World Changers

Started in 1990, World Changers has seen more than 115,000 participants repair 7,500 homes in 375 communities in the United States and around the world. During a World Changers project, youth volunteers form construction crews and work together to complete home repairs. The youth are supervised by adults experienced in home renovation projects. Twelve to fifteen volunteers are assigned to each site with a responsibility to complete the work in one week.

• Program Announcement >>
• Download an Interest Form/Application >>
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• Repairs involve painting, porches, roofing, siding, windows, and handicap ramps

• Project Location – South Norfolk precinct area

• Homes repaired:

  • 2004 – 21 homes
  • 2005 – 22 homes
  • 2006 – 21 homes
  • 2007 – 17 homes
  • 2008 – 26 homes
  • 2009 – 28 homes
  • 2010 – 15 homes 
  • 2011 – 17 homes

• Volunteers – 350+ annually

• Volunteer hours

  • 25,2000 volunteer hours contributed

  • Estimated monetary value of $440,000

What is World Changers?

World Changers is a ministry of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Its focus is to provide missions education and involvement for youth of junior high and high school age.

The strategy World Changers uses is home rehabilitation. The World Changers organization creates partnerships with local governments and other agencies to assist those in need of certain types of home repairs. Youth from around the country, along with adult leaders, come to Chesapeake for a week, working on homes in crews of ten to fifteen people. Related adult projects may be shorter, from one to three days.

How do I qualify to have my home worked on?

In Chesapeake, the following qualifications have been determined:

• You must own your home and live in it.

• Your household income must be less than 80% of the area median income
  ($55,900 for a household of four.)

• Property taxes must be up-to-date.

• Duplexes will be considered if the owner lives in one side. No other multi-unit dwellings will be considered.

What types of repairs will World Changers do?

There are no hard and fast rules. For the most part, roof replacement (limited height), handicapped ramps, porch repairs, floor and wall repairs, painting (interior and exterior), some window replacements, and other carpentry work are what they do best.

World Changers usually exclude plumbing or electrical work from consideration.

Once an applicant has been prescreened for eligibility, the home is evaluated on an individual basis by World Changers for suitability. Accordingly, the homeowner may be referred to other appropriate agencies for additional assistance.