Learning hands-on engine skills
A workshop to teach community members practical skills in small engines.
Community First Development (formerly ICV) was recently approached by Catholic Care to work with the men’s shed of Santa Teresa, NT to run a small engine training workshop for community members. As the idea became a reality, the neighbouring communities of Titjikala and Aputula also came aboard to
set up these skills-building workshops.
We worked in partnership with Catholic Care to design and run a short workshop in each of the three communities aimed at developing knowledge and skills in maintenance and basic repair of small engines, such as lawn mowers, whipper snippers and chainsaws. The long-term goal of these workshops is for participants to build confidence to maintain engines in community, and even pursue the possibility of further accredited training and employment if they wish to do so.
“The boys involved should be able to maintain and repair the small engines without supervision now.
They, in turn, can pass on knowledge learnt through the project.”
ICV volunteer, Ken, facilitated the workshops through hands on practical learning. For example, the men used whipper snippers to learn about
the parts and functions of the engines by taking them apart, doing maintenance on them and
then re-assembling them.
Before the workshops started, the participants shared that they only had a small amount
of knowledge about small engine repair and maintenance. The project was a big success with the men now in a position to maintain and repair small engines in community. Throughout the workshops, Ken developed a great relationship with the men, and his approach to teaching and learning was well received.
Thank you for your support to make this skills-building project possible!
