If you've ever been to Disney World, you know about Epcot: an amusement park that gives you a truly magical experience from around the world with tons of shows, buildings, shopping, and restaurants inspired by some of the most tourist-worthy countries. You get to see all the glitz and glamour from all over the world. The truth is, however, too many people worldwide are living in poverty rather than in "Epcot". Americus, GA's Habitat for Humanity International headquarters and Global Village & Discovery Center gives you a truly international experience while also exposing the severe poverty issue that plagues many areas worldwide; it shows you the real magic that is possible when we take a stand for those in poverty and literally help them build.
1. Visitor Welcome Center: Grab Your Passport!
The first stop is the Visitor Welcome Center, which is where you pick up a "passport" and get schooled on what Habitat for Humanity really stands for by some truly awesome and inspiring women who are passionate about the cause. Getting involved in anyway with the Global Village really forces you into reality; the lot of us are more privileged than we think, so why not learn, see, and donate.
A few cool things about the Global Village Passport:
- It’s a free—not to mention perfect—souvenir for your international-themed adventure.
- It contains pictures (in case you forget your phone or camera) and descriptions of all the sites including the Discovery Center, Living in Poverty area, and each country of the Global Village.
- There’s a very well-drawn out map of the entire facility.
- There is a Q&A tips on how to get involved with Habitat's home building
- There is a VISA stamp section in the back just like a real passport! Make sure to get all of your stamps!
2. Living in Poverty Housing: You Have to See to Understand the Importance.
While walking through the Living in Poverty area gives you some insight into unfortunate global living conditions, including those in the United States, that insight is only a glimpse. Walking through this crafty set-up may bring to light what living in poverty is like for a split second, but seeing is nothing compared to living in a single-room shack with dirt floors, a broken-in roof, and blanketed walls with little to no food or clean water. Imagine splitting such living conditions among a family of 5.
Some significant things I learned from walking through Living in Poverty Housing:
- The lot of us are so privileged--privileged enough to view the area like an amusement park.
- For us, this is a discovery experience to witness for a brief moment, take photos of, and explore; for others, this is a way of life.
- The United States may not be a 3rd world country, but many Americans live in the same kind of poverty that those living in 3rd world countries do.
- Not all homes are houses, and not all houses are homes.
3. The Global Village: A Chance to Witness What Hope in Humanity Looks Like.
The entire Global Village takes from an hour to hour & a half to explore depending on how in depth you go. This is where the passport comes in handy. Each house you discover is a colorfully designed, intricate replica of a home that Habitat for Humanity has built for a family somewhere in the world. Many of the replicas even contain copies of photos, trinkets, and toys of the people and families now living in the homes! Using your passport forces you to explore and find the stamp stations, so in order to get all of your "visa" stamps, you have to see everything!
How the Global Village made me think:
- Not all homes are houses, but they sure do have the potential when humanity stops turning a blind eye.
- Habitat for Humanity is so much more than a donation center and/or thrift store.
- If only one family is able to move from “living in poverty” to an actual house (no matter how humble the house), the world is a happier place.
- Society always has room for improvement.
- More people need to be enlightened on the reality of what an ounce of hope can do for those in need.
My travel diary conclusion: If you're in South, GA, the Global Village is definitely something you wouldn't expect from a small town like Americus, but it's definitely worth the trip! You will not only feel moved by what you see, but you will also feel inspired to spread the word.
