College of Charleston Students Volunteer to Build Skills, Homes
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity not only gives students the opportunity to learn new skills and test themselves, but also connects them to the greater Charleston community.
The College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement offers students a variety of volunteer opportunities at partnering community organizations throughout the greater Charleston area, including building homes with the Charleston Habitat for Humanity.
One Saturday every month, student volunteers meet on campus for lunch and a discussion of community housing challenges and opportunities in Charleston before they head out to the build sites, where they connect with the community and take pride in their work.
“I really do feel like it’s a great exercise to be able to go out with new people and bond and work together, and feel like you’re doing good in the community,” says Grace Harvey, a political science major. “I love Habitat for Humanity. I love what they do. I do like building stuff, and just being helpful. I think that is the main goal for me.”
That’s what Quint Wingate was after when he found this volunteer opportunity, too.
“I wanted to find a way to give back to the community,” says the historic preservation and community planning major, adding that the CCE offers many other opportunities, as well. “I would highly encourage every CofC student to get involved with them.”
For students interested in trying something out one Saturday, CCE Director Stephanie Visser says the Habitat for Humanity builds are a great option.
“There’s a really diverse array of skills that people can learn from participating in something like Habitat for Humanity,” she says. “It’s the actual skill set of the painting or shingling, and things like that. But really, it’s more than that. It’s a skill set around learning how to meet new people, but also learning how to test yourself and try new things, which is a skill that we all need.”
