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Habitat for Humanity Partners with Education Community on STEAM SkillsMiddle-school students will have a chance at on-the-job experience in home construction, while picking up critical 21st century skills, thanks to an innovative new program being piloted by Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley pioneered its original Playhouse Program in which playhouses are built by volunteers from local companies and organizations and then donated to military or low-income families or local non-profits. The program helps fund the construction of affordable housing throughout Habitat EBSV's mission area, which includes Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties. Now, the affiliate is taking the playhouse effort one step further, teaming up with middle schools to introduce the STEAM Playhouse Program. This project will let 6th, 7th and 8th graders build and decorate the playhouses, giving the students the opportunity to apply STEAM -- for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math -- skills. "Our playhouses are the perfect opportunity for kids to develop many of the skills that are so important in today's world," sid Margot Harrigan, Habitat EBSV's Corporate Development Officer. The first STEAM Playhouse build will take place on Thursday, June 2nd, at Bulldog Tech, a San Jose public middle school whose focus is on technology. "Habitat's STEAM Playhouse Program is a great fit with our mission," said Randy Hollenkamp, Site Director of Bulldog Tech. "We want our students to have real-life opportunities to develop their STEAM skills by creating something that uses ingenuity and grit." Ninety students, selected through a home-design contest held by the school, will build eight playhouses, with 10-12 students assigned to each playhouse. The Bulldog Tech project is sponsored by San Jose-based Synaptics (News - Alert). "We were looking for a project to support that would help students develop their STEAM skills," Darryl Carson, Employee Engagement Director at Synaptics. "We know how important these skills are in today's workforce - and how even more critical they'll become in the future." About Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley An independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat EBSV brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. They revitalize neighborhoods, build affordable and sustainable housing solutions, and empower families through successful homeownership. Since 1986, Habitat EBSV has partnered with volunteers, the community, and qualified families with limited incomes to strengthen communities in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties. For more information, please visit HabitatEBSV.org or call 866-450-4432.
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