Let’s change lives in Malawi!

If you’re here, it means you’re either super excited about the prospect of going to Malawi with Habitat for Humanity, or excited-but-a-little-bit-hesitant, too. And that’s fine. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about this project. Let’s build a house with the House!

First, the facts
What?
We’re selecting 20 Happy Rebels for a 9-day trip to Malawi, Africa. Under the safe wings of nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity, a team of volunteers will help build a house for a local community. Yes, you’ll do your fair share of hauling, hammering, and heaving. We guarantee it’ll be rewarding. And lots of fun!

Why?
Because changing lives is in our DNA, we get involved in projects that feed off the energy of our Happy Rebels, who get a great deal out of giving back to society. It’s called a win-win.

When?
You’ll be on the ground in Malawi from 12 to 18 May 2024. You’ll leave on the 11th and return home on the 19th. We’ll announce who the lucky participants are on 29 February.

How?
By airplane, of course! (Take the bike if you want, but then you’re on your own!) We’ll book and pay for your tickets.

Where?
Malawi, East Africa. More specific: you’ll be helping the people out in Kabadula, a village near Malawi’s capital Lilongwe.

How to apply
We’re not sending 20 Happy Rebels to Malawi simply because they think, well, ‘yes, Malawi!’. It’s not a contest. We want to make sure you have the right motivation and are up to the task. So, we added a challenge. But we know how much you, Happy Rebels, love a challenge!

Here’s what to do: send your application email to Habitat@houseofhr.com before 12 February 2024, with the following info:
 

1.   The story behind the five songs that represent your journey to becoming a Habitat Hero.
   Pick five songs that – for instance – make you daydream about the African skies. Or choose bangers that fire you up to do some serious building. Then, tell us why you chose ‘em. Write it down, make a video, anything goes. Just be your Happy Rebel-style self. Don’t forget to add your songs to our Road to Malawi playlist on Spotify.
   
   But … why?
   Because it’s a fun way to think about this project! Besides, we want your colleagues, friends and family to share in the excitement. And who doesn’t love a good playlist?  You’ll need a soundtrack to accompany you on that fourteen-hour flight to Lilongwe Airport anyway. 
    
2.   A fundraising plan.
   Traveling to Malawi and staying for a week isn’t cheap – it totals around € 5000. At House of HR, we are wholeheartedly committed to making a truly positive, sustainable impact on the world, so we’ll pay for half of your trip – consider it an investment in our talented workforce. For the other half, you’ll have to set up a fundraiser, crowdfunding, or whatever you want.
   
   But … why?
   It’s about so much more than the money. It’s about getting everyone on board for your journey. Yes, you’ll get your hands dirty in Malawi, but spreading the word and rallying as many people is equally important.
   
   But … how?
   There are a million ways to raise money for a good cause. Like selling homemade cakes, cookies, or soup. You can sell tickets to your movie night at the office. Ask people to sponsor your running, hiking, or yoga sessions or whatever you do in your free time. And please, don’t be shy. Explain why you’re enthusiastic about this project – when people see you really mean it, they’ll be happy to contribute.
   
   Need more inspiration? Check out Habitat for Humanity’s Fundraiser Handbook 
    
3.   Bonus: are you interested in being our reporter on the ground?
   If taking photos or creating videos is your thing, let us know.
   
   But … why?
   Because, well, “pics, or it didn’t happen”, right?!
   It’s not a must. Just a serious plus.
   If you don’t know how to handle a professional camera, don’t worry, we’d still love for you to apply. We don’t need a large pic and vid squad, just a few rebels who can shoot some images for posterity and social media and the likes. That’s all. 

Has the above got you all excited? Great, then email your application to Habitat@houseofhr.com before 12 February 2024. Yay!