Habitat for Humanity Victoria is eager to work with schools, scout troops, and churches to involve children and teens in meaningful and productive Habitat activities. Through Habitat for Humanity Victoria, youth have the opportunity to put faith into action, experience working in partnership with a diverse group of people, and experience the chance to make a positive difference in the life of a family and in their community.

Habitat activities can easily be tied to school projects, scout achievements and badges, or church youth mission projects. Youth of all ages can grow plants for Habitat houses. The youth can organize a "Hammers for Habitat" project where youth collect used hand tools, power tools, and garden tools for Habitat. The youth group can sponsor and raise funds for a specific house component, like a door, sink, or even a roof.

Be sure to contact the Habitat office by phone at 361-573-2511 or by email before you begin your project to coordinate and discuss your youth group plans.

Youth United
Habitat for Humanity Victoria built the first ever Youth United house in the Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma area in 2006. Youth, ages 5 – 25, came together from across Victoria county to fund and build the house.

Links of Interest

Americorps

Habitat for Humanity International

Youth Service America

HFHI YOUTH United

Youth United

HFHV is currently putting together a steering committee for YOUTH United 2007. YOUTH United (YU) is a movement within Habitat For Humanity that is designed to engage young people, ages 5-25, in Habitat’s work by empowering them to completely sponsor and build a Habitat House. The youth will do the planning, fundraising, promotion and actual building of the house.

The four main goals of the YU programs are:

• Provide leadership roles for young people within Habitat For Humanity
• Involve diverse youth from different organizations, faiths, age groups and backgrounds working together in meaningful volunteer roles
• Actively involving Habitat For Humanity homeowner children as volunteer partners
• Engaging youth people in Habitat For Humanity’s mission and in their local communities

In the Victoria community the goal is to tap into this energetic resource and develop the next generation of civil leadership and encourage their already giving hearts. Along with increasing community spirit, the youth learn skills such as fundraising and public relations that will benefit them well beyond their high school experience. The spirit of volunteerism is planted firmly and nurtured in an organized, meaningful manner.

Interested youth and youth group leaders are asked to call Yoly at 361-573-2511 or email her at leslie@victoriahabitat.org to confirm their attendance. From the initial meeting attendees, a YU Steering Committee will be formed.

From the early stages, this core group of young people will plan and carry out the project. Along the way they will learn key planning and development skills that will serve them through college and beyond.

In addition to planning the entire project, the steering committee will raise the $30,000 necessary to build the home. They will recruit the volunteers for the build schedule.

To ensure work site safety and to guide the work, Dennis Lockstedt and Bill Spellacy, regular HFHV House Leaders, are serving from a distance and advising all aspects of the build.

More Youth Involvement Ideas

Looking for more ideas for youth activities? Check out these ideas:

Ages 5-7
Hold a food collection drive to fill the pantry for a new homeowner family.
Draw greeting cards to sell as a Habitat fundraiser.
Participate in the house dedication ceremony by performing a song or skit.

Ages 7-10
Help adults with setting up meals for work site volunteers.
Designate Sunday School collections or money raised from collecting refundable cans and bottles for buying a specific house component.
Coordinate a birthday gift project for homeowner children.

Ages 10-12
Construct and paint window boxes as housewarming gifts or as fundraising items.
Design t-shirts to be used or sold at a Habitat event.
Hold a bake sale at church as a fundraising event.
Send each volunteer a thank-you note or send one note to the group leader for the whole group.
Apply labels, stuff envelopes, help church Habitat volunteers with organizing mailings.

Ages 12-14
Build birdhouses as housewarming gifts or fundraising items.
Plan part of the house dedication ceremony and help take part in it.
Hold a services auction at church benefiting Habitat for Humanity Victoria. Auction off babysitting or lawn cutting services as a fundraiser.
(Youth ages 12-15 can landscape Habitat houses, do job site clean-up and paint.)

Ages 15-18
Provide babysitting for children of homeowners and volunteers.
Clean house before new homeowners move in.
Volunteer with a youth work team at the work site.
Organize and serve meals to volunteer workers.
Plan and help implement a celebration to recognize all of the volunteers who have worked on the house.
(Youth 16-17 can do general construction activities with adult supervision using hand tools.)
(Youth 18 and over can use power tools with proper safety training.)