Ahuachapán, El Salvador

DAY 1 | Saturday: Arrive at San Salvador Airport

Your adventure begins today with your arrival at San Salvador Airport. We will arrange your transfer to your hotel, where you will have time to unpack and unwind. You will finally get to meet your fellow volunteers, your Team Leader and the Habitat for Humanity coordinator, who will accompany you at a special welcome dinner.

DAY 2 | Sunday: Transportation to Ahuachapán, welcome & orientation

After breakfast, the team will travel to Ahuachapán and will be transferred to your build-week hotel. There will be a welcome lunch with partner family, masons, and Habitat staff. Habitat El Salvador will hold a formal introduction and lead you through a thorough in-country orientation, where you will learn about Ahuachapán’s culture and housing situation, the project site, building techniques, essential announcements about logistics, etc. After another lovely dinner, you will enjoy a good night’s sleep to prepare for your first day on site!

DAY 3 | Monday: Begin construction of the house

Arriving on the build site for your first day of construction, you’ll meet the family whose home you will be helping to construct and will have the opportunity to learn about their stories. The construction supervisor and local labourers will distribute safety equipments, as well as undertake safety induction. There will be rest breaks for snacks and lunch, which will all be provided on-site. You can stop for a drink of water and a break as often as you need. At the end of the day, you’ll enjoy the flavours of Ahuachapán at the team dinner and a well-earned rest!

DAY 4, & 5 | Tuesday and Wednesday: Full days building with your teammates

You will see the new house take shape over the next few days and you will be amazed at how much can be achieved in just one week. From preparing bamboo columns and beams, weaving bamboo, applying mud mortar to walls, or painting, there are plenty of ways to contribute. Each night we will take you to some local restaurants, where you can experience mouthwatering cuisine as you unwind with the team and get to know one another better. The evenings are a chance to relax, swim in the hotel pool and recharge your batteries for the following day’s work.

DAY 6 | Thursday: Construction and Social Learning Exchange

Continue building at the project site in the morning. After lunch, travel to a Getsemaní community school to participate in the Social Learning Experience - Sustainable Community Kitchen: Chat cooking, culture, and food justice through Community Kitchen. Return to the hotel for free time, dinner, and team reflection.

DAY 7 | Friday: Farewell celebration with families

The closing day is emotional for everyone involved. You will spend the morning adding the finishing touches to the house and maybe even some celebratory decorations. There will be farewell celebration with families, community and typical El Salvadoran food. In the evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner with your team, reflecting on the week’s achievements.

DAY 8 | Saturday: Departure Day

After breakfast, check out and travel back to San Salvador airport. For earlier departures, alternative arrangements can be made upon request. Though the trip ends, the memories and impact will inspire your commitment to Habitat’s mission.

Typical Housing Solutions

El Salvador is the smallest, most densely populated country in Central America. Almost 8 out of 10 Salvadorans live in inadequate housing and 3 of every 10 families live in extreme poverty. Habitat for Humanity El Salvador partners with families to improve their access to safe and stable homes, sanitation and drinking water.

Typical Volunteer Tasks

Volunteers will support the construction of safe, affordable homes for families in Ahuachapán, a region severely affected by poverty and the 2001 earthquake. Tasks include mixing cement, digging trenches, laying bricks, painting homes, and steel framing and various other stages of the building process, working side by side with local masons and partner families. Beyond the construction site, volunteers will engage in meaningful interactions with the beneficiary family and the wider community, including visits to the local school and community clinic, both part of the Building Hope in Ahuachapán project.

Through peer-to-peer fundraising, Global Village volunteers contribute a program and build donation that will advance Habitat’s work in communities with the greatest housing needs. Build donations cover volunteer accommodations, meals and ground transportation. Crucially, the program donations also directly support Habitat’s housing programs in the countries.

Once you register for a this Global Village build, you commit to fundraising:

$3340 minimum fundraising target

What's Included

• Double Occupancy Accommodation
• Internal flights to and from the project location
• All meals for the week
• Daily transportation to and from site
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Snacks and water
• All necessary building materials and safety equipment
• 24-hour support
• Insurance whilst on the build site

*What's Not Included

• Flights to and from Kathmandu
• Travel Insurance
• Visa
• Vaccinations

Meet Neetash Patel!

My name is Neetash Patel and this will be my 12th build with Global Village. I excited for you to join me on this adventure and forge the passion for international community development.

Habitat for Humanity has been a tremendous connection for me, combining my love for travel, exercise, food & philanthropy. Whether in our own backyard or on the world stage, there is nothing more satisfying in the charity world that seeing the results of your time, money, and effort. These builds are just that. Getting off the typical tourist path to see a part of the world & way of life many of us simply read about or unaware of. With your help, we are changing the course of one family's life trajectory. Their safety, hygiene, kids’ education, dignity and so much are addressed by the Habitat charity. In addition to that feat, we support the local economy, bring aid to those that might never receive any and actively help to shape & unite the globe. If the Himalayas as our backdrop isn’t enticing enough, this build is unique, with bricks, mortar and Bamboo as our material supplies. Please feel free to contact me to learn more about this build, hear stories of past ones or joining one in the future. Looking forward to meeting you in El Salvador in March 2026.

Contact email is patelyyc@gmail.com

Global Village Frequently Asked Questions