GIFTING
During your time in Guatemala you will have the opportunity to meet and work with the families who will be living in the new Habitat homes, as well as with members of the community and the affiliate. This often results in team members wanting to give both individual and group gifts. The purpose of Habitat for Humanity, and of the Global Village program, is to help families improve their situation by giving them a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’. In keeping with this philosophy of creating independence, it is important for teams to understand the issues surrounding the giving of individual gifts/money as well as our policy regarding ‘gifting’. Habitat for Humanity strongly discourages individual gifting as well as large gifts/donations given directly to the individual affiliates. Please note, Habitat for Humanity affiliate staff are not allowed to accept cash donations. While we very much appreciate the sentiment and understand your desire to ‘do more’, the gift of your time, effort, and GV donation is already a tremendously generous one! If team members wish to further support the affiliate and Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, they are encouraged to let their Team Leader know this information and the Team Leader will tell them how to proceed.
Giving individual gifts sets a precedent and falsely raises expectations among the families involved in the project(s) as to what future teams might provide. Individual gifting also has the potential to create jealousy, competition and feelings of ill will among the Habitat families as well as within the community, depending on what type of gift is given and to whom.
If team members wish to bring gifts to the affiliate or to the local community, this should be done in communication with their Team Leader and should be discussed and organized in advance.
Please remember that the families and the affiliate do not expect individual gifts and are already very thankful for your volunteer efforts. Spending time with the affiliate, community, and family members, especially with the children, is the best gift that you can give - and those memories will be everlasting and priceless.
TEAMWORK
(…the difference between a group of isolated individuals and a team of interconnected members...)
T is for Teachable: A teachable spirit helps create a noncompetitive environment in which learning and sharing come naturally. Teachability gives all members the freedom to make mistakes as they learn.
E is for Encouraging: Think of how encouraging words enhance the development of a community. What differences do they make?
A is for Appreciative: What things can we appreciate in others on the team? How can we show our appreciation?
M is for Motivated: Take initiative!
W is for Willing: Team members may have different levels of strength, skill and health, but each should be willing to work to the best of his/her capabilities. Willingness also includes accepting uncomfortable conditions in the host country. Willingly take on the heat, food, bugs and germs.
O is for Open: Be open with what you are learning, experiencing, feeling, thinking, etc. Express both the positive and negative. Your vulnerability with others builds community.
R is for Refreshing: The times may be tough – heat, sickness, exhaustion, physical labour, emotional drain and so on. In those times it will be incredibly refreshing to have another team member help pick up your spirits! Think about how you can be replenishers to each other on a daily basis.
K is for Kindred Spirits: There’s a sense of camaraderie as we pursue this together….different people from different places and walks of life meshing.
F is for Flexible: Anything can change from day to day. A flexible team member will learn to accept the unexpected as the norm.
A is for Agreeable: Living together in close quarters, sharing bathing facilities, and every other aspect of group travel requires everyone to be gracious.
C is for Cooperative: Share with one another, help and assist one another. Instead of grumbling about problems, propose solutions!
T is for Thoughtful: What can you do to make a teammate’s day a little easier?
O is for Obedient: There may be times when the team leader has to ‘pull rank’ and make unpopular decisions. A team player will respect the leader’s authority and encourage others to do the same.
R is for Relational: Get to know the others on your team, especially if you are traveling with someone you already know quite well. Go out of your way to learn about the others…their hopes, their dreams, their history
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