B/CS Habitat’s volunteer coordinator to volunteer in El Salvador

Madeline Zwicke, B/CS Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer coordinator, has recruited hundreds of volunteers to build many Habitat houses in Bryan and College Station. But now she is about to become a Habitat volunteer herself – in El Salvador.

Madeline will join a “Global Village” team of 18 people and travel to Suchitoto, El Salvador, on Nov.29, to participate in the Christmas in Action Blitz Build. They plan to build 10 homes for 10 families in just one week!

“I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to build in El Salvador!” Madeline said. “When I began working at Habitat last July I didn’t realize the impact it would have on me. It has been a blessing to work with families and volunteers in the Bryan/College Station community. I am happy to have the opportunity to represent our community and I plan to wear B/CS Habitat t-shirts during my whole trip!

Madeline checking the wall raising plans at a Habitat build in Bryan.

“Our team of 20 Habitat volunteers and staff will learn about poverty housing, development challenges and Habitat’s mission to eradicate them. I will also experience the community’s culture, language and social practices while working alongside homeowners and volunteers of all backgrounds, races and religions. This trip will allow me to take part in a transformative, lifelong journey that will ignite my passion for making this world a better place.”

Madeline isn’t the first local Habitat volunteer to travel to Central America. Longtime local Habitat supporter Sue Ellen Davis, along with Kayla Sanders, a board member for nearby Franklin Habitat for Humanity, went to Guatemala in January to build a Habitat home.

“Working a full week on one home with one Habitat family is an incredible experience,” Sue Ellen said. “You really get to bond with the family,” more than if you just volunteer on an occasional Saturday, she explained. (Read more about Sue Ellen’s trip.)

Sue Ellen and Madeline are helping B/CS Habitat make a growing global impact. In addition to their volunteer efforts, B/CS Habitat tithes a portion of its income to build homes in other countries. To date, B/CS Habitat’s tithe has built 102 homes abroad, most of them in Mexico.

In El Salvador, Madeline’s destination, almost three million people live in inadequate housing. Since 1992, Habitat for Humanity El Salvador has provided more than 7,400 housing solutions, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 37,000 Salvadorians.