JACKSON, Wyo. — Another bridge has been built between Jackson and its Sister City Tlaxcala, Mexico, thanks to a housing initiative hosted by Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area (Teton Habitat).

Global Village is a Habitat for Humanity initiative that connects volunteers with on-the-ground housing development projects across the globe. A group of 15 Jackson volunteers returned on May 2 from a six-day Global Village experience of pouring concrete floors in homes that had dirt floors in Tlaxcala. According to Teton Habitat Trip Leader Augusta Friendsmith, the group worked with local masons, who mixed the concrete. The volunteers performed a lot of “grunt work” like hauling buckets and rocks. This project is part of the larger Habitat initiative called “100,000 Floors to Play On,” a commitment to pour concrete floors in homes across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“When you get to work with a family who has children, even these small things that, to us, don’t seem like a big deal — pouring a floor — but to these families, it’s everything,” Friendsmith said to Buckrail. “It just means that these kids will probably have a much higher chance of a happier, healthier life as a result.”

This was Friendsmith’s 10th build trip with Teton Habitat, and her fifth time as a trip leader. When she reached out to Habitat Mexico to start planning for this trip, it was a coincidence that the only build site available was in Tlaxcala. In order to strengthen the relationship between the sister cities and the Habitat affiliates, Teton Habitat has committed to a five-year partnership with Habitat Mexico. This partnership includes annual builds in Tlaxcala, and Teton Habitat will share 10% of its donations received with the Mexican affiliate.

Photo: Teton Habitat
Photo: Teton Habitat

“For us, it was like, ‘What if the stars are aligning?'” Friendsmith said. “Let’s make this partnership happen. … This is just another really cool way where we get to connect our towns and our cultures and build more bridges.”

A press release from Teton Habitat stated that volunteers on the build trip also participated in a river cleanup effort and toured a local water treatment facility that supports new housing developments.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.