GreekBuild, the partnership between Northwestern’s Greek community and Habitat for Humanity, is sponsoring its first trip abroad to Nicaragua. In June, students will volunteer with Bridges to Community, a New York-based not-for-profit.
Weinberg sophomore Alex Lubben, who participated in Bridges to Community trips four times during high school with his local church, pitched the trip to Greek Build last year.
“I’ve had this idea in mind for a few years,” Lubben said. “GreekBuild was kind of the organization that liked it.”
Lubben originally tried to plan a trip for his fraternity, Sigma Chi, but there was not enough interest.
Though affiliated with GreekBuild, the Nicaragua trip will raise separate funds. The trip is open to both members and non-members of the Greek community.
The trip will last eight to nine days, including a five to six day village stay. Students will also tour Nicaragua, possibly visiting a volcano or colonial city. But for the true purpose of the trip, students can expect to construct one-room houses, build stoves or work on the local community center.
“They’re substantially sounder structures than what they usually live in which is cheap metal and garbage bags and tend to fall over when there’s a storm,” Lubben said.
Editor’s note: Story has been updated to correct the date and length of the trip, as well as the name of the nonprofit Bridges to Community.