By Alesha Capone
Tarneit Senior College VCAL students have constructed eight cubby houses, two of which they will donate to local kindergartens.
School staff members have purchased the other cubbies for their children.
Two students involved in the project, Akur and Ben, said the money from the sale of the cubbies would be put towards helping VCAL students next year.
The funds will go towards establishing a café at the college, so the teenagers can learn how to use a coffee machine and grinder.
The cubbies were built by Year 12 VCAL students at the Tarneit college, in the school’s trades centre.
Bunnings Warehouse in Hoppers Crossing donated $1500 worth of materials and tools to the project.
Ben said the team-bonding between the VCAL students, and the memories he has from the cubby houses’ construction, have become highlights of his Year 12 experience.
“I am going to try to find an apprenticeship in carpentry next year, I enjoyed the opportunity we had to learn about construction with the cubbies,” he said.
Akur said each of the cubby houses weighed around 130 kilograms.
“I think working with the different kids and students was the best part, we got to understand each other and build relationships,” she said.
Ben and Akur thanked Tarneit Senior College VCAL coordinator Jamie Calleja-Bailey and fellow VCAL staff member Claudia Martina for their assistance this past year.
“For the kids to be able to collectively overcome the challenge posed by pandemic restrictions and build these cubbies from scratch for the community, is a great achievement,” Mr Calleja-Bailey said.
