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"Hijou Build"

Indonesia – August 2025

9 - 16 August 2025

Yogyakarta

Indonesia

Registrations close by June 9, 2025
Sign Up Now
Leaving Only Memories: Sustainable Practices for Minimal Environmental Impact

Global Village is heading to Yogyakarta (often called “Jogja”) on the island of Java, known for its traditional arts and cultural heritage. In Tuksono Village, Kulon Progo district, almost half the population live in poverty in inappropriate or indecent houses, with several generations living under the same leaking roof on dirt floors, who face a lack of clean water in the dry season. Through the Global Village program, volunteers help the Tuksono village community become more prosperous by providing a safe, healthy and decent place to live.

 

As Indonesia is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including extreme events such as floods and droughts, and long-term changes from sea level rise, shifts in rainfall patterns and increasing temperature, the team will be doing it’s part to minimise our environmental impact. This will include building with ‘eco-bricks’ using recycled plastic, and house designs that will include solar panels and a rain harvesting system.

 

Global Village volunteers will assist selected families in building a new permanent house with private bedrooms and toilets. Typical volunteer tasks include digging and setting the foundation, bending and wiring rebars, mixing cement or concrete, laying bricks, and building walls. You will make far more than just a safe, comfortable and secure shelter; you will create hope, communities and futures.

 

Indonesia, a sovereign state in Southeast Asia and Oceania, lies at the intersection of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Over 17,000 islands comprise this archipelago, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and portions of Borneo and New Guinea. Indonesia is famous for its beautiful tropical shorelines, forcing volcanoes, and culturally rich historical and religious sites.

 

Among the Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia has witnessed the fastest growth in the gap between the richest and the rest in the past two decades. It ranks sixth on the countries with the most significant wealth inequality list. Indonesia’s four wealthiest men have more wealth than its poorest 100 million combined.

 

In Indonesia, inequality stifles economic growth, threatens social cohesion, and undermines the fight against poverty.

 

What does this mean for the average person? Insecurity at work and low wages plague the poorest citizens, especially women. Infrastructure, such as electricity or decent roads, is less available in rural areas than urban areas. Most of the land is owned by large corporations and wealthy individuals who benefit from it all. The education system is underfunded, and barriers to equal access prevent many Indonesian workers from accessing higher-skilled and higher-paying jobs.

 

Through shelter, we empower.

What does the week look like?

9th – 16th August 2025

Saturday: Arrive in Yogyakarta, Java

Your build week begins today with your arrival in Yogyakarta! Habitat will arrange your transfer from Yogyakarta Adisucipto International Airport to the hotel, where you have time to unpack and unwind. Take yourself on a walk to acquaint yourself with the city before heading back to the hotel for dinner. You will finally meet fellow volunteers, your Team Leader and the Habitat for Humanity coordinator who will accompany you for the week. Habitat for Humanity staff will give you a thorough orientation for the week ahead, including construction safety and building tips.

Sunday: Introduction to culture and community

Today, use your free time to relax or explore the local area. You may like to enjoy some traditional Indonesian activities, such as a batik painting class, or to visit one of the nearby Hindu or Bhuddist temples. After some relaxing or exploring, the group will reconvene for dinner and share their excitement for the next day!

Monday: Begin construction of the house

Arriving on the building 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 show you the ropes, and you can start the house construction. There will be rest breaks for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, 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 each day, you’ll enjoy a team dinner. One evening you will be free to make your own dinner plans or catch up on rest.

Tuesday to Thursday: Full days building with your teammates

You will see the new house take shape in the next few days and will be amazed at how much can be achieved in just one week. There are plenty of ways to contribute, from laying bricks to mixing cement and rendering walls. Wednesday afternoon is an opportunity to take part in locally-relevant and misison-driven activities which facilitate the sharing of cultures, ideas, practices and experiences between Global Village volunteers and  community members. These organised moments of social learning and exchange are followed by opportunities for reflection. You might visit communities that have partnered with Habitat in the past and learn about the long-term developmental effects of these projects, or you may join local volunteers to mutually contribute to the cultivation of a shared garden in support of a community’s self-sufficiency goals. 

Friday: The handover ceremony and celebration

The final day of the build. You will add the finishing touches to the house and maybe even add some celebratory decorations too. You will welcome the partner family to their new home and reflect together on the contribution that you have all made. You will share a special farewell lunch with the team and the partner families. This is the time to celebrate all your hard work and imagine the new life that the partner family will have in the home that you have built. That evening, you will celebrate the team effort and the end of an incredible week at a special farewell dinner.

Saturday: Global Village concludes

Today you will depart for home or further adventures. You might like to combine your build with travel to other overseas destinations or indulge in some well-deserved R&R. Although your trip has ended, you will be left with unforgettable memories and long-lasting friendships that will keep the experience alive.

How much does it cost to take part?

Fundraising

  • Program Donation: $1,800

Once you register for a Global Village build, you commit to contributing $1,800 towards Habitat’s Programs. This program donation allows Habitat to fund our mission in countries with limited resources. Funding is used to support our operations to reach out and serve more households. Volunteers may choose to pay this amount themselves, though we encourage you to fundraise to reach this target, further immerse yourself in the cause, and raise awareness for Habitat’s mission to provide safe and secure housing for all.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and go towards families through a broader program in the Asia Pacific region.
 
Fundraising contribution deadline: One month before the build start date

Costs

  • Registration fee: $200, which you pay when you select a build.

This covers medical and evacuation insurance, your online fundraising page and a build pack to get you on your way. It is non-refundable if you can no longer join the build but can be transferred to another build within 12 months.

  • In-country expenses: Estimated between $800 per person (twin share) – $1,000 per person (single room) 

These expenses can be fundraised separately from the fundraising above, but any donations towards your costs are not tax deductible. 

In-country expenses payment due six weeks before the build start date.

What’s Included

    • Habitat branded T-shirt and cap
    • Accommodation
    • All meals for the week (except for one “Free Evening” mid-week for volunteers to choose their own dinner plans)
    • Transportation to and from the site
    • Social Learning Exchange Activities
    • Airport pick up and drop off (if arriving on the first day and departing on the final day of the build)
    • Snacks and water
    • All necessary building materials and safety equipment
    • 24-hour support
    • Medical and security insurance for the duration of the build week

What’s Not Included

Volunteers are responsible for booking these on their own:

  • Flights to and from the country
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa
  • Vaccinations
  • National Crime Check (for all volunteers aged 18+)
  • Any extra accommodation required outside the build week dates

Express your interest

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Thank you!🙂

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us. You will receive an email from us shortly. We look forward to having you on-site with us!

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Phone
1800 88 55 99

Email
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Address
Level 4, Block D, Building 5 (CB05),
1-59 Quay Street,
Haymarket NSW 2000

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