Engaged Beyond Business

Houses for

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Building homes for families in need

This program enables Hilti employees to help families in precarious housing situations with no possibility of improving their living conditions. It also offers the opportunity lo strengthen soft skills and expand the area of expertise.

The project

“Houses for Bosnia-Herzegovina” includes a five-day on-site work assignment in which volunteers help a local NGO build houses for families in need. Not only do participants get lo know each other outside the workplace and bring their newly acquired skills back home, but they also change a family's live forever.

The work is carried out under the direction of the NGO “House of Good Tones” and includes simple manual tasks such as cutting boards, insulating walls or laying floors. Because all tasks are performed under the guidance of professional workers, neither prior knowledge nor special training are required. There are no costs for team members. The volunteer work is compensated as working time. 

What is the reason for engagement?

Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the Balkan coun­ tries still suffering badly from the late effects of the Yugoslav wars at the beginning of the 1990s A reappraisal of the war, the atrocities committed and the social consequences are the exception. The country is also suffering economically. Many regions lack jobs and affordable housing. As a re­ sult, entire farnilies are forced to choose between a precarious living situation and - if at all possible - migration. As is so often the case with humanitar­ ian disasters, families in rural areas are the most affected.

The program therefore addresses precisely this point, helping needy families who live primarily from agriculture to build sustainable livelihoods.

Who is our collaboration partner?

The project takes place in collaboration with the “House of Good Tones.” The organization has already built several hundred houses equipped with everything a family needs to live - including a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and two bedrooms. While the House of Good Tones selects the beneficiary families, organizes the construction materials, and provides professional workers, Hilti is helping on-site with technical and labor resourc­ es. The houses are paid for by Hilti Foundation.

What is the selection process?

The beneficiaries are primarily families with chil­dren who live to a large extent from agriculture and whose current housing situations are unbearable. As a further prerequisite, the beneficiary families must be able to provide a plot of land, have the concrete foundation poured in advance, and pro­vide lunch as well as drinks for Hilti volunteers and other workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No prior building knowledge is required. The volunteers are accompanied by professionals. The program presents different tasks and levels of difficulty.

    The program is open to all Hilti team members to take part in. They will be grouped into teams of 6-8, and aim to build a house together within one week!

    By taking part in this program, you will help families in need, strengthen your soft skills and teamwork capabilities, and broaden your areas of competence.

  • The program lasts for 7 days in Southeastern Europe, including two traveling and five working days.

    The main field of activity will be construction work, and the support of workers on site - learning by doing under guidance.

    All expenses, fees or costs are covered by the Hilti Foundation. Accommodation is provided & the volunteering time is remunerated as working time.

  • Travelling to and from Bosnia-Herzegovina takes place as a group on week-ends and is organized in cooperation with the Hilti Foundation. Travelling will be by plane. Participants will be informed in good time about details of arrival and departure, accommodation, and meals.

  • Accommodation is provided. Participants are usually given a single room, but this cannot always be guaranteed. In some situations, shared rooms are therefore provided. Rooms are simple and clean: a bed, a desk, and a bathroom. Please note that the work assignments take place in disaster-struck and economically weak regions. The local infrastructure may therefore differ from Central-European standards.

  • Food and drinks are provided. A total of three meals per day as well as snacks for in between are included. While breakfast and dinner are taken at the accommodation or at a local restaurant, the beneficiary family usually takes care of lunch at the construction site. Meals are eaten as a group. The local cuisine is meat-heavy, often combined with regional vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, onions, garlic and peppers. Legumes containing protein are also popular. Vegetarian options are available to some degree, but must be requested in advance. Vegan cuisine cannot be served. Participants are encouraged to inform the organizers of any intolerances or allergies in advance.

  • Follow this link to register and familiarize yourself with the details.

Tips and tricks around the choice of clothes and luggage

To be prepared for all eventualities, clothes for different weather conditions should be brought along. Keep in mind that on construction sites, sometimes irremovable stains cannot be avoided. In addition to long and short pants, warm sweaters, a weatherproof jacket, warm socks and sturdy are mandatory.

Participants will be provided with T-shirts prior to the start of construction activities, as well as pro­tective clothing such as helmets and gloves. For the evening activities, one comfortable piece of clothing should not be missing either, as well as a pair of casual shoes. Bosnia-Herzegovi­na uses sockets according to the European Union standard. Therefore, participants from non-EU countries may need adapters.

Do you have any questions?

You can reach us by e-mail: foundation-ebb.hiltiteam@hilti .com