The town of Americus, Georgia, sees the opening on 7 June of a distinctly different theme park.

Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit-making organisation, builds low-cost housing for use in the world’s poorest countries. Its Global Village & Discovery Center will enable visitors to experience life in a leaky, insect and reptile infested shack, before seeing the transformation a family undergoes when moving to proper accommodation.

The 6-acre attraction will feature five guest areas, commencing with a Visitor Welcome Center.

Visitors can then experience the International Market Place, which features a theatre, galleries, retail outlet and Exploration Center; a "Living in Poverty" housing exhibit and an Experience area, where visitors can participate in brick and tile making. Other such interactive opportunities will be available from time to time.

There is also a Global Village, containing examples of Habitat homes. Initially this will include those found in 15 countries of Africa, Asia and Central America, but will eventually expand to 35 houses, encompassing those from Europe and South America

All will reflect building styles demonstrating environmentally and culturally appropriate housing and examples include a Haitian hurricane-resistant stone home, a Guatemalan house constructed of concrete and steel, a pressed-earth brick home in Kenya and a wooden home on stilts in Papua/New Guinea.

Elsewhere, park hosts will describe the lives and customs of families around the world and recreate scenes including tribal welcomes in Ghana and villager meetings in Fiji.

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 and is an ecumenical Christian ministry, with affiliates in 87 countries, dedicated to eliminating poverty housing.

The Global Village & Discovery Center is funded separately from the home-building arm of the organisation through designated gifts and contributions. Details: www.habitat.org