Portugal · Domus Guest House and in Amarante you will be staying at a local hotel. Domus Guest House is very comfortable with 8 bedrooms, garden, orchard, vegetable garden and swimming

Global Village volunteer handbook

Portugal

home construction healthy homes vulnerable populations


Welcome to Habitat for HumanityDriven 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

Christian 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.

About Habitat Portugal

Habitat Portugal was founded by José Cruz Pinto

in 1996. He read an article in the magazine “Plain

Truth” about Habitat for Humanity and became

very interested in the story of Millard and Linda

Fuller and the “Jimmy Carter Work Camp”

inspired him to create this organization in

Portugal.

HFHP was legally established in May 1996,

becoming recognized by Habitat for Humanity

International in October of the same year.

The Northern region of Portugal has several

social problems, the major ones are related to

housing, unemployment, desertification and low

income.

Habitat for Humanity Portugal finished the first

project in 1998 and since, Habitat has been

helping families in need in the northern region of

Portugal.

So far, we have served 84 families and more than

270 people live in a decent shelter thanks to the

work of Habitat for Humanity Portugal and all the

volunteers that came to build with us.


Global Village builds — Portugal

If you are reading this Handbook it means that

you are an exceptional person; you have

decided to do a Global Village trip where you

will be able to help a family in need. That is

amazing!

Habitat for Humanity Portugal hosted the first

GV trip in 1998 at our first project in Vieira do

Minho and since then we have hosted

thousands of volunteers that came to Portugal

to help us build houses for people in need.

We want to welcome you to our country and

thank you for coming to help us improve the

quality of life for families in Portugal.

The moment you arrive in Portugal you will

begin to take part in a process that will lead to a

major change in a family’s life. From then on

you will always be linked to the history of that

family and their future.

Now prepare yourself… you are about to enter

an experience that will change your life forever!

Thank you / Obrigada!

HFH Portugal


Habitat Homeowner ProfileLAGE FAMILY – one family supported by HFH Portugal

For many years the Lage family has dreamed of having their own home. The family is comprised

of Madalena and Fernando, and their three children. Their daughter, Ana, suffers from a mental

impairment, and although she is physically independent, she needs monitoring and assistance.

The family lived in a rented house with poor living conditions, including very limited space, high

levels of humidity, an outdoor bathroom and low indoor temperature as some exterior walls are

made of wood.

The house Habitat Portugal rebuilt is a family inheritance, but was not suitable for living. In this

project, outdoor and indoor renovations were done and after many years, this family finally has

their own home, where they can have a happy life as a family.

Global Village volunteers participated in a variety of tasks including demolition, digging, tying

rebar, mixing concrete, nailing wood, building brick walls, laying tiles, chiseling, plastering,

painting and cutting rebar and wood.


About The ProjectAMARANTE or BRAGA

The region of Amarante has a population of

56,264 inhabitants and the region of Braga

has a population of 181,494 inhabitants.

Most of the degraded housing is located in

rural areas of these regions. Some of the

worst homes don´t have electricity, basic

sanitation or running water. In the cities, the

biggest problems are overcrowded houses

and lack of insulation. All of these housing

problems put the families inhabiting these

homes security and health in danger.

Habitat for Humanity Portugal focuses on

rebuilding homes as opposed to new builds.

Renovations to housing units are less

expensive and thus more affordable for

partner families. Most of our projects are

based in rural areas.

Global Village volunteers may participate in a

variety of work including:

• Demolition

• Digging

• Tying rebar

• Mixing concrete

• Nailing wood

• Cutting rebar and wood

HFH Portugal wish list

• Gloves

• Goggles

• Dust masks

• Knee pads

• Tape measures

• X-knifes

• Hammers

• Cat claws

• Trowels

• Trays

• Cement boards

• Sponges

• Blue line

• Rubber hammers

• Cutting pliers

• Paint rollers

• Screwdrivers

• Pencils

• Sanders (hand/machine)

• Levels

• Shovels

• Hand-lead

• Hoe

• Wheelbarrows

• Paint brushes

• Paint small brushes

• First aid kits

• Small Power tools (nail

gun, cordless drills,

wood saw)

• Building brick walls

• Laying tiles

• Chiseling

• Plastering

• Painting


About The Trip – Before You Leave

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Citizens of the European Union, Andorra,

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and

Switzerland need only an identity card to

enter Portugal. In addition to their identity

card, minors must also present authorization

from their parents to travel.

For visits of less than 90 days, a passport

valid for at least three months after the end of

their stay is necessary for visitors from

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei,

Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia,

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel,

Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New

Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,

Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South

Korea, United States, Uruguay, Vatican,

Venezuela and Special Administrative

Regions of the People’s Republic of China in

Hong Kong and Macao.

Citizens from countries not mentioned above

will need a visa, which may be requested at

the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate of

their country for stays of up to 90 days.

Under the terms of the Convention

Implementing the Schengen Agreement,

flights between Schengen states are

considered to be internal flights and

passengers do not need to obtain another

visa.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND HEALTH

REMINDERS

No health requirements are necessary to

enter Portugal. For more information visit

www.cdc.gov and consult your physician prior

to departure.

PACKING SUGGESTIONSWe advise you to travel light and bring only

what is necessary for the trip.

On the Habitat for Humanity Portugal work

site, the use of work boots is mandatory.

Other individual protection equipment should

be worn, taking into consideration a variety of

tasks and the risks associated with them.

Clothing will depend mainly on the weather.

Here are some of the things you will need to

bring with you:

• Passport

• Emergency Contact Sheet

• European plug adapter

• Prescription & personal medications

• Toiletries

• Travel alarm clock

• Water bottle (water will be provided)

• Work boots

• Work clothes for site

• Rain coat

• “Nice” clothes for dinners and evenings out

• Swim suit.

http://www.cdc.gov/


About The Trip – Upon Arrival

AT THE AIRPORTYou will fly into the Porto International Airport

(OPO). A staff member from HFH Portugal

will meet the team at the airport, then you will

transfer to your accommodations. Upon

arrival, you may choose to exchange money

at the airport or you may wait and exchange

money in town at a later time.

ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, SA is the

Portuguese airport authority and provides

departure and arrival information at

www.ana.pt

TIME ZONE

Portugal is on Western European Time.

(UTC+0) and does observe Western

European Summer Time (UTC+1). Portugal is

5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. If it’s too

much to remember, just use this clock:

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/Port

ugal.

CURRENCYCurrency in Portugal is the Euro. You can

exchange money at local banks, at bureaux

de change and at automatic currency

exchange machines (for currency sale

transactions only).

You can find current exchange rates at

https://www.oanda.com/lang/pt/currency/conv

erter/

BANKS AND EXCHANGEBanks are open from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. five

working days a week. Portugal has a national

network of cash machines (ATMs) identified

by the symbol MB (Multibanco), from which

you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day.

You will be able to change any hard currency

into Euros at the airport or at any exchange

offices or banks downtown.

Traveler checks are accepted at some banks.

There are many ATM machines in Braga and

Amarante. Each machine has all the logos

placed on the front to tell you what type of

card they accept. Major credit cards are

accepted at most restaurants, hotels and

shops. Generally, you can only withdraw

400€ per day, 200€ at a time. Please check

with your bank.

TIPPING

It’s not usual to tip in Portugal.

http://www.ana.pt/

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/Portugal

https://www.oanda.com/lang/pt/currency/converter/


About The Trip – General Info

LODGING

When in Braga you will be staying at The

Domus Guest House and in Amarante you

will be staying at a local hotel. Domus Guest

House is very comfortable with 8 bedrooms,

garden, orchard, vegetable garden and

swimming pool. There is also a laundry

service at Domus. This property is owned

and powered by Habitat for Humanity

Portugal since 2017.

MEALS

• All meals are included.

• Breakfast is served at the lodgings.

• Lunch will take place at a restaurant near

the building site.

• Water and snacks will be provided on the

site.

• Dinners will be at the lodgings or a local

restaurant.

TRANSPORTATION

The Volunteer Coordinator will arrange

transportation of the Team from the Porto

airport to your host site in cooperation with

the Team Leader.

Transportation information:

• A 22-seat mini-bus with driver from Porto;

the bus ride will take about 45 minutes.

• Transportation to the worksite is made by

private transport. It takes around 30

minutes (depending on the project

location).

ELECTRICITY

The electric current in Portugal is 230/400

volts at a frequency of 50 hertz and sockets

comply with European standards. You will

need a 230 volt transformer and an adaptor to

use American-style flat-prong plugs.

COMMUNICATION

Telephones

In public telephone booths, coins and special

cards can be used. They are sold in Portugal

Telecom shops, post offices and some kiosks

and newsstands.

All telephone numbers in Portugal are

composed of nine digits. To call from abroad

to Portugal, it is necessary to dial the

international access code 00 and the country

code 351. To call abroad from Portugal, dial

00, the country code, the area code and then

the number wanted. The dialing codes of the

various countries are posted in public

telephone booths.

Mobile Phones

There are three network service providers -

MEO, Vodafone and NOS – that have

roaming agreements with most international

mobile phone companies and provide users

with a good coverage nationwide.

Internet

Free internet access is available in lots of

hotels and public facilities, or on marked "Wi-

Fi" areas where it is possible to access

wireless Internet.


Portugal’s Culture

RELIGION

Portugal is a Roman Catholic country by

tradition where 88,7% of the population claim

to be practicing Roman Catholics.

Only about one-third of the population attend

mass and take the sacraments regularly, but

nearly all Portuguese wish to be baptized and

married in church and to receive its last rites.

Portugal is Roman Catholic not only in a

religious sense, but also socially and culturally.

The ancestral openness to others,

characteristic of the Portuguese people, give

us this genuine predisposition for empathy and

hospitality, in which we believe, we gladly

welcome our visitors, whatever their culture,

religion and beliefs.

LANGUAGE

Portuguese is a West Romance language and

the sole official language of Portugal,

Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau,

Mozambique and São Tomé e Príncipe. It also

has co-official language status in East Timor,

Equatorial Guinea and Macau in China.

With approximately 250 million native

speakers and 273 million total speakers,

Portuguese is usually listed as the sixth most

natively spoken language in the world, the

third-most spoken European language in the

world in terms of native speakers.

In Portugal there are many people who speak

English, French and Spanish.

GASTRONOMY

Portugal’s cuisine is as rich and varied as its

landscape. The most distinctive feature of

Portuguese cuisine comes from the sea and

abounds in Portugal and it can be salted cod

or fresh. Meat is also excellent whether it’s

beef, pork or lamb.

Although most regions have their own special

dishes, some meals are common to the whole

country. Vegetarian food is also available in

Portugal in many restaurants.

Each dish is matched to the right wine that

the whole country produces in a wide variety

and with great quality.

Portuguese cheeses are also delicious, and

the sweets are superb. And a “pastel de nata”

(custard tart) is delicious with coffee, which

we drink in the form of espresso.

MEALS

The Portuguese usually have three meals a

day. Breakfast is between 7:30 and 10 am

consisting of a white or black coffee or fruit

juice and toast or a sandwich.

The main meal is lunch, between 12:30 and 2

pm, often eaten at a restaurant near work,

and dinner between 7:30 and 10:30 pm.

Most people eat a full meal including soup, a

main dish and dessert or fruit. They may also

have a snack consisting of a drink and a cake

between these two meals, around 5 pm.

Eating out is common practice in Portugal,

especially at the weekend, and is always a

good excuse for meeting friends or going for a

drive.


Sample Cultural Experiences*

MINHO

• The Minho Region is located in the northwest of

Portugal. The River Minho, which has given its name

to the region, is the natural border between the

province Minho in Portugal and Galicia in Spain. The

textile manufacturing industry is the predominant

economic activity, especially in the valleys of the

rivers Ave and Cávado, in the southern part of

Minho.

BOM JESUS DO MONTE

• Bom Jesus is one of the most important sanctuaries

in Northern Portugal. It has beautiful gardens and a

picnic area. The Sanctuary is a notable example of a

pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway

that climbs 381 feet.

GUIMARÃES

• UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001,

Guimarães is a city deeply linked to the foundation of

Portugal, transmits and shares medieval and modern

memories, producing an environment of belonging

and identity very characteristic of the people who live

there.

RIVER TÂMEGA

• The river Tâmega is the longest tributary of the river

Douro, whose journey begins in Galicia and which

flows through the heart of Amarante, giving added

color to the picturesque houses standing on its

banks. The bridge at Amarante, over the Tâmega

perpetuates the memory of the local populations

heroic resistance against Napoleon’s troops, who

invaded Portugal in the early 19th century.

*Cultural experiences will depend on hosting location within the country.


Basic Portuguese Phrases

11

No English Portuguese

1 Coffee Café, Descafeinado (decaffeinated)

2 Tea Cha, Cha preto (black), Cha de tilia (herbal)3 Hot chocolate Chocolate quente

4 Sweetener Adocante

5 Sandwich Sandes

6 Toast Torrada

7 Cake Bolo8 Lemonade Limonada

9 Water Agua, Garrafa de agua (bottled)

10 No Não

11 Yes Sim

12 More or less Mais ou menos

13 Good morning Bom dia

14 Good afternoon Boa tarde

15 Good evening / Good night Boa noite

16 How are you? Como estas?

17 Good thanks Bem abrigado(a)

18 My name is… Meu nome e…

19 Please Por favor/Faz favor

20 Okay Esta bem

21 You are welcome De nada

22 Excuse me Por favor

23 Sorry Desculpe

24 Do you speak English? Falas ingles?

25 I would like… Eu gostaria…

26 Where is…? Onde é…?

27 How much it costs? Quanto custa?

28 Here Aqui

29 Thank you Obrigado (man) Obrigada (female)

30 One Um

31 Two Dois

32 Three Tres

33 Four Quatro

34 Five Cinco

35 Six Seis

36 Seven Sete

37 Eight Oito

38 Nine Nove


Safety On The Work Site

At Habitat for Humanity Portugal, health

and safety play a fundamental role in

protecting the working conditions and

well-being of volunteers and employees.

In the next few pages, HFHP aims to

present basic norms, rules and

procedures for safety and health to be

respected by volunteers and workers on

HFHP’s work sites.

To work safely volunteers must obey the

following rules:

▪ Be a true professional and do not act

with recklessness or improvisation.

▪ Respect all procedures and safety

rules.

▪ Respect the person in charge of

coordination instructions.

▪ Do not ignore the existing risks.

▪ Avoid jokes and distractions that can

be fatal.

▪ Be aware that safety and health at

work is a daily concern. Everyone is

entitled to them, but they are equally

a duty to us all.

▪ The assembly of collective security

equipment (guards, trestles,

scaffolding, ladders), may only be

assembled in the presence of HFHP

staff, who are trained for this

purpose.

On HFHP‘s work site, the use of work boots

is mandatory. Other individual protection

equipment should be worn, taking into

consideration a variety of tasks and the risks

associated with them.

• Mandatory use of hard hat – when the

tasks involve a possibility of objects falling or

falling from heights.

• Mandatory use of gloves – handling

cement requires attention to health since it

can cause skin diseases.

• Mandatory use of protection glasses or

protective visors – when pruning

/demolition of concrete and existing elements

or other type of activities with risk of causing

eye injuries.

• Mandatory use of masks – When there is

work in dusty environments or with toxic

products such as powder, paints, varnishes,

thinners, especially in enclosed areas.

• Mandatory use of ear protectors – when

there are noisy activities.



• No smoking, alcohol or drugs are permitted

on site at any time. Volunteers who need

prescription drugs (inhalers, etc.) should

make sure they have a sufficient supply on

site.

• Wear sun screen of a suitable factor and

re-apply it throughout the day.

• Wear appropriate clothing for the tasks

involved.

• Drink plenty of water — at least 2 liters a

day, even more when it is hot.

• Do not smoke or light fire.

• Wear proper gloves that can protect your

hands from:

▪ Cuts when carrying sharp-edged

materials and equipment.

▪ Skin irritation from cement, paint, lime

wash and other chemicals.

▪ Getting a blister while working with the

tools for a long time.

• Wear ear protection when:

▪ Any equipment is being used nearby

that may cause damage to your ears.

▪ Heavy machinery is working nearby

you for prolonged time.

• Wear a face mask when:

▪ You understand the mask type and its

designation.

▪ Using chemicals, painting lime wash,

mixing cement.

▪ Scraping old paints and sanding the

items to smooth.

• Wear eye protection when:

▪ You or someone nearby is using a

hammer, chisel or planer.

▪ You or somebody next to you is using

any type of power tool.

▪ Using lime wash or chemicals or

mixing or pouring cement.

• Wear proper footwear at all times:

▪ Open-toed shoes are forbidden on the

site.

▪ Footwear must be covered and hard-

soled.

▪ Steel-toed safety boots must be worn

in demolition works.

• When lifting an item:

▪ Know your capacity and weight limits.

Ask your site supervisor.

▪ Keep legs slightly apart, bend the

knees, keep the back straight.

▪ Grab by both hands, and lift with the

legs, not the back.



• To avoid work incidents, please adopt the

following attitudes and behaviors:

• Maintain the work place clean and

organized.

• Do not smoke or light fire.

• Do not drink alcohol beverages.

• Use the Individual Protection Equipment

(IPE) appropriate to the risks.

• Do not start a task without receiving the

proper instructions.

• Do not handle electrical equipment without

training in its use.

• Respect instructions displayed on safety

equipment.

• Never go beneath or remain under

suspended loads.

• Protect stairwells, elevator boxes and

ladders.

• Do not alter the scaffold.

• Use the work platforms with safety

protections against falls from height.

• Cooperate in maintaining the work place

clean and tidy. Avoid throwing waste,

unwanted materials and garbage on the

ground.

• Respect all signage at the construction

site.

• Handle all electrical devices with care.

• In case of emergency, maintain calm, stop

working, turn off machinery and go to the

designated Meeting Point of the work site.

• Do not throw garbage on the floor. Respect

the work site and dispose of waste at

proper places.

• Keep areas for personal use clean and

tidy.

• Do not make fires or braziers outside of the

allowed places.

• Do not eat outside of the allowed places.

• Make sure that the water you are drinking

is potable water.

• Know the location of the nearest fire

extinguisher.

• Bars, planks, props, irons and other type of

materials and equipment must not be

abandoned in the middle of the work site.

• Pay special attention to planks with nails

and unlocked irons unprotected.

• Pay attention when handling toxic products

such as: paint, diluents, oil, etc. Pay

attention to leakage on your skin or on the

ground.

• At the end of the work day, store

equipment and materials at their proper

places.


Gift Giving Policy

15

Basic Policy

Habitat for Humanity discourages short-term trip teams and individual team members from giving

personal gifts while engaged in or as a result of being engaged in a short-term trip.

Because they travel the world, teams encounter diverse cultures that view the giving of gifts in distinctly

different ways. Many cultures feel that to receive a gift means that a gift must be given in return. In most

cases, the person or family to whom a gift is given is not in a position to reciprocate. This results in the

disappointment of the very people the team is intending to make happy with the gift.

Because it may set precedent, gift-giving can have a negative impact on the host affiliate, other

volunteers that build with the affiliate and future HFH teams. To avoid potential problems,

embarrassment, hurt feelings and unhappiness, it is best that gifts not be exchanged between the team

or individual team members an individual children, the local masons/volunteers, on-site construction

supervisor, partner family, host volunteer coordinator, host affiliate staff, national organization staff,

team leader or anyone else.

One Exception

When a team of volunteers descends on a worksite, a crowd of inquisitive local children will not be far

behind. The giving of gifts to individual children is discouraged. However, if the host coordinator

approves, team members may feel free to share small items such as balloons, bubbles, pencils, paper,

etc. with the children on the worksite. Use restraint and common sense to avoid hurting anyone’s

feelings. If you give to one, it is expected that you will give to all. Keep in mind that once word spreads,

the worksite will be overrun with children.

Bringing items to play with at the worksite like a soccer ball, jump rope or Frisbee is permissible, as long

as the items are taken home every evening.

Other than small items such as those listed above, gifts should not be given to individual children, at the

worksite or elsewhere. Any gifts for children should be given to the host volunteer coordinator which,

after the team departs, will see that they are appropriately distributed.

Donating Tools

Teams often bring small tools to use and then donate them to the affiliate upon departure. Tools that the

team is planning to donate should be given to the host coordinator following the final day of building.

They should not be given to the: construction supervisor, affiliate staff, partner family, local volunteers

not to neighbors at the worksite. Donated tools are retained by the affiliate and may be used for future

builds.

Sponsorships

Agreeing to any type of sponsorship while a member of a short-term trip team is highly discouraged.

Team members sometimes are approached about the possibility of “sponsoring” children in the host

country. They might be the partner family’s children, children of a host affiliate staff member, of an

extended family, or simply a local resident befriended by a team member. Avoid getting involved in

sponsoring anyone while a member of a team.

Questions about gift-giving donations and sponsorships should be directed to the team leader or a

Habitat for Humanity contact.


Global Village Volunteers’ Experiences

“It was AMAZING!!! It was my first ever global village trip,

and while I had minor skepticism going in, my expectations

were mostly very high. Everything about this trip exceeded

my expectations. The planning, coordination, information

and execution allowed me to feel comfortable and

confident about traveling to a new area and all of the

people on the team were of like mind and ambition and the

camaraderie was incredible. The organization was well

done, and I truly felt that the community was happy and

welcoming to have us there and appreciated the

contribution we were able to provide. 1,000 thumbs up!”

—Danica C.

Habitat Global Village volunteer 2017

“GV is a fantastic way to see different cultures and meet

new people-both the local people and other volunteers on

the team. And GV also provides a way for travelers to

enhance their travel experience with community and

humanitarian service which makes our world a better

place to live. The work projects are well organized, the trip

leaders have been fantastic and the local Habitat leaders

are talented and great to work with. A GV trip also

includes local cultural activities which add to the trip's

"fun" experience, and it promotes team cohesion as well.

A GV trip is a valuable, effective and enlightening travel

opportunity for those who want to put a bit more into as

well as get a bit more out of their world travels.”

—Mark. J

Habitat Global Village volunteer 2017

makes a differenceevery hand

Documents

Portugal · Domus Guest House and in Amarante you will be staying at a local hotel. Domus Guest House is very comfortable with 8 bedrooms, garden, orchard, vegetable garden and swimming