Project Build brings Habitat for Humanity to Heights High

Last fall, Heights High senior Ariel Travis set out to start a student club that would support the work of Habitat for Humanity, give students a chance to learn practical life skills and make a difference in their community. He presented his idea to math teacher Chris Sutton who enthusiastically agreed to be the club advisor and soon after Project Build was formed.

Several students helped Travis publicize the first meeting and when the Habitat for Humanity staff came to the school to conduct a training, 50 students showed up. “The Habitat trainers were very impressed with the number of interested students,” said Sutton.

Project Build is the first high school club to work with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. “It was great to see so many people show up, but that was really only the beginning,” Travis said.

Student interest continues to increase and Ariel predicts another major spike in membership when Project Build hosts a February meeting discussing the club’s future plans and goals.

Project Build’s first build day was Oct. 28, working on a home on E. 84th Street in Cleveland. Since then, the club has hosted five build days at the same site, and on Jan. 14 students hung drywall.

“The thing that I hear most often from students is how much they like working with people whom they didn’t know before,” said Travis. “We met our goals of contributing and learning new skills, but we are also building bridges between students.”

Sutton has enjoyed the opportunity to work with the students. “They are very inspiring, they really want to contribute and make a difference,” he said.

Travis and the other club leaders are investigating ways to work more locally in Cleveland Heights. They are considering a disaster relief trip. For more information about the club or to support the mission, visit the Project Build website, www.project-build.org or contact Chris Sutton at c_sutton@chuh.org.