Habitat Greater Raleigh's Summer of Service program is a unique internship that gives young adults the opportunity to work alongside our team, develop new skills and gain firsthand experience in nonprofit work.
Before heading out to job sites and Habitat ReStores to complete 125 hours of service, our interns spent an incredible orientation week at the end of June learning about Habitat's mission and developing the skills they will need for a successful summer.
We'd like to introduce these interns! Read below to meet five of the participants and stay tuned as we spotlight the rest of the students throughout the summer.
Deja attended Garner Magnet High School and is planning to study Arts, Engineering, and Musical Arts in college. She is looking forward to learning more about the ReStores and spending time organizing and volunteering with them. Deja enjoys drawing, writing stories, and listening to music.
What does home mean to you?
A safe place I can rely on
Why is having a safe, affordable place to live important?
Not having a safe place to live can be difficult and sometimes dangerous
If you were traveling to a deserted island, what three items would you bring with you?
My headphones, phone, and a water bottle
Who is your favorite music artist or band?
Justin Timberlake, HER
Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what is/are their name(s)?
A few fish
Giridharan (Giri) was a student at Green Level High School and is planning on studying Biomedical Engineering in college. They have already enjoyed getting to meet everyone, and they are looking forward to continue to build relationships while learning the basic skills of building a house including framing a wall.
What does home mean to you?
It means a place that is safe, and a place where I won’t be judged but be supported of my actions
Why is having a safe, affordable place to live important?
To build a family without taking over the financial stress of paying a big bill which you can’t manage every month
What's your favorite food?
Pizza
If you were traveling to a deserted island, what three items would you bring with you?
Water, Starlink internet, fire starter
What's one interesting or unique fact about you someone might not expect?
Even though I seem short I basically can play any sport and I am very good at badminton
Jacelyn is a rising first year student at North Carolina State University with plans to study Architecture. She was interested in the Summer of Service internship because she wants to see how buildings, especially houses, are built while meeting other students with similar interests as her. One of her favorite things to do is watching movies from Disney to Avatar trilogy, as she loves seeing how ideas are visually shared!
What does home mean to you?
Home is a place I can rely on and come back to when I need it most. It's a refugee.
How does having affordable housing opportunities benefit our community?
I believe that allowing people to have easier access to have a space that they can call their own and use to recharge and express themselves will also allow them to put more energy and love towards a community. A house acts like refilling a cup; it allows people to feel recharged so that they can pour out their energy on things that can benefit the community.
Who is your favorite music artist or band?
My favorite artist is Hozier but I tend to listen to many different genres of music depending on my mood! (But I do always fall back on Hozier)
If you were traveling to a deserted island, what three items would you bring with you?
A "How to Survive" book, a series of books (like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games), and some sort of tool like a all-in-one utility knife.
What's your favorite food?
I'm not picky about my food ever but I will always be more than excited to get Sushi!
Joshua is a student at Apex Friendship High School with goals to peruse engineering in the future. An internship was required as part of an engineering program at his school, and was excited about Habitat’s Summer of Service internship since he has always loved hands on building and have always loved serving his community and thought it would be a perfect fit. Some of Joshua’s hobbies include 3D printing, photography, and collecting things like Legos and Coca-Cola antiques.
What does home mean to you?
A home means a safe and enjoyable place where you can seek shelter, hang out and gather together as a family or by yourself while not worry about your safety and cost of living.
How does having affordable housing opportunities benefit our community?
Having affordable housing opportunities benefits the community as it allows for a town to grow while providing a diverse amount of people who all have different experiences.
Who is your favorite music artist or band?
I don't have a favorite artist or band but mainly enjoy listening to rock music.
Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what is/are their name(s)?
I have 2 beagles named Bailey and Sunny
What's one interesting or unique fact about you someone might not expect?
I have gone indoor skydiving multiple times.
Olivia is a current student at Wake Forest High School and was interested in the Summer of Service internship as she was looking for opportunities to volunteer over the summer. She is looking forward to seeing the construction process and getting to work on real projects while also meeting new people. She enjoys rollerblading, watching YouTube videos, and hanging out with her friends when she’s not on the construction site.
What does home mean to you?
A place where I can do/be what every as its one of the safes places to do so.
Why is having a safe, affordable place to live important?
It can give you a stable foundation to your life, be the start to financial building, can make a better future for children.
Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what is/are their name(s)?
I have 3 cats. Luciana, Margherita, and Congee.
What's your favorite food?
Rice white and Spanish.
What's one interesting or unique fact about you someone might not expect?
I can crochet and make cool friendship bracelets.