NEWS RELEASE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY
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Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay is partnering with Tracks Youth Employment Services, Career Solutions and local Youth Centres to give youth the opportunity to gain work experience in the trades through the Hands on Experience of working on a Habitat Build Site.
Habitat’s Youth Challenge is designed to provide local youth with the opportunity to gain knowledge of trade industries on an active build site. “We’re inviting youth to learn on the site and gain hands-on experience by participating in the construction of Habitat homes., explained Joy Fleury, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay. “That experience will help them explore potential career options and the skills they need for employment.”
There are several ways to get involved – from volunteering on site, participating in a co-op through their secondary school, or working towards community service hours. Participants could even be paid through Tracks Employment Services through their Youth Job Connection program where participants would complete their initial training off site and then work on site, learning new job skills and being paid for their time through Tracks Youth Job Connection program.
“Youth often find it difficult when employers want experience, which is hard to get without being given the chance to work and gain that experience,” said Iona Tough, Chairperson, Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay. “This program will help give youth that experience in a construction environment so they can be introduced to a variety of new skills that they can take to a new employer.”
Through the program, youth 18 to 26 (16 – 18 years of age with parental consent) can learn such things as flooring installation, framing, finish carpentry, measurement and planning, painting and safe tool use. As well, they will gain experience working as part of a team and managing their time.
Youth build participants will also be an invaluable part of Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build homes, communities and hope. Participants in the program may come from a wide variety of backgrounds and skills, but will join forces to share their time, talent and resources to build Habitat homes while gaining valuable resources for their own future.
“Our volunteers and build manager are very keen to assist youth to help develop the needed skills. It’s just one more way that we can offer a hand-up,” said Tough.
Upon completion, youth will take away a report which lists all the new skills they’ve been introduced to and actively participated in. Those new real life work experiences and skills will help increase their employment opportunities and earning potential.
If you are interested in exploring and developing home construction skills, this is an opportunity for you. For more information, please contact Habitat for Humanity 705-446-9542 or [email protected] or Tracks Employment 705-444-1580.
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