Habitat for Humanity Project
The Grand Valley Construction Association and Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region (HFHWR) are partnering on a new pilot project to expand the unique learning opportunities volunteers experience on build days. On March 24, volunteer build leads from HFHWR spent the day at our Cambridge headquarters designing and testing the plans and process for storage containers for the Region of Waterloo’s new garbage, compost, and recycling containers.
The project is designed to provide more opportunities for team building and skill development for local businesses and their teams. When most people think of Habitat for Humanity, they likely think of its unique model of affordable homeownership. Since 1988, the local chapter of the international movement has brought homeowners, partners, and community members together to build housing together across our community.
But there is more to Habitat for Humanity than just housing.
Over the years, thousands of volunteers from local businesses and organizations have given their time and sweat on build days at these projects. At the end of each build day, these volunteers leave with two things: knowing that they’ve made an impact for a family and a new skill they can use at home.
The skill building is something that Maggie Raposo, director of community outreach at Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, has seen time and time again—including in her own family.
“My wife took a selfie and sent it to me the first day she learned how to use a drill as an adult,” Raposo recalled. “It is such an accomplishment. You feel empowered when you're learning to do something that you've never done before.”
While most GVCA members know their way around power saws and impact drivers, the average volunteer on a Habitat build site might be picking up a tool for the first time. The beauty of the Habitat process is its focus on training, safety, and communication.
“Most people will never go and take a construction class,” she added. “But with Habitat, you can cut angles into a 2x4, bring them together and build a frame, and do something that you've never done.”
The challenge for build days is that not every day involves framing, window installation, or other skilled tasks. That’s the point. Building housing involves shovelling dirt, cleaning up a site, and sometimes pumping water out of a site after a downpour. Not every build day involves skill building, which is what the pilot project is designed to address.
“There's a lot of value in this type of project. We are taking people who want to help our mission and giving them a view into who we are and what we do,” Raposo said. “We're able to tell our story and help them to develop a new skill and build stronger relationships with others from their company or organization.”
The pilot project included a design review, a first build, and the creation of jigs for the storage container’s sides, lid, and cover. In addition to the storage containers, the day was an opportunity for the build leads and HFHWR team to design what a build day would look like and how to ensure participants would benefit both in skill and purpose.
“When you’re working with a coworker side by side trying to build the lid for this, you end up leaving with a different relationship. That’s the value of Habitat,” she said. “Now we’re creating a product that can build that kind of relationship, teach a skill, and generate revenue to help support our mission. It's just layers of positives for Habitat and the community.”