Habitat for Humanity East Bay

El Salvador Global Village Trip

Habitat East Bay has partnered with Habitat El Salvador through our global investment program since 2001. Through this partnership we have fully funded the construction of more than six homes in El Salvador, providing decent housing to more than 30 Salvadorans.  In addition to funding, Habitat East Bay has invested time – sending two groups of volunteers during the past two years to build as well.  These annual trips plan to continue going forward.

After being struck by recent natural disasters, the housing need has increased rapidly throughout El Salvador, both in urban and rural areas. Today, approximately one third of El Salvador’s population lives in substandard housing.  The need is great, and Habitat East Bay plans to continue to support their efforts to bring decent, affordable homes to those in need.

In May, Jen and Joe Golike decided to lead this year’s team in Usulután, El Salvador. Jen was also a team leader on last year’s trip, which proved to be a great success, and inevitably paved the way for this year’s team to work in El Salvador once again. The week was challenging for the team both mentally and physically. Work began every morning at 8 a.m. and consisted of digging out and preparing foundations for two homes. Due to the recent tropical storm, construction was not able to move forward as quickly as expected; therefore manual labor was more intense than previously anticipated.

The team persevered despite the scorching heat and humidity and maintained optimistic attitudes throughout the week. The terms chispa and mezcla became part of our everyday language and by the end of the week it was second nature to make both for our masons. Within only a few days, all of the team members had sifted and moved dirt, shoveled rock, mixed cement, moved at least 1,000 cement blocks, laid blocks, filled in chispa or mezcla, bent and tied rebar, and a streamline of other tasks.  By the end of the week the masons were convinced that the team was one of the hardest working groups that Habitat El Salvador had ever seen.

In addition to all of the hard physical work, the team was also able develop personal relationships with the families, masons and construction workers. Learning about the personal hardships that some of them have endured throughout their lives, such as escaping from rebel armies after being captured during the Civil War (1980-1992), and struggling to find a job to pay for essential medicine for their children.  The personal stories of struggle, hardship and the willingness of the people to open up made all of the work that much more valuable. 

The entire team agreed that this trip left an indelible impression on them.  As Sandra, the new partner family member, stated our final day, “You are not my friend, you are my family. Thank you for helping us build our home.”