This summer, Bryan/College Station will be leading a Global Village trip to Portugal from August 4-13.

Housing is a major concern of poor Portuguese families, who often live in dilapidated homes in rural areas or shacks in the big cities. Successive governments have liberalized key areas of the economy over the past 20 years after decades of military dictatorship, but economic growth has been slowing, especially after the 2008 crisis. Many people were left without jobs or savings to improve housing conditions.

At the same time, the need for housing is growing, especially in urban areas. The state cannot support the development of new social housing units. Portugal has been a destination for emigrants, mainly from former African colonies and Brazil.

Habitat for Humanity in Portugal helps low-income families by building new homes on family-owned land and by renovating houses in the municipalities of Braga. Homes are made of traditional local materials: bricks, red roof tiles, shutters on the windows, and ceramic tiles inside. Recently, the Habitat Portugal has been looking for local opportunities to raise funds to build more simple and decent homes.

Join our team of 12 to help provide families in Portugal with simple, decent, affordable housing while exploring the country and culture.

The $1,500 trip cost includes donation to Habitat; meals; accommodations; transport (excluding trip participant airfare); medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance; some local cultural activities; team coordination and orientation materials, and team leader costs. (Participant airfare, R&R activities, and visa and exit fees not included.) Fundraising tools are available.

No construction experience is required; only an open mind, flexibility, and a desire to work hard. Change your world; change your life.

Cost and Contribution

Trip fee: $1,500 plus airfare

Volunteers may fundraise their Global Village program cost or donate it. Most volunteers donate a portion themselves and fundraise the rest.

About half of your program cost goes to building safe, decent housing, including the solution volunteers build. The other half of the program cost covers volunteer expenses during the trip.

How to register

If you are interested in joining B/CS Habitat on this trip, contact us at volunteer@habitatbcs.org.