Project: Housing Construction Program

Location: Villahermosa, Mexico

Length of Stay: 9 Days (Saturday - Sunday) 

Maximum Team Size: 5 - 10  Note: This project is open to teams only.

Cost: $500.00 per person not including airfare and spending money (Teams will be responsible for purchasing airfare separately.)

Lodging                              $10/night           80

Meals, Snacks, & Water        $35/day           280

Transportation                     $10/day           90

Misc.                                                           50

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Total Individual Cost                                $500

Also bring your own work clothing, including work gloves and shoes appropriate for a worksite.  The sun is strong, so also make sure your work clothes include long-sleeve shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.

Skills Needed: Both skilled and unskilled volunteers are welcome.  Volunteers with experience in cement construction are helpful. 

Minimum Age:  Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. For children 16 and 17 years old, a parent is required to sign a release form and must work on-site with the child.   

Medical Considerations: Volunteers will need to be able to perform heavy manual labor in extreme heat (110 degrees Fahrenheit.) Volunteers will be asked to mix cement and carry cement blocks.

Project Description: Volunteers will assist in the block by block construction of 100 houses for families who were affected by flooding in the Mexican state of Tabasco.  These houses are being constructed in an area less prone to flooding on the outskirts of Villahermosa, the state's capital. Volunteers will work directly with the homeowners to construct these houses.  Volunteers will also have the opportunity to assist with an after school sports program established by the Samaritan's Purse office.  Twice a week, 50 children between the ages of 7 and 12 spend one hour playing sports, such as baseball and basketball.  This is followed by an hour session with their parents where group discussions and presentations reinforce the importance of physical activity, health, academics, nutrition, social and Christian values.

Background: In November 2007, severe rains throughout Southern Mexico caused major flooding and landslides in and around Tabasco, affecting more than 1.2 million people and causing significant damage to livestock, crops, vehicles, roads and nearly half a million houses.  It was the country's worst flood in 50 years.  Samaritan's Purse was on the ground within days to start a month-long relief program distributing food, hygiene kits, and water filters to more than 3,000 displaced families. As additional funding was secured short-term relief transitioned into longer-term assistance which included both cleaning and reconstruction programs.  In 2008 Samaritan's Purse committed to work alongside flood-affected families to construct 100 new houses in Tres Ceibas, a higher-elevation suburb of Villahermosa.  In 2009 Samaritan's Purse established an office in Villahermosa and construction is under way on the first phase of houses.