When disaster strikes, it’s not just bricks and roofs that are lost: it’s a sense of safety and belonging. In Tena, Ecuador, one family’s story shows how volunteer construction can turn tragedy into renewal. Through compassion, teamwork, and courage, volunteers from Safe Homes Movement helped a mother and her children rise from the ashes a brand-new home to a family of five, and rebuild not just a house, but a future filled with hope.
What volunteer construction can truly build?
Volunteer construction is not only about hammering nails or mixing cement: it’s about creating foundations for a better life. When the family in Tena lost everything in a fire, volunteers stepped in to help restore what mattered most: a safe, stable place where healing could begin.
Each beam and wall represented a promise kept, a moment of resilience, and a reminder that collective action can transform pain into purpose.
For many, projects like this become turning points: an experience that reshapes how they see community, privilege, and human connection.
This is the kind of impact our volunteers make every day. Whether it’s your first time on a work site or you have hands-on experience, volunteer construction work offers the chance to directly help those who need it most. Our programs guide you through each step, and you’ll always work alongside trained leaders and community members.
For many volunteers, helping build homes in Tena has been one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives. You don’t need to be an expert. Just bring your energy, willingness to learn, and commitment to showing up for others.
Helping families in need
In regions like Tena, access to safe housing is a daily struggle. Floods, fires, and economic hardship leave families without shelter, and without hope. Volunteer builders change that equation.
Through hands-on collaboration and shared effort, homes become symbols of strength and stability. The Safe Homes Movement model focuses on sustainability: using local materials, training residents, and creating homes designed to last. Each completed house becomes proof that small acts of service can spark long-term change.
We’ve seen this firsthand not just in Tena, but across our programs in South America. Volunteer projects in Costa Rica and construction efforts in Guatemala have shown that even a small team of dedicated people can make a huge difference.
Be part of the building movement
What makes the Safe Homes Movement special is not only what volunteers build, but what they become in the process.
For many, joining a construction program abroad is a journey of self-discovery, empathy, and empowerment. It’s a chance to witness resilience up close and contribute to something that will outlast a single trip. We’ve seen how safe homes can break the cycle of poverty, support better education, and improve mental and physical health.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your time and energy can make a difference, the answer is yes. In Tena, it already has, and your hands could help build the next story of hope.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Read more about how our volunteer construction programs work, and explore the types of skills and support you’ll gain. If you’re new to this kind of work, our guide to the best volunteer abroad programs for construction experience is a great place to start.
Safe Homes Movement: Paving the way for housing solutions
Every home we build is a reminder of what’s possible when people come together. Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, we’d love to have you on board.
Explore our opportunities and see how you can help us continue this work. Check out our Safe Homes Brochure to get started.
