Building Beyond Borders – Habitat Chesapeake’s Return to Honduras
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake’s mission extends far beyond Central Maryland. Through our continued partnership with Habitat for Humanity Honduras, our volunteers, staff, and board members had the opportunity to work alongside local families to build not just homes, but hope, dignity, and lasting community.
This Global Village build was a powerful reminder that while borders may separate us geographically, the need for decent, affordable housing and the desire for stability and opportunity is shared across the world.
Why Global Village & Why Honduras
Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international short term volunteer program, officially established in 1989, though the work began overseas in 1973. That year, Habitat’s founders, Millard and Linda Fuller, brought the Fund for Humanity model from Americus, Georgia to what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, laying the groundwork for Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976.
In Honduras, the need for decent and affordable housing remains urgent. Many families still lack basic necessities:
19% lack electricity
22% lack sanitation
11.5% lack access to potable water
23% live with dirt floors
Global Village builds address these challenges through partnership, working alongside local Habitat affiliates and families to improve safety, stability, and livability.
The Experience on the Ground
Habitat Chesapeake’s Global Village team worked in La Esperanza, Intibucá Yamaranguila, a scenic, mountainous region more than 5,500 feet above sea level and home to the Indigenous Lenca people. Many families in the area rely on subsistence farming and traditional crafts yet still face significant barriers to safe housing.
When the Habitat Chesapeake volunteer team wasn’t hard at work on the build site, they were immersing themselves in the local culture. From sharing authentic meals like anafre, tamales, and cassava, to supporting local businesses, learning about Honduras’ chocolate industry, and even participating in traditional dances, each moment deepened their connection to the community.
Volunteers worked side by side with homeowners and community members, breaking up existing concrete floors, mixing and pouring concrete by hand, and replacing the roof on one home. The work was physically demanding, but deeply meaningful, and reinforced the power of collective effort.
“During the first two days of the project, our group was split between two homes. On Wednesday, everyone came together to work on one home. Not only did we have the entire Habitat Chesapeake team, but what felt like half the community was there too — all working alongside one another to support a single family.
“Their sense of community was astounding. When one person’s home needed repair, everyone pitched in. There was camaraderie, teaching and learning, and meaningful hard work. It made me incredibly proud of the Habitat Chesapeake team and the community we were honored to serve.” — Brandon Jerome, Major Gift Officer, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake (pictured above)
Habitat Honduras by the Numbers
In 2025, Habitat for Humanity Honduras helped:
126 families move into new homes
2,814 families receive critical home repairs
Complete 765 concrete floors
Complete 3,098 volunteer hours
In 2026, Habitat Honduras aims to:
Build 146 new homes
Complete 1,598 home rehabilitations
Install 800 concrete floors
Deliver 66 housing solutions for minority ethnic groups
Provide 50 water and sanitation solutions.
Habitat for Humanity operates as One Habitat. Affiliates around the world contribute a tithe to support national and international work, and a portion of Habitat Chesapeake’s Global Village Honduras fees directly supports this global impact.
Looking Ahead: Global Village 2026
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake is preparing to return to Honduras in 2026, continuing a partnership rooted in respect, shared humanity, and long-term impact.
Experiences like Global Village builds are made possible through the generosity of donors who believe that everyone, no matter where they live… Deserves a decent place to call home. Together, we are building more than houses. We are building opportunities, dignity, and hope, across borders and generations.
