Bach helps build skills

It is not just a bach being built but a knowledge and skill base for the students involved, says Warwick Foy about the Build A Bach project currently underway on Swansea Road.

The project, which is a joint venture between Taranaki Futures and Western Institute of Technology (WITT), began earlier this year and Warwick, manager of education innovation at Taranaki Futures, says the students build a bach completely from start to finish.

Some of the students, who come from Stratford High School, Hawera High School and Patea Area School, had never set foot on a building site before, so it has been a steep learning curve for them says Warwick.

At the beginning of the project some of the students didn't know how to hold a hammer let alone use one, now they have confidence with what they are doing and can complete the tasks with ease.

Tutor Gavin Moss.

Warwick says the students are very invested in the project and are taking pride in their work.

"At their age it's hard to imagine what the completed project was going to look like, but as the structure of house comes together the students are becoming more enthusiastic about the work they are doing."

Carina Crawford, from WITT, says the students have been gaining experience in not only building skills but about how to work together in an team environment and about staying motivated. "This experience will help the group gain employment and working in an adult environment."

On Wednesday afternoon, the bach was having fall through protection attached to the building frame by project partner Fall Protection Taranaki. Fall through protection is a netting made of knitted polyethylene fabric which minimises the risk of workers falling from above the wall height to the floor below. Owner operators Robyn and Rudi Weideman say they were impressed by the students on arrival at the job site.

"They were all very pro-active and offering to help."

Project manager, Pete Goodwin, says without the help of all the project partners involved, Build A Bach wouldn't be such a successful programme. "There has been a huge amount of buy in to this project by the community and local business and we couldn't continue without their support."

The Build A Bach, located at Stratford High School, will be completed by the end of November in line with the school term. It will be auctioned off and moved with the money made from it going towards future projects.

For more information about the Build A Bach project or to follow the progress see: www.facebook.com/taranakiskillssquad?ref=hl