The Hammer Heads program was initially established by the Central Ontario Trades to provide at-risk youth with skills and employment-based training to help prepare them for a career in the construction industry.
Throughout the three-month program, students are exposed to skilled trades, taught how to navigate a job site safely and learn to overcome obstacles to succeed in the construction industry. But for many students, the impact of the program extends far beyond skills-based learning.
For Malachai, a recent graduate, the Hammer Heads program has led to tremendous personal growth and confidence. “These guys [fellow students and teachers] have become like my family – they always hold me up. They’re there to support me.” Thanks to them, he says “I feel like I have a lot more confidence, I feel like I have found my voice and can speak with authority now.”
The Hammer Heads Program places emphasis not just on career development, but also on cultivating a sense of compassion and fostering a commitment to community.
At the end of the three-month program, students participate in a meaningful day of sorting food at Daily Bread Food Bank. “Hammer Heads has given us so many opportunities we wouldn’t have had otherwise. So, we want to be able to pay it forward,” says Hammer Heads graduate Chris. “Being able to help and give back to the community the way Hammer Heads has given to us is something I really want to be a part of.”
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