Building Trip Program
Our volunteers are the heart of what we do. Whether you come for a weekend or commit for the long haul, your energy helps create lasting impact.
What is a Building Trip?
A Building Trip is a cross-cultural volunteer experience where groups of participants work alongside local families and residents on community development projects—such as building transitional housing and supporting grassroots initiatives.
Each trip is embedded within long-term community processes and is designed to respect local dynamics. Before traveling, every volunteer goes through a thoughtful preparation process focused on intercultural awareness, social justice, and understanding the context of the community they will be visiting.
Upcoming Building Trips
Join one of our upcoming trips and witness the power of collective action firsthand. Travel with a team of volunteers to build homes in partnership with Latin American families.
Guatemala
Dates: February 13 – 16, 2026
Join us in Guatemala to build homes and connect with inspiring communities working toward sustainable development.
Dominican Republic
Dates: March 13 – 16, 2026
Experience the beauty of Mexico while making a meaningful difference in communities facing housing challenges.
What We Stand For
Co-construction with local communities
Deep understanding of social and historical realities
A respectful, conscious commitment—not a “quick fix” or charity trip
How It Works
Before the Trip
Preparation is essential to ensure a meaningful and respectful experience with the local community. We guide you through every step:
- Registration: Fill out our forms and we’ll get back to you within two business days.
- Confirmation Call: After a short call with our team, you’ll be able to confirm your spot on the trip.
- Community Building: Join online meetups with fellow volunteers to share expectations, ask questions, and connect before you travel.
- Personalized Guidance: We’ll walk you through all the logistics in group calls and through dedicated materials.
- Online Training: Participate in reflection sessions to understand local dynamics, embrace mutual respect, and prepare for an experience of shared learning.
- Support Team: Meet your trip coordinators before you go—they’ll be your point of contact and ensure you always feel supported.
During the Trip
Experience a journey of connection, collaboration, and transformation—together with the community.
- Warm Welcome and Housing: Upon arrival, your local trip leader will pick you up at the airport and bring you to shared accommodations with other volunteers.
- Community Connection: Take part in cultural and recreational activities designed to foster authentic relationships with families.
- Project Work: Build a transitional home side-by-side with the family who will live in it. More than a structure, this is an experience of shared values, solidarity, and human dignity.
- Ongoing Support: Your trip leader will be with you every step of the way—including your return to the airport—ensuring you always feel safe and cared for.
Why Volunteer with TECHO
Create Lasting Impact
Your hands-on work directly supports families working toward a better future.
Build Human Connections
Share a journey with passionate people from around the world who care about change.
Grow Personally and Professionally
Develop empathy, leadership, and collaboration skills that go beyond any resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Be over 18 years old, with no upper age limit.
- Have an open attire and willingness to work in a team.
- Be interested in learning about new cultures and social realities.
- Previous volunteer experience (valuable).
Complete our registration form for the destination that interests you the most. Then, we will contact you to invite you to a virtual meeting, where we will give you more details about the program, the dates and we will answer all your questions. If you decide to participate, we will send you an agreement to sign and we will organize a second meeting with a comprehensive training before the trip.
At TECHO, we define an informal settlement as a group of at least 8 families living close to each other, where more than half of the population does not have legal ownership of the land, and has no regular access to at least two basic services: drinking water, electricity with a household meter, and/or a sewage system connected to the public network. Learn more in «PORQUÉ EXISTIMOS»
TECHO was founded in Chile in 1997, driven by a group of young people surrounded by a Jesuit priest. When the decision was made to formally establish the project as a foundation, the Jesuits in Chile supported this initiative from a legal and financial standpoint.
No. TECHO is a non-partisan organization. Through the work of volunteers and settlement residents, we seek to influence public policy in order to change the poverty situation in which millions of people live in the region.
Through individual donors who contribute monthly, partnerships with companies, international cooperation, and different fundraising campaigns and events. Learn more in FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
If you have any question, please contact us: info.usa@techo.org