Volunteer resources

Before departing for your Global Village build, join us for this mandatory 1-hour virtual volunteer orientation, designed to ensure a safe, informed, and impactful experience.

In this orientation, you will be introduced to Habitat for Humanity’s global mission, safeguarding standards, and expectations for ethical engagement. Together, we’ll cover:

• Habitat’s Global Village Program and Advocacy

• Volunteer Code of Conduct, Waiver, and Safeguarding Policy

• Photography, and Social Media Guidelines

• Insurance and International SOS (ISOS) Information

• Question and Answer Time

Whether you’re a first-time volunteer or returning, this orientation will ensure you are aligned with Habitat’s mission, values, and safety expectations—and fully prepared for a responsible and meaningful Global Village experience.

Please ensure that you review the following five documents in order to understand important policies and procedures prior to making any donations towards your Global Village build:

• Orientation Handbook - A high level guide on the ins and outs of volunteering with Global Village. (Updates Coming Soon)
  
  
• Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions
  
  
• Global Village Cancellation Policy - We hope you won’t have to cancel, but if you do, here’s what you need to know.
  
  
• Habitat For Humanity Canada Global Village Volunteer Waiver - A copy of the legal document you sign when signing up for a Global Village build online.
  
• Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Code of Conduct
• Habitat for Humanity Safeguarding Policy
  
  
• Gift Giving Policy – We discourage all volunteers with Habitat for Humanity from giving personal gifts while on a Global Village Build.
  
  
• Photography and Social Media Guidelines - We are dedicated to sharing our volunteer experiences in ways that respect and uplift the communities we serve. Likewise, we are committed to preventing harm from the use of images, videos and stories that we gather during these experiences.
  
  

Before making any donations, please familiarize yourself with these essential documents:

• Volunteer Centre Login - Access your fundraising page through our peer-to-peer platform.
  
  
• Volunteer Centre Guide - A step by step guide for how to edit your personal page, view your fundraising progress, and send emails to your family and friends to ask for their support and thank donors.
  
  
• Fundraising Guide - Ideas on how to raise funds for your build.Donation Policy
• Donation Policy- Find out when, where and how to donate.

Prepare for your volunteer experience by reviewing the following resources:

• Volunteer Learning Guide - expand your understanding of the global housing situation and Habitat’s evolving approaches to tackling these challenges
• Safeguarding Training for Volunteers - All Habitat volunteers as representatives of Habitat for Humanity are expected to respect the rights of children and adults and to protect them from harm throughout the volunteer commitment. This required course will present behavioral expectations and reporting responsibilities for all volunteers.

You will be enrolled in travel accident and sickness insurance, which covers medical costs arising from accidents, illnesses, and accidental loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or hearing while participating in volunteer activities sponsored and supervised by Habitat for Humanity. The policy also covers certain evacuations for international programs due to medical, weather, or security emergencies. Please note that this insurance is only valid for the days of your Global Village build and does not cover any additional days that you stay on your own accord.

• Volunteer Travel Insurance Plan – This brochure includes information on covered activities, description of benefits, exclusions and limitations and travel assistance services.
  
  
• Travel Assistance ID Card – Your team leader will have this card with them,

Building in a new community and spending time with future homeowners is a meaningful experience, and it can stay with you long after the trip. Give yourself some time to reflect, and reach out to your team leader or Habitat staff if you’d like support or ideas to stay engaged.

You’ll also receive a post-build survey from Habitat International. Please take a few minutes to complete it - your feedback really helps us improve future Global Village builds.

We also encourage you to stay connected by getting involved with your local Habitat for Humanity organization and sharing what you learned. To explore opportunities, both locally or globally, visit habitat.ca or email us at globalvillage@habitat.ca.