Kristen Cummings

Located in the horn of Africa, Ethiopia is sometimes called the “cradle of mankind” because of the discoveries of large numbers of ancient hominid fossils there. It is also one of the 10 poorest nations in the world.

A staggering 90 percent of the population has no access to decent sanitation facilities, and 73 percent of the population does not have safe drinking water, causing disease to run rampant. Homes are often cramped, with dirt floors, leaking roofs and no windows or doors, leaving occupants vulnerable to the weather, insects and rodents.

Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia began construction in 1993 and has since expanded to building houses in 13 communities. Most houses are in urban and semiurban areas within a 250-mile radius of the capital city, Addis Ababa. Habitat Ethiopia builds predominantly “improved chika” houses, improved versions of traditional housing styles. These are popular because they are affordable, quick and easy to build and require mainly local materials such as wood, soil, sand and stone.

Habitat Ethiopia also recently started undertaking “Water and Sanitation” and “Kitchen Improvement” projects.

Habitat regularly sends Global Village teams to assist homeowner partners; the volunteer labor can save the homeowner 10 to 20 percent of the cost of the house, making a new home attainable. Your generous donation to a Global Village team to Ethiopia helps support our work of building simple, decent, affordable homes.

Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteer program. Teams travel to over 40 countries to work alongside communities, build housing solutions, and experience local culture. Our goal is to change the lives of the people we serve, as well as the lives of the volunteers.

To join a team or learn more, visit www.habitat.org/gv.

About Habitat for Humanity International 

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.