Doxa House Building
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Since 1990, Doxa has helped build over 2000 houses in Tijuana. Families all over Tijuana are in need of housing and Doxa connects them with a volunteer group from the United States that will help in building their house. Doxa handles the materials and logistics so volunteers can hit the ground running and construct a home in just a few days.
Who do we build houses for?
Families in Tijuana apply for a home through Doxa. They provide documents, prove land ownership, complete an interview, and give back 250 hours of community service (usually to a partner orphanage). Once approved, they’re added to the waiting list. From there, they wait to be scheduled for a build. This process ensures the homes go to families who truly need them and will care for them well.
Can I really build a house?
Yes, you totally can! Overall, the house building experience has something for every skillset. The work is just hard enough and pushes people just long enough that teamwork organically occurs – planning, logistics, digging, cement mixing, framing, painting, roofing, window/door installation, cooking, driving the dirt roads, communicating in Spanish, and forming cross-cultural relationships. All skill sets have their time to shine.
The majority of the 800-1000 people that come to build houses each year with Doxa are high school students. Doxa’s house building trips have been a platform to help young people make meaningful and lasting contributions in today’s world, demonstrating that anyone, regardless of age or background, can make a difference.
These trips don’t just build homes; they build confidence, perspective, and connection. Doxa gives young people and adults alike the chance to step into something bigger than themselves and walk away knowing they made a lasting impact.
How do Doxa partnerships work?
Doxa’s engagement with volunteer groups starts months before their arrival in Tijuana. Communications are centered around trip scheduling, details, logistics, arrival and exit plans, trip budget, and answering any questions. Doxa helps each group craft a unique trip from start to finish.
The construction materials for each house are purchased by Doxa and sent in advance to Tijuana. Materials are stored in a secure location close to each worksite and it is the group’s responsibility to get the materials to the worksite each day. Materials are produced in a “kit-like” format with an easy construction manual. This results in a construction process that is simple, straight-forward, and can be achieved with quality results by volunteers.
The execution of the trip is largely up to the group themselves. Most groups utilize the experience of building houses in Tijuana as a tool or platform, such as for the development of volunteer teams or youth ministry. The common denominator among all groups is that the house is not the only thing that gets built during their experience.
How do we get started?
That’s the easiest part! Just fill out THIS FORM.
Or, if you’d rather have a conversation on the phone first, you can call our Executive Director Alex directly at 760-777-2690.