Habitat for Humanity

Young Builder’s Club

The Young Builder’s Club is an initiative unique to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County. The Young Builder’s Club engages at-risk youth of our service area with a hands-on approach to learning construction skills. YBC members learn how to properly use the hand and power tools found on a Habitat for Humanity build site. Young Builders classes run for two hours per meeting and meet twice a week for ten weeks.

The first YBC began meeting in February of 2008 and has ended its spring term. During those 10 weeks the participants received a basic knowledge of drafting and blueprint reading as they designed their own projects. Students then learned through hands-on experience how to safely operate the circular saw, table saw, reciprocating saw and jig saw. They were also instructed on the proper use of nail guns, both finish and framing.

After the safety classes were complete the students were allowed to use their new skills to construct items for the community. Projects included building adult and youth picnic tables and a pair of Adirondack chairs for sale to benefit Youth United. Another project of the YBC is Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County’s Mobile Command Unit (MCU) — a shed built on a trailer to be a mobile community information and recruitment center.

Youth United is an affiliate-driven program, developed and supported by Youth United consultants at HFHI, in which community youth come together to completely fund and build a Habitat home. Youth ages 5 to 25 serve as the leaders, planners, fund raisers and public relations specialists while youth ages 16 to 25 build the house on-site.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Ingham County’s Youth United program has been meeting and fundraising since February of 2008. Our Youth United program has already applied for grants and conducted fundraisers. Exciting plans are developing for the new school year!

Our members have appointed a steering committee made up of juniors, seniors and College students filling the offices of Chairman, Cochairman, Treasurer and Secretary. Each member of the steering committee is also the head of a sub-committee overseeing fund raising, recruitment, community relations and advertising.