service trips

Our service trips reflect and put into action your organization’s values - sustainable living; global citizenship; respect for diverse cultures not our own; physical and intellectual challenge; the desire to do good in the world.

Earthbag technology builds safe, strong, eco-friendly structures from ordinary soil found beneath people’s feet. The method is simple, easily learned and requires no special skills, making it a perfect fit for volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life.

Good Earth Global’s up close work with those in need ensures a deep immersion into the everyday rhythms and customs of rural Nepali life. Volunteers live and work beside local villagers and meet the families they’re building for. 24/7 supervision by college-educated, English speaking staff assures a safe, wholesome experience.

In a region still recovering from a catastrophic 2015 earthquake, our programs also give participants a tangible, touchable sense of accomplishment, with volunteers knowing structures they built with their own hands will serve impoverished communities for generations to come. At a typical build volunteers do one or more of the following, all requiring teamwork, coordination, and perseverance:

• digging the foundation

• filling the foundation

• mixing soil

• passing buckets filled with soil

• stuffing Earthbags

• sewing Earthbags

• painting and plastering

• helping install windows and doors

• doing various other vital tasks

We offer flexible housing arrangements, including homestays, camping and group-stays. Dining options range from eating over an open campfire to catered meals served cafeteria style; all foods are freshly prepared by skilled cooks. At the end of the workday volunteers have plenty of time to explore their surroundings, relax with villagers and otherwise make the most of a unique experience. 

our service programs

Private and International Schools - We’ve hosted hundreds of private and International School students, from all over the world. Junior and senior high students share time with village families, allowing them to develop a first-hand appreciation of other cultures and wrestle with issues of poverty and inequality. Discussions address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the role of sustainable building in creating a cleaner, more livable planet.

Colleges and Universities - We teach basic concepts of sustainable building to students and professors, and through village living provide invaluable exposure to another culture and way of life. Build a much-needed public toilet or storage facility, ready for immediate use, or most of a small house.

Engineering and Architecture Schools, and Building Professionals - We work regularly with engineering and architecture faculty and students, and building professionals. First in the classroom and then in the field learn the basics of a new, sustainable building skill in just a few days. Build fully usable structures. Some volunteers come back for more, and go on to build their own Earthbag structures.

Our Past Service Trips