Maria Caruso

The mountainous South American country of Bolivia has a population of more than 9 million, about 55 percent of whom do not have easy access to safe drinking water or sewage services. Most Bolivian families live in huts, frequently with three or more people sharing a bedroom. Many live in homes built with adobe — a mix of clay and straw — with dirt floors, which makes them highly susceptible to pests, including a bug that transmits an incurable neurological disease.

Habitat for Humanity Bolivia has been building homes since 1985 throughout the country, including in Santa Cruz, a city of more than 1 million people. These brick and concrete homes are much better at keeping pests at bay, lowering the incidence of disease.

We invite you to join our Global Village team in partnering with Bolivian families in need to help build safe, affordable, decent 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.