Shelley Ulmer

This island country southeast of India is known for its natural tropical beauty. It has made steady progress since the opening of its economy in 1977, but poor families have seen few of the benefits. Development efforts have been hampered by three decades of civil war. Meanwhile, the country is still rebuilding from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

 More than 4 million Sri Lankans are estimated to live below the poverty line, with about half a million of them residing in slums and shanties.

Habitat for Humanity began operating in Sri Lanka in 1994, and today a series of Habitat Resource Centers support local projects. Habitat is one of the country’s largest homebuilders after the government.

We invite you to join our Global Village team in partnering with these families in need to help build safe, affordable, decent homes. There are many ways to be a part of this project. You can donate to an individual team member by clicking on their photo to the left.  You can also share this cause with people in your network. By clicking on the “Share” buttons at the upper right of this page, you can share a link and information about this page on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and many other social media sites. You can also use the email tool to invite others to join in partnering with families in need.

Visit this page often. We will post updates, add video and photos, and keep you informed about our progress in Sri Lanka. Working together, we can create positive change. Thank you for becoming a part of the Global Village experience!

Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteer program. Teams travel to over 40 countries to work alongside communities, build housing solutions, and experience local culture. Our goal is to change the lives of the people we serve, as well as the lives of the volunteers.

To join a team or learn more, visit www.habitat.org/gv.

About Habitat for Humanity International 

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.