort to conduct the trip as scheduled; however, if Habitat for Humanity International must cancel, GV will attempt to place you on another team. If that is not possible, you may receive a full refund. Global Village cannot compensate participants for the cost of unusable airfare or any other expenses resulting from the cancellation
Delays Enroute
If delays occur enroute, or missed or cancelled flights cause you to miss your rendezvous with the team, the Global Village staff will do everything possible to assist you in connecting with the team. However, Global Village cannot be responsible for any expenses incurred due to flight problems.
Note: all team members are provided with a Trip Cancellation Insurance policy. See more information on this blog site.
Deposit and Balance
Once you are invited to join the team, you must confirm your place on the team by submitting a nonrefundable and nontransferable deposit to Habitat for Humanity International in the amount of $350. The balance of the trip payment (trip cost minus the $350 deposit) is due no later than 45 days prior to departure (July 24 and August 14)
Submitting Payments
This information is for depositing your own funds, or to give to potential donors to make deposits on your behalf.
All payments toward your trip must be made in U.S. dollars to Habitat for Humanity International, and designated to the Global Village department (see "coding" info below). Payments may be submitted by personal check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover.
You or your donors may submit funds by credit card online. Go to www.habitat.org/gv and click on the link called "Donate in Support of a Global Village Trip”. You can also submit funds by telephone by calling the GV customer service coordinator at (800) 422-4828, Ext. 7530. To submit payments online or over the phone, you and your donorws will need: a credit card number, your eight-digit Habitat ID number, and the GV event code for Mozambique, (GV10116 for Team One and GV 10117 for Team Two). Participants and donors who submit funds by credit card will receive an automatic e-mail acknowledgment that the payment was received.
Checks and money orders must be made payable to Habitat for Humanity International and mailed to:
Habitat for Humanity International
Global Village Department
P.O. Box 369
Americus, GA 31709-0369
Make sure the check or money order is coded correctly (see below). Tracking down funds that are not submitted correctly can take a tremendous amount of time and sometimes cannot be found in order to be credited to the participant.
Note: It may take up to two weeks for donations to post to your account. Your deposit and any payments you submit toward the cost of your trip will automatically be credited toward satisfying your financial obligation only when coded as per the instructions.
All donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt regardless of how the funds are submitted.
Coding Your Donations
For a donation to be credited toward your trip, your personal eight-digit Habitat ID number and GV event code for Mozambique (GV10116 or GV10117) must be included on ALL funds submitted to the Global Village program on your behalf. For online credit card payments include your eight-digit Habitat ID number and GV event code in the fields provided. For personal checks or money orders please write the eight-digit Habitat ID number above the name and address in the upper left corner of the check, and the GV event code on the memo line located in the lower left corner.
Make sure all of your donors are given this information if they intend to submit their donation directly to Habitat.
If you are uncertain of your eight-digit Habitat ID number or the GV event code, please contact your team leader.
Fund Raising Web Site
To use the fundraising web site, point your web browser to www.habitat.org/gv/create.html and in just a few minutes you can create a personalized fundraising web page for your trip. You can then direct potential donors to your web site where they can learn more about the Global Village program, HFHI and your specific trip. You can also direct potential donors to this blog. More information is in this blog on the post called Setting Up Your Fundraising Web Page.
Matching Gifts
Contact your company’s matching gift officer prior to submitting a matching gift form. Not all companies’ matching-gift policies allow for the matching of participation fees. If applying for matching gifts, notify your team leader. Note: Matching gift funds often take 6 months to be received by Habitat. Make sure your application for matching gifts is done well in advance
Tax Deductibility
Funding raised toward the cost of a Global Village trip also includes the cost of food, lodging and transportation during the trip. Only a portion of the required trip payment supports the charitable purpose of the hosting Habitat program. Depending on the participant’s country of origin, this trip’s cost may or may not be tax-deductible. Please consult a tax adviser concerning your specific situation.
Acknowledging Donations
All donors who contribute via check or money order payable to Habitat for Humanity International, or make a credit card donation designated to a Global Village team, are sent acknowledgment letters by Habitat for Humanity International. Those who donate online (via a personalized Web page or via the link “Donate in Support of a Global Village Trip”) receive a prompt e-mail confirmation that the donation was received, and will also be mailed an acknowledgement letter. Discourage your supporters from sending cash, as Habitat for Humanity International cannot acknowledge cash donations. Talk to the team leader about cash that you collect as a donation at your own fundraising events.
How to Find Out the Status of Your Account
Keep track of any funds that you submit yourself or on behalf of your donors. To know what other donations have been made to your account, contact your team leader (NOT the GV Department). The Team Leader receives updated accounting about every two weeks.
Donation checks Made Payable To You Instead of HFHI
If a donor makes a check payable to you, but would like an acknowledgment letter from HFHI, you may write “Payable to Habitat for Humanity International,” along with your signature, on the back of the check. Include the event code and your eight-digit Habitat ID number on the front of the check.
If the donor does not want an acknowledgement form, you may submit this gift yourself and receive the acknowledgement form, or, with the donor's permission, use the gift for your own personal use towards your airfare or other travel expenses. You can use cash that you receive in the same manner.
Funds Raised in Addition to the Published Trip Cost
One of the stated purposes of the Global Village program is to raise funds for the building efforts of Habitat affiliates worldwide. To remain consistent with our mission, the Global Village department is not able to roll additional funds over to a future GV trip. Habitat for Humanity International will direct any additional funding you raise (beyond the published trip cost) to additional support for the building programs in the team’s host country.
Fundraising for Airfare
As of Jan. 1, 2008, funds raised at HFHI in excess of the trip cost may no longer be used to cover all or part of a GV participant’s airfare. Participants may still be able to claim their airfare as a tax-deductible expense even if the funds are paid directly from the participant to a vendor, as long as the trip is in pursuit of a charitable purpose. Team members will need to contact a tax adviser concerning their specific situation. Team members can, however, receive "miles" in an airline mileage program as a donation. No receipt, however, can be given to the donor.
Cancellation Policy
No refunds are offered if you must cancel.
Cancellation More Than 45 Days Prior to Departure
All payments excluding the $350 deposit may be transferred for use on a future GV trip within one year of your original trip date. All cancellation notices must first be given to your team leader before notifying GV. All transfer requests must be sent in writing to the Global Village sending coordinator. Ask your team leader for more information.
Cancellation Within 45 Days of Departure
One hundred percent of your payments and donations will be retained by HFHI to meet current obligations.
If Habitat for Humanity Must Cancel
GV will make every effort to conduct the trip as scheduled; however, if Habitat for Humanity International must cancel, GV will attempt to place you on another team. If that is not possible, you may receive a full refund. Global Village cannot compensate participants for the cost of unusable airfare or any other expenses resulting from the cancellation
Delays Enroute
If delays occur enroute, or missed or cancelled flights cause you to miss your rendezvous with the team, the Global Village staff will do everything possible to assist you in connecting with the team. However, Global Village cannot be responsible for any expenses incurred due to flight problems.
Note: all team members are provided with a Trip Cancellation Insurance policy. See more information on this blog site.
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