Global Builders Club Volunteers in Portugal

From November 26 to 29, fourteen High School students and three teachers took part in the Thanksgiving Global Builders Club service-learning trip to Braga, Portugal.  

The team continued work on transforming an abandoned carpentry building into six decent homes for families in need. Their tasks ranged from mixing cement, leveling floors, and sanding walls to placing ceiling boards and bathroom tiles, carrying buckets of sand, and clearing debris.

The Global Builders team worked diligently and proudly, receiving many compliments from the local construction staff. A highlight of the experience was the opportunity to work alongside three members of the families who will soon move into the new homes. This was a successful and transformational project, enriched by the cultural experience of engaging with the warm and welcoming Portuguese community.

Habitat and the Global Builders program have supported home-building projects in Portugal since 2008, with over 260 AISV students volunteering to improve both their own lives and the lives of others. The Global Builders Club is grateful for the support of families and the wider community in making this service-learning experience possible, an effort aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to nurture a healthier, more compassionate world.

This project is one of many ways AISV students build the skills and character to positively influence the global community.