This post was written by NobleHour Special Contributor Natasha Derezinski-Choo, a student at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, NC.
Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide non-profit organization that works to bring “simple, decent, affordable housing” to families around the world. In developing countries, Habitat for Humanity works to provide housing for the world’s poor. Locally, Habitat affiliates and their volunteers build houses for low-income families. Homeowners repay interest-free loans for the material cost of their homes.
Volunteering at Habitat for Humanity is an accessible opportunity for people of all ages. Youth volunteers must be at least sixteen years old to work on a construction site, but Habitat still encourages involvement from volunteers as young as five to engage in other areas of the organization’s work. Some areas for young people to volunteer include:
Youth United is a program within Habitat that encourages and guides student-lead fundraising to help build Habitat homes in their communities.- Act! Speak! Build! Week is an advocacy group for a student-initiated week of awareness about the importance of addressing housing issues.
- Campus Chapters are student organizations at high schools and colleges with four goals: build, fundraise, advocate, and educate. Any student can start a Campus Chapter, provided your school does not already have one, by contacting their local Habitat affiliate for an application.
- Collegiate Challenge is the opportunity for teams of young people aged 16 and up to donate a week of their school break to help end poverty housing.
Volunteer opportunities at Habitat are the chance to take part in solving the global housing crisis. Volunteers of all ages are invited to engage in their community via Habitat. In addition to volunteering locally, Habitat volunteers also work at long-term positions abroad or elsewhere in the United States. To get involved, contact your local Habitat affiliate to find our more about helping provide much needed housing to people in your local community.
