Global Builders – Haiti
Global Builders Haiti
Haiti has long been the poorest country in the western hemisphere. In a country with few building inspectors and poor construction techniques, it was only a matter of time before tragedy struck. When that tragedy appeared in the form of the January 2010 earthquake, the results were devastating. Thousands of buildings collapsed, killing 200,000 people and leaving well over a million people living in tent camps. Today, relief efforts are behind them and long-term development is sorely needed, with permanent housing as one of the country’s greatest needs and, perhaps, opportunities.
After completing over 150 permanent homes for Haitian families after the earthquake, we are now working in northern Haiti in the town of Pignon. We are building homes that families pay forward on terms that they can afford — a no-profit and no-interest loan. We have built with almost 100 families in Pignon.
Getting Involved
There are several ways that you can get involved:
- Donate to support this specific partner. Houses cost money to build, so any donation is always helpful!
- Join a virtual volunteer team, choosing to donate your travel costs instead of making the trip in person. This is the perfect way to stay involved and give back during the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Sponsorship Cost: $6,500
Upcoming Trips
Click on the leader’s name to learn more about the leader and trip details. Click “Join” to apply for their trip. Have a spot reserved on a “Full” trip? Complete your registration here. Or learn about sending funds to support local labor by joining as a virtual participant.
Pignon is a community of about 30,000 located in the Central Plateau of Haiti. Renowned for the beauty of its hillsides, it is yet in one of the poorest regions of Haiti. Families traditionally survive and earn income by traveling to their nearby fields, where they grow their own food as well as sugar cane for selling. We also build for families with underpaid professionals like teachers and nurses.
Many of these families own their own land and begin purchasing materials like concrete blocks in order to build their home over time but need a helping hand and opportunity to expedite the process for them and their kids. The Fuller Center helps by constructing simple, decent affordable homes with families based on their needs and income, repaid on a no-profit, no-interest basis. The repayments are used to help more families in the community. Families are also taught construction as the homes are built and basic financial management skills by a partner called Top+. In addition, we have opened a local materials supply store to make improving one’s home more accessible for everyone in town.
What is a trip like?
Each trip to Haiti will be with a group of mission-minded volunteers – typically 8-20 total – who want to experience the world, meet new people, and make a difference. No skills required. Trips last 1-2 weeks and include time for R&R.
- 6:00 – Devotions (optional)
- 7:00 – Breakfast
- 8:00 – Work-site
- 12:00 – Lunch (on site)
- 1:00 – Resume work
- 4:30 – Finish working
- 6:00 – Dinner
- 7:00 – Free time
Be ready to be flexible! Schedules can change quickly in Haiti. Rain storms, communication, material supplies and more are unpredictable. We work hard to consider all the possibilities in order to plan for an enjoyable and productive work week.
All trips will last one week, typically Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday. Sunday offers a chance for attending a Haitian worship service. Saturday or Sunday afternoons there will be opportunity for some of the limited R&R available in Haiti, which must be coordinated in advance.
Come ready for anything. Work could include laying block, clearing rubble, applying stucco, cutting rebar, mixing concrete, or other tasks. Every job is important. Expect it to be sunny and HOT. Shade is limited. Heavy water consumption is a must all day long. You may want to bring electrolyte replacement powders.
Our teams spend the week at a guest house; pictures below. No outside groups or volunteers use the facility while we are there, so we have the place to ourselves.
Food and water must be handled carefully in Haiti, so we work hard to ensure that groups will have safe and nutritious meals. We provide three meals per day – typically breakfast and dinner where you are staying and lunch on the work-site. Purified water is also always available and provided, usually in five-gallon containers, so you will want to bring your own reusable bottle.
We rent transportation to get the groups to and from the airport. During the work week a vehicle is generally not needed as the work-site is within walking distance of the Guesthouse. Pignon is 3 1/2 hours from the airport so it is important that flights are coordinated with the team leader to ensure that they all arrive together or at least within 90 minutes of each other. All participants should arrive before 1:00pm to avoid being on the road at night in Haiti.
Bedding and towels are provided, but we recommend you bring your own washcloth. Common items like bugspray and sunscreen are essential, but your best option is to coordinate with others on your team and share these items. Luggage can often get delayed, so bring your luggage as a carry-on if possible. Sturdy work clothes, closed-toed shoes, and a hat for the sun are essential, since the work will be tough and the weather hot.
Sunday is a non-working day. If coordinated in advance, a group may want to set aside one day for R&R. If desired, we can help arrange for the group to attend Haitian church services.
R&R opportunities are limited in Haiti, but there are a couple of options. Groups can visit Bassin Zim, which contains waterfalls, coves, and caves. Groups can also visit the local school to spend time with the children and play a game of soccer or basketball. Groups could also choose to fly out of Cap Haitian when it is not rainy season. This would give groups the option to visit the beautiful Sans-Souci Palace and Citadelle Laferriere.
Prices vary based on team size and trip duration, but a typical 1-week trip will cost roughly $1050 – $1150. That price covers lodging, local transportation including airport pick-up, three meals per day, bottled water, travel health insurance, and a contribution toward building materials. The fee does not cover airfare, R&R activities, or tips. We will work out a more accurate price after you submit your trip proposal.
Are you unsure of how to prepare for such an experience or just looking for some tips on how to be better prepared? If so, we suggest you take a look at our Trip Preparation page where you will find a lot of helpful information and links – Preparing For Your Trip!
Pricing – What’s included?
| Team Materials | Fuller Center hat, t-shirt, country guidebook, fundraising guide, & more |
| Trip Support | Easy contact with Team Leader and Global Builders staff |
| Food and Drink | 3 meals a day provided by safe, sanitary local vendors |
| Transportation | To and from work sites and airport |
| Lodging | A local guesthouse in Pignon |
| Travel Insurance | Currently provided by Core Travel Insurance. Contact GB staff for details |
| Life-changing work | Alongside your teammates and the homeowners! |
A Look Back: Our disaster response legacy
We completed over 150 permanent homes as a response to the 2010 earthquake, including building the homes for a sustainable community concept in Gressier. We trust these homes will be a blessing to the families for the years to come.
Lambi – We helped to complete 58 homes in the form of 29 duplexes on a site called Lambi in Gressier, which was very near the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake. We partnered with Lott Carey and the African American Baptist Mission Collaboration to make it possible, as well as Grace International who is responsible for helping the community reach full sustainability. The families moved out of hot, decrepit tents and into healthy, permanent homes.
The community included improved water, sanitation, job opportunities and civic space.
Croix-des-Bouquets – In this community just east of Port-au-Prince, we built small, economical homes that were typically 16×16 feet, depending upon the sizes of the lots.
The homes were built on families’ own land. The project was undertaken in partnership with Homes from the Heart.
Learn the Basics – Area Info
| Language: |
French (Official), Haitian Creole (Official)
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| Age Structure: |
0-14 years 33.39%, 15-24 years 21.35% 25-54 years 36.24% 55+ 9.02%
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| Population: |
10,485,800 (2016 est.)
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| Life Expectancy: | 63.8 years (Male 61.2, Female 66.4) |
| Climate: |
November-March: Day 70s-80s Nights 60s-70s June-August: Day 80s-90s Rain Season: May-July Hurricane Season: July -October
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| Currency: |
Haitian Gourde $1 USD = 63.16 Haitian Gourde
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| Literacy Rate: |
60.7% (Male 64.3%, Female 57.3%)
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| Ethnic Groups: |
Black 95%, Mulatto and White 5%
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| Religion: |
Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 28.5%, Other 6.6%, None 10.2%
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