Building a future, too

Students help others, learn a trade on Habitat for Humanity site

By Teri Borseti, Globe Correspondent, 12/1/2001

ILLERICA - Vinnie Cedrone, a junior at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, is learning more at the job site at 22 Glenside Ave. than simply how to work with his hands. He and about a dozen other high school students are building the four-bedroom Colonial in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.

''I think it's pretty cool to build a house for someone who can't afford one, because houses are so expensive,'' Cedrone said in a recent interview.

The house will be a home to a single mother of four from Lowell who works three jobs. She was selected in a lottery and has met all Habitat for Humanity income and need guidelines. She agreed to be a partner with Habitat by contributing 225 ''sweat equity'' hours on the development, said Pierre de Villiers, president of Habitat in Lowell.

The house, being built on just under a half-acre of land in an established neighborhood, will be sold to the Lowell mother for $60,000. The market value of the house is $250,000 to $300,000, de Villiers said.

Cedrone, a technical student, is one of 60 students from carpentry, plumbing, and electrical shops who will help to build the house, which is expected to be 95 percent complete by June. They are a part of a new wave of young volunteers in Greater Boston for the Habitat organization, which has been building affordable houses for low-income families all over the world since 1976.

Former President Jimmy Carter comes to mind when Habitat for Humanity is mentioned, but the nonprofit Christian organization was founded by Georgia native Millard Fuller, who had the good sense to enlist his friend Carter as a spokesperson.

Habitat has built or renovated more than 100,000 homes, and it has become the third-largest builder in the country. The organization exists in all 50 US states and in 64 countries, with an army of dedicated volunteers.

Charles Lyons, superintendent of Shawsheen Valley Tech, said the school's students have been building market-rate houses for 20 years, but he house at 22 Glenside Ave. has brought new awareness into class.

''These kids aren't just learning good trade skills this year,'' he said. ''The project is also building their social consciousness, and that will probably impact them more than they realize.

''Building affordable housing is a win-win situation. The kids learn how important it is to give back to the community. The town desperately needs affordable housing, and Habitat now has about 60 new volunteers from our school.''

The land was donated by the Town of Billerica. Shawsheen carpentry instructor Bill Lannon said it could have been sold for about $150,000.

''This house is teaching students a lot more than how to operate equipment and work with their hands,'' Lannon said. ''This project is helping them learn what can be accomplished when people work together. I think it would be great if we could build a Habitat house every year.''

The new wave of young volunteers isn't limited to Billerica.

At Tewksbury High School, senior Emily Angelo was looking for a class project as part of her involvement with ECHO (Earth, Culture, Humanity Organization), a club at her school. She helped found a local chapter of Habitat at the school.

''We know we can't get out there and build a house, but there are other ways we can contribute, like helping to raise money and awareness of what Habitat does,'' Angelo said.

She added that many colleges have Habitat for Humanity chapters, but it's unusual to find them in high schools. She hopes underclassmen will carry on the tradition after she graduates.

At Wilmington High School, 60 students have been attending regular Habitat meetings this year. Senior Danielle Cleary said she was familiar with Habitat's mission and decided it would be a good idea to get her friends involved in forming a chapter.

''This is the only volunteer-based club in our school, and it's great because it starts a revolving door of giving back,'' Cleary said.

Both schools have applied for charters and are waiting for official recognition.

De Villiers said the Greater Lowell Habitat organization plans to build 10 houses by 2003 and that the need for affordable housing in the 15 cities and towns his orgnaization serves is an accurate reflection of the need in the rest of the country. His chapter has a $400,000 budget for fiscal 2001, every penny of which is raised through private donations and fund-raising.

''It's the volunteers that make Habitat successful,'' he said. ''Whether it's a cash donation or time spent on a job site, every little bit helps. This is the first time we've ever worked with the students from Shawsheen, and it's been great. Our volunteers will only have to do things like installing carpets and some appliances and do a little finish work when the school year ends. The family is expected to move in by September of 2002.''

This story ran on page E1 of the Boston Globe on 12/1/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.