Peace Building Begins with You!

Join AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes trip to Jordan!

In May 2012, AUA will lead a delegation of peace-building volunteers to build homes with Jordanian families in the historic town of Salt. Join AUA and a growing movement of Americans who are actively committed to making a positive difference in the relationship between Americans and citizens of the Muslim World!

The 2012 Building Peace by Building Homes initiative unites Americans with citizens in Muslim-majority countries through volunteer service, community discussions, and cultural-learning experiences. Volunteers who join AUA serve as Unofficial Ambassadors who engage in meaningful service abroad and share their experience with their home community upon their return.

As one of America’s Unofficial Ambassadors, you will:

  • Build Peace by volunteering in development and forging people-to-people partnerships between American and the Muslim World
  • Work side-by-side with a Jordanian family to build their home
  • Immerse yourself in Jordanian culture and engage in cross-cultural dialogue with university students and families
  • Visit Petra (one of the new 7 Wonders of the World), the Dead Sea, and Mt. Nebo

Why Jordan?
Jordan is a resource-poor country of approximately 6 million people that boasts a well-educated citizenry, with literacy rates at 90%. Jordan confronts both an urban and rural housing crisis due to regional instability, high unemployment, and dramatic population growth that resulted from waves of Palestinian, and more recently, Iraqi refugees. Official unemployment stands at 13.4%, which much higher rates in rural villages. Severe overcrowding in both urban and rural homes frequently causes 12-15 family members to share small two-room houses. Jordan’s housing crisis is expected to grow worse as approximately 70% of the population is under the age of 30.

Since 2001, Habitat for Humanity has offered assistance to Jordanian families by building or repairing existing homes and providing access to housing microfinance loans. Through Habitat’s programs in Jordan, volunteers from all over the world help build new homes with Jordanian families by sifting sand, mixing cement, hauling bricks, painting, and plastering. AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes trip to Jordan will support the effort to combat one of Jordan’s most critical community development challenges.

Help Build Peace! Become an Unofficial Ambassador!
AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes initiative is an engaged learning experience that combines community service abroad with facilitated learning opportunities that will introduce you to topics such as Islam, international development challenges, and cross-cultural dialogue. By joining AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes trip to Jordan, you will help address a critical community development challenge by building homes with poor families in need. You will have an opportunity to share meals with a Jordanian family, meet with local university students, visit the ancient city of Petra and the Dead Sea, and engage in cross-cultural dialogue. In doing so, you will also serve as one of America’s Unofficial Ambassadors, both to the Muslim World and to your community at home. After you return home, you will have a chance to join the AUA Network, share your experiences on the AUA blog, present your experience to your community, and promote the concept of building peace through volunteer service.

How do I apply?
Application Forms should be downloaded and submitted to GideonC(at)creativelearning.org no later than March 16, 2012. Once you submit your application, Gideon will contact you for a brief phone conversation to answer any questions you may have about the program and discuss next steps. You can also share information on this trip with your friends and family by downloading this flyer.

Are there any requirements to participate?
AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes trip is open to all adults interested in making a positive difference in the relationship between Americans and citizens of the Muslim World! AUA is looking to assemble a diverse team of 10-15 volunteers, including both men and women. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and should be in good health. Though work assignments include manual labor, specific work activities can be adjusted in consideration of each participant’s physical capacities. If you have specific questions about your ability to participate in this trip, contact AUA’s trip leader at GideonC(at)creativelearning.org.

What will the accommodations be like?
Throughout the trip, volunteers will stay in safe, comfortable accommodations that offer the opportunity to engage with local citizens and experience Jordanian culture. In Amman and Petra, teams will stay in double-occupancy rooms with private baths in 3-4 star hotels. Accommodations in other locations are local guesthouses with separate sleeping areas for males and females and shared Western toilets and showers. Local transportation throughout the country will be by air-conditioned van.

What will the food be like?
Volunteers will also have the opportunity to try traditional Jordanian dishes. Most food in Jordan is served as an array of small plates that is meant to be shared with others. Some dishes such as hummus, falafel, olives, schwarma, and flatbread may be familiar. During build days, volunteers will be served a home-cooked lunch—the main meal of the day—at the build site or in the guesthouse. Breakfast and dinner are typically lighter meals with fruit, eggs, bread, cereal, and pasta prepared by the team at their accommodations.

Will I be safe traveling and volunteering in the Middle East?
While the Arab Spring has brought protests to countries across the Middle East and North Africa, Jordan has remained a stable destination for Western visitors. Maintaining volunteers’ health and safety is top priority for Creative Learning. In advance of the trip we will keep informed of the latest travel warnings from the US Department of State. In Jordan, the group will be accompanied by a representative from a local tourism company and/or a representative from Habitat for Humanity to provide translation and direction. Habitat for Humanity has been sending teams to Jordan since 2002 and has a credible network of local offices and contacts. In a worst case scenario, Habitat’s Jordan office will act to ensure the safety of trip participants, including emergency evacuation if necessary. Each participant’s program fee includes emergency evacuation insurance through MEDEX Security.

How much does it cost? What is included in the price?
Participation in AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes trip costs $2,200 per person, which includes:

  • Pre-departure orientation series including briefing materials, webinar discussions on Jordan and cross-cultural dialogue, and a signed copy of Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey through the Middle East (Amacom Books, 2007), written by AUA Director, Benjamin Orbach
  • Full logistical support and in-country guidance by an experienced AUA team leader
  • 4 days of community service (building homes with poor families in Salt, Jordan)
  • 2 days of cultural excursions to Petra and the Dead Sea (entrance fees included)
  • Cultural activities and community engagement opportunities
  • All in-country meals, accommodations, and local transportation
  • MEDEX Secure health insurance and emergency evacuation insurance
  • Post-return discussion, support, and membership in the AUA Network
  • Donations to support the sustainability of Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat for Humanity Jordan
  • [NOTE: this price does not include the cost of international airfare to Amman, Jordan]

Can I see a tentative itinerary?
A tentative itinerary for the 10-day trip is as follows:

  • Pre-departure (January – April): Volunteers will receive invitations to monthly webinar discussions and pre-departure online meetings to prepare for their service.
  • Friday (5/25): Depart the United States.
  • Saturday (5/26): Evening arrival in Jordan. Dinner and overnight stay in Amman.
  • Sunday (5/27): Breakfast at hotel. Travel to build site, lunch en route. Welcome ceremony and orientation at build site. Dinner and overnight stay at guesthouse.
  • Monday-Wednesday (5/28-5/30): Breakfast at guesthouse. Work at build site from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with lunch on site. Dinner and overnight stay at guesthouse. Evening activities and cultural events with team, including meetings with local university students and NGOs.
  • Thursday (5/31): Breakfast at guesthouse. Work at build site from 9a.m.-2 p.m. with lunch on site. Dedication ceremony at build site. Travel to Amman. Dinner and overnight stay in Amman.
  • Friday (6/1): Breakfast at hotel. Depart for trip to Dead Sea, Madaba, and Mt. Nebo, and then continue on to Petra. Lunch and dinner in restaurants. Overnight stay in Petra.
  • Saturday (6/2): Breakfast at hotel. Visit Petra in the morning. Travel to Amman in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay in Amman.
  • Sunday (6/3): Early morning departure for the United States. Evening arrival.
  • Post-return (June and July): Volunteers will be invited to a webinar discussion to reflect on their experience and learn about ways to stay active in building peace through service.

Where can I learn more about AUA’s Building Peace by Building Homes trip to Jordan?
Learn more about this trip by reading these Frequently Asked Questions. For more information, please contact AUA trip leader Gideon Culman at GideonC(at)creativelearning.org.