Students learn on the job with Habitat for Humanity

Sept. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- London Ontario students learn on the job with Habitat for Humanity

North American Trade Schools (NATS) students have been doing their part for the community in recent months, working on a pair of building projects for the London chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit agency that builds simple, solid houses for low-income families. Two new Habitat houses – one in the Egerton and Francis area and another that will eventually be finished on Burslem Street – feature handy work by NATS students in the Home Renovations Technology program.

“I think this is a win-win situation for both organizations,” says Habitat Build Manager Chuck Nyland. “It helps us out a great deal, but it’s also a great opportunity for the school because students are learning on a real project. It’s very important to understand the goings-on on-site, and the best way to teach somebody that is to take them on-site and let them do it for themselves. That’s exactly what the students are doing, which is fantastic.”

The Egerton Street project drew a lot of attention in London over the summer. While the site was being prepared, volunteers were building the house itself in the John Labatt Centre parking lot – a very public venue for Habitat. NATS students spent about a week helping with the footing and foundation work, and had the opportunity to observe further construction after the house was moved from the JLC and put back in place.

NATS students will take the opposite role on Burslem Street. While the foundation is being prepared for that house, NATS crews have been involved in some demolition, and will ultimately be responsible for virtually the entire build, from framing straight through to finishing work. Students have already developed and submitted a plan for the job, and worked on initial drawings.

All told, the project will take about three months, including on-site and classroom time – an important piece of the experience for students.

“We have to be sure we teach curriculum,” says NATS instructor Neil Suter, who will supervise some of the students. “It’s as important to learn why to do things as it is to learn how to do them, so we want to give students some theory to go with their on-site work.”
Habitat CEO Jeff Duncan says his organization’s growing relationship with NATS is exactly the kind of partnership he wants to build with other groups in the area.

“I always want any partnership to be mutually beneficial,” Duncan says. “There’s obviously a benefit here for us, but we also see a benefit for the school because the students are getting a real living experience. They’re seeing what it’s like to get into a pit and knock some wood down and do some other things that are a little more real than in the classroom setting. It’s also good for the school from a public relations point of view. They’re engaged in a community, which is an important thing corporately.”

NATS and its students are looking forward to finishing the Burslem Street job, and doing more work with Habitat For Humanity in the future.

Located at 847 Highbury Avenue, North American Trade Schools offers practical, hands-on training in programs including Home Renovation Technician, Electrical Technology, HVAC Technology, and Welding Technology. Programs run between 40 and 50 weeks, with frequent student intakes, allowing students flexible start times and schedules. NATS graduates enjoy exceptional employment and apprenticeship placement rates, backed by a recognized college diploma.

For more information on this story or on NATS, please contact:

Robert Middleton
London Campus Director
North American Trade Schools
519.963.0680
rmiddleton@natradeschools.ca

OR

Todd Foster
Director of Admissions / Marketing
North American Trade Schools
519.963.0680 x 106
tfoster@natradeschools.ca

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North American Trade Schools - a registered Private Career College with the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities Ontario.