Our Projects
Communities Lead. We Partner. Together we build.
Our Projects
Every Project Begins with a Community's Vision
From schools and health clinics to housing, water systems, and sanitation infrastructure, every project starts with a request from a community seeking support. Working alongside local partners, we help scope needs, connect volunteer expertise, and mobilize resources to turn ideas into lasting impact.
Some projects require design services, others need technical guidance, fundraising support, or volunteer labor. Whatever the need, our role is the same: to partner with communities, support local leadership, and help bring community-driven solutions to life.
2026 2 projects
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Madagascar 2026
Eagle Wings Montessori Water Infrastructure
A solar pump and running water for a school that had been built without either, ending three years of fetching water from a well by hand.
50 students and 11 staff
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Kenya 2026
RegisTree Composting Facility
A permanent, climate-resilient black soldier fly composting facility and a pilot composting toilet for a female-led social enterprise turning food waste into local jobs, compost and safe sanitation.
with RegisTree
2024 2 projects
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In progress
United States 2024–2025
Community & Resiliency Center
Schematic design and feasibility studies for a community center that doubles as a resiliency and recovery center for the greater community after a disaster, alongside EPA grant writing.
1,098 tribal peoples, within a greater community of 9,380
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Tanzania 2024
Eternal Family Build
A new home for one set of adoptive parents and the ten children in their care, plus a feasibility study for solar power at the village.
140 children across 11 families, and 12 more children in the new twelfth home
2023 1 project
2021 1 project
2020 1 project
2019 1 project
2018 2 projects
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Ghana 2018
Sabre Trust Ghana Exchange
Two outdoor play and learning spaces, with playground equipment and shade structures, at the Eikwe and Ngalekpole kindergartens.
160 kindergarten children a year
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Thailand 2018
Felix Family Bakery Build
A bakery to give the village an income of its own, and a basketball court for the children living there.
120 residents at full village capacity
2016 2 projects
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Romania 2016
Caminul Felix Village Build
The build that made Building Humanity what it is today: a duplex roof replaced, a home’s foundation laid, and trusses raised for a homework and art building.
200 children across 20 families
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India 2016
Pollinate Energy Young Professionals Program
Young professionals worked with community change agents in Hyderabad’s settlements to understand local needs, then applied that learning to Pollinate Energy’s strategic projects.
around 200+ families
What comes next
Projects on the Horizon
Communities around the world continue to reach out with ideas for creating meaningful change. The projects below represent future opportunities to partner, support local leadership, and help turn community visions into reality.
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Mulanje District, Malawi
Preschool
Building Humanity is prepared to partner with Mulanje Women and Youth Developments to support the construction of a new preschool facility in the Mulanje District. The organization serves young children and families who currently lack access to safe, structured early-learning environments. The community has requested a small classroom, 11m by 5m, designed to accommodate 20 or more children, with a kitchen, toilet, teacher's office and storeroom.
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
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Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Stone Point Learning Center
Stone Point Learning Center serves at-risk youth from the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar, providing after-school programming, academic support, and a safe place to learn and grow. For many students, it is the most stable environment available to them.
The center currently operates from an aging, poorly insulated facility that struggles to withstand Mongolia's harsh winters. The community has requested support to repair and strengthen the existing building, improve energy efficiency, and expand the facility so that more children can participate in its programs.
- Families & Children
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
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Boa Vista, Brazil
Maloka and Education Center
In 2024, the community's Maloka, the central gathering space for ceremonies, meetings, and cultural life, was destroyed by a fire caused by winds carrying sparks from a controlled burn area.
Community leaders have requested support to rebuild the Maloka and develop a future Women's and Children's Education Center dedicated to language preservation, traditional crafts, music, and cultural education. This project is being explored in partnership with Guardians of the Jungle and the leaders of Txana Ikakuru and Betanu Huni Kuin Village.
- Shelter & Housing
- Families & Children
- Girls & Women
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
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Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya
Táhirih Preschool
Operated by the Mutwanga Women Initiative, Táhirih Preschool currently serves more than 200 children across four classrooms staffed by eight teachers.
Frequent flooding damages existing facilities, disrupts learning, and limits enrollment. As demand continues to grow, the organization has requested additional classrooms that will provide a safer and more reliable learning environment while allowing more children access to early childhood education.
- Girls & Women
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
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Watamu, Kilifi County, Kenya
Honey Processing Center
Working alongside Community Based Environmental Conservation, this project seeks to create a honey processing facility that strengthens conservation efforts while generating sustainable income for local communities.
The proposed center would receive, process, package, and market mangrove honey produced by community organizations. Plans include processing and storage areas, quality control facilities, training space, and a small retail shop, creating both economic opportunities and incentives for environmental stewardship.
- Nutrition & Healthcare
- Families & Children
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
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Southern Kunene, Namibia
Research Center and Living Laboratory
In partnership with Elephant-Human Relations Aid, this project would create a center dedicated to education, conservation, and sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife.
The facility would serve as a hub for training, research, community engagement, and knowledge sharing, bringing together local expertise, conservation practices, and sustainable design to support long-term human-elephant coexistence.
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
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Lamu, Kenya
Recycled Plastic School Furniture
In partnership with The Flipflopi Project, this initiative would develop flat-pack desks and chairs manufactured from recycled plastic collected along Lamu's coastline, mangrove forests, and surrounding waters.
The project combines environmental protection, skills training, and educational infrastructure. Local youth would learn to manufacture and assemble the furniture, while schools throughout the region would receive durable classroom furnishings made from recovered waste materials.
- Education
- Economic Growth & Stability
Partners Who Have Asked Us Back
One of the strongest measures of success is when communities invite us to return. These partners have identified new opportunities to expand their impact and continue building for the future.
- Caminul Felix Village
- Development of additional family homes to support young adults transitioning from village life into independent living. The homes are made available through an affordable microloan model.
- Felix Family Village
- Creation of a coffee shop adjacent to the existing bakery, providing additional employment opportunities and generating sustainable income for the community.
- Stepping Stones for Africa
- Expansion of ongoing initiatives across Ghana, including the potential implementation of composting toilet projects to improve sanitation and environmental sustainability.
- Sacred Valley Project
- Construction of a third story at the Calca dormitory to create additional study and residential space, along with a retaining wall, volleyball court, and completion of the community bakery and store operated by program participants.
- Eternal Family Village
- Development of ten additional family homes over the coming years to support continued community growth and long-term housing needs.
More People, More Impact
Since 2008, our work has followed a simple principle: listen first, build together, and support solutions that communities can sustain long into the future.
Every project begins with a request from a community or local partner. We work together to identify priorities, opportunities, and practical solutions.
We collaborate with local tradespeople, use locally available materials whenever possible, and focus on projects that can be maintained and supported by the community for years to come.
Volunteers and local residents work side by side throughout the project, building partnerships and friendships that often continue long after construction is complete.
Where It All Began
A Dig in Romania and a Promise to Return
Building Humanity began in 2008 on an archaeological excavation in Porolissum-Moigrad, Romania, where founder Erin Colshan was completing an internship. Each summer, the arrival of international students brought resources, energy, and support to the local community. Yet when the season ended, so did much of that support.
During her time there, Alexandru Matei, the local museum director and lead archaeologist, challenged Erin to find a way to create lasting impact beyond the summer field season. Inspired by that challenge, Erin returned home and, together with her mother, Stephanie Colshan, founded Building Humanity in 2009.
The organization's earliest projects focused on the community of Moigrad, supported by donations from former students and volunteers who had developed a connection to the area. As word spread, requests for assistance began arriving from other communities across Transylvania. A partnership with Caminul Felix in Oradea introduced opportunities to support larger construction projects and community development initiatives.
What began as a commitment to one community has grown into a global network of partnerships. While the scale of the work has expanded, the idea remains the same: communities identify their needs, local partners guide the process, and Building Humanity helps connect the people, expertise, and resources needed to bring those visions to life.
In Their Own Words
From community leaders to first-time volunteers, these are the voices behind the projects, partnerships, and lasting impact of Building Humanity.
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Community partner
Water is a blessing in life. We are a small school based in Antananarivo, Madagascar, we finished building the school in 2023, we did not have any running water since then. Then, a friend introduced us to Erin Colshan, and via her, we got a fundraising from Building humanity.
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It is now part of our school history, as we got funded and now have water at school. It used to be a dream, and now it’s realized. Fifty children and 7 teachers, two librarians and two logisticians will benefit from the running water at our school.
The guard/gardener, he does not have to fetch water for everyone at school any longer. He used to fetch water from the well many times in one day, now, there is tap water right next to the school wall fence.
The running water started on Friday 14th of August, 2026, and our school staff and children will be back in September. They will be happy to see and use the running water, and we believe it will have a great impact on everyone’s motivation.
This solar pump funding is making a big difference in our school. We are grateful for Building Humanity. We believe all their projects share happiness to others and are making a big difference.
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Volunteer
My first trip with this wonderful organisation was in 2016, to Caminul Felix in Romania with a number of colleagues from across the world. As the orphanage is constantly growing and developing, we worked on a number of projects and I gained so much experience of problem solving and physically building something. The best part of the trip was the opportunity to really connect with both the families and the wider community in which they live, visiting the local town as well as a Romany gypsy camp and state orphanage. We spent our evenings with the families in the village, learning about the community, getting to know the children and playing games in the evening sun. I have continued my involvement with the orphanage by arranging donations of clothing and toys to be sent over as Christmas gifts in 2016 and 2017 and hope to continue this in 2018.
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At the end of the trip, emotions were running high and so when the trip to Thailand came up in 2018, I didn’t hesitate to book myself a place! Another wonderful experience, this time we worked on a larger project, leaving behind a wonderful legacy and setting up the Felix Family village with a means to create income and support themselves in the future.
My time away with Building Humanity has made me a lot more appreciative of the things most people take for granted, and shaped the way I deal with problems in my everyday life and I can’t wait for the next opportunity.
For anyone interesting in taking part in a similar trip, I would say go for it. The feeling you get from this type of hands on work, seeing the impact you are making and how much joy you can bring to communities like this, along with the team spirit and enthusiasm whilst working together towards such an amazing end goal is truly an incredible experience.
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Volunteer
I really don’t know where to begin with explaining how amazing the Thailand Orphanage Build experience was. The enthusiasm and sense of team from the group of volunteers from the very beginning was so evident. Despite the very hot temperatures and humidity that most of us were not used to at all, every single member of the group would always put their best foot forward and keep up the morale in the group. Whether we were singing along to radio whilst brick-laying, or playing basketball with the children of the Orphanage after a long day of manual labour, spirits were kept high throughout the build. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and to work as a team.
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Having never been to Asia before, or really taken part in any manual labour at all, the whole experience was a very foreign one for me, which made it even more exciting. I was away from my comfort zone and desk-job in the UK, so was unsure of what to expect from this experience. The country of Thailand was one that I would go back to in a heartbeat, the Thai people were so kind and welcoming, and the scenery was stunning. Despite the excitement of travelling to a new country, the highlight of the experience for me was the Orphanage Build itself. It was so interesting to learn new skills – from bricklaying to basketball court-painting – and the appreciation from those who lived and ran the Orphanage was incredibly rewarding.
From beginning to end we could see that we were really able to make a difference on this trip. I could not recommend Building Humanity more highly, and would encourage anyone who is interested in taking part in any of the upcoming projects to pack a pair of work boots and catch that flight - you will not regret it!
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Volunteer
Going into this trip, I knew this would be a tremendous opportunity to get hands-on experience. What I did not anticipate was the comradery and friendships I would develop...with individuals involved in the day-to-day operations of the Felix Family Center.
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Although meeting such talented and passionate designers and engineers from all over the world was an experience in itself, meeting the children and families that would use the bakery we were building made the project even more profound.
My time at the Felix Family Center was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life—it makes one humble, thankful and appreciative of all the things most people take for granted.
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Volunteer
I was able to gain as much as I was able to give. These children have already faced so many challenges in their short lives, so being able to just give them something to allow them to be children and have fun was important to me. . It was truly amazing to see the children come home from school and run to play on the new basketball court that we built for them.
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It was also very rewarding to me to see my “on the fly” problem solving skills and knowledge of construction contributing to the success of the project. To see our hard work having a positive and immediate impact on these young children gave me a sense of fulfillment that is amazing...These children are the future of Thailand, and I hope that doing this for them now will be paid forward by them to future generations.
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Volunteer
My experience working at the Felix Family Center was much more than I expected. Not only did I build masonry walls, but I built relationships with the children and parents there.
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The biggest impact the experience had for me was seeing the joy we brought to the children and parents. It touched my heart that such a small project could bring so much joy to so many people. I definitely plan on doing another project with Building for Humanity.
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Volunteer
I’m glad to be a part of this experience and thankful of the teams from USA, England and other countries to fly all the way to Thailand and help on building the bakery house and basketball court to benefit kids of Felix Family Foundation Thailand.