Involving young people in our work is important.  As our volunteers age, Habitat affiliates across the country have become more aware of the importance of introducing and involving young people in our work.  After all, young people are our volunteers of the future.

To encourage this participation, Fort Collins Habitat has established a Youth Build Program.  This program encourages volunteering from young people of all ages, even those who are not old enough to work at the construction site or volunteer in the Habitat ReStore.

Habitat’s insurance carrier requires that young people must be 16 to work at the construction site, and must be 18 to use power tools at the site.  It also requires that young people must be 16 to volunteer at the Habitat ReStore. 

The Youth Build program encourages young people to learn about and become involved in Habitat’s work.  Youth come from everywhere!

• Local middle school and high schools
• Church youth groups
• Youth Service Organizations (ie. Boys and Girls Scouts and local youth clubs)
• Construction programs at local high schools and junior colleges. Habitat is currently partnering with students in the Geometry in Construction classes at Thompson School district to build a Habitat home. Soon this course will also be offered in the Poudre School District.
• Front Range Community College
• Colorado State University - CSU also has its own CSU Habitat Student Chapter
• Other local universities with a presence in our community: Regis, Colorado Christian University, University of Phoenix, IBMC (Institute of Business and Medical Careers) and others

Still in its infancy, Fort Collins Habitat, in conjunction with the Women Build Program, will soon begin a Girl’s Build Program for young girls.  These girls are too young to volunteer with Habitat but are given the opportunity to learn life skills, budgeting and financial literacy and can often support Habitat through small fundraising activities or special events. The goal of this program is to teach young girls how to work together to give back to their community.

For more information about the Youth Build Program, call Candace Mayo, Executive Director at (970) 488-2602 or e-mail her at cmayo@fortcollinshabitat.org.