Habitat for Humanity (HfH): Increasing Youth Involvement

Welcome to the webpage of the Habitat for Humanity 2017 IQP. For our interactive qualifying project, our team worked in collaboration with the Habitat for Humanity affiliate of the MetroWest/Greater Worcester area under the direction of the local volunteer coordinator – Molly Pietrantonio. Our research was oriented around discovering the interests and motivations of local youth in order to design and recommend activities that Habitat for Humanity can offer these youth.

Executive Summary                                                   Final Report

 


 

MWGW_logo_V_150web1 (1)Project Sponsor: Habitat for Humanity of MetroWest/Greater Worcester

Habitat for Humanity of the MetroWest/Greater Worcester area is the local habitat affiliate for the city of Worcester, as well as 42 other towns and cities. Their headquarters is located at 11 Distributor Rd. Worcester, MA, in the Habitat for Humanity Restore – an open-to-the-public retail outlet that sells gently used furnishings and building materials. This local affiliate is also responsible for the builds that go on in these towns which currently include 10 sites in Wayland, Auburn, Holliston, and Northborough. Check out their website here.

 


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Left to right: Eric James, Jack Kingston, Mack Eberhardt, Renee Laliberte

Student Researchers

 

Our team is comprised of four WPI student researchers.

Mack Eberhardt: Civil Engineering ‘18
Eric James: Mechanical Engineering ‘18
Jack Kingston: Mechanical Engineering ‘18
Renee Laliberte: Industrial Engineering ‘18

 


 

Project Goals and Objectives

Goal

The goal of this project was to determine how Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester could efficiently connect with and engage Worcester youth, specifically focusing on individuals younger than sixteen years old.

Objectives

  1. Determine the merit of current relationships between HfH, local schools and youth organizations that contribute to outreach.
  2. Identify what motivates and incentivizes MetroWest/Greater Worcester youth to participate in organized volunteer activities.
  3. Identify activities and projects that can be used by these organizations that will generate interest among youth to participate in HfH volunteer opportunities.