Intensive volunteer season in Veles

The completion of the 7th residential building with 16 apartments for low-income families in Veles attracted a record number of international volunteers during 2026 through the traditional Habitat Global Village program.

Following the pause caused by the pandemic and the renewal of accreditation in 2025, interest in volunteering at the Veles build site has exceeded all expectations. Over the past 10 months, and particularly from March to August this year, the site hosted 8 GV teams with 120 international volunteers. By the end of 2026, in September, October and November, it will welcome another 6 teams with 108 volunteers.

As in previous years, volunteer teams from the USA lead the way, including 3 teams organized by the nonprofit financial services company Thrivent. By the end of the year, the site also expects a team from Canada and a team organized by YPO, a global leadership community of chief executives.

From the launch of Habitat Macedonia's New Build Programme until the beginning of 2026, the construction site in Veles has hosted 122 Global Village teams with 1,727 international volunteers. For almost 20 years, they have been promoting a culture of volunteering that also involves families who will live in the newly built homes, thereby continuing a tradition that Habitat for Humanity International has promoted for 50 years.