RUTLAND—In July, Neighbor Works of Western Vermont piloted a novel educational offering: a home maintenance course for women, designed and taught by a woman. Within 48 hours of posting the course, We Can Fix It, on social media, it was full. By the end of the week, there was a waiting list over 30 individuals long. After two incredibly successful pilot courses, NWWVT is looking to make it a permanent course offering alongside their homebuyer education course.
We Can Fix It: Home Maintenance Education for Women, designed by NeighborWorks’ Onsite Project Manager Morgan Overable, is a hands-on, deep-dive into the household structures and mechanisms that frequently drive renters and homeowners to their wits ends.
“This course,” said Overable, “is designed to empower women to understand and take control of the infrastructure of their living environment. Female head-of-households will develop an understanding of how their homes function and a working knowledge of the tools that every homeowner or renter should have on hand in case of something unexpected.”
“Having finally found a moment to breathe between all of my fix it projects, I just want to give a huge shout out to Morgan, her We Can Fix It class and the transformative results it has garnered. I say with pride and accomplishment: all traps cleaned, fuse box located and labelled, no more dripping shower head, furnace filter located and cleaned off, hot water heater located and main water shut off valve located. Sometimes just knowing where everything is, is the end in and of itself! Thank you Morgan for teaching, modeling, transforming and EMPOWERING!”- Katie McMurray, We Can Fix It graduate.
To fuel We Can Fix It forward from its pilot phase, NWWVT has changed the price to make the course sustainable. Interested women of all ages can participate in the 5 part, 12.5 hour course for $50. For an additional $49, NWWVT is throwing in a toolbox packed with $150 worth of super helpful household tools. Graduates exit the fifth class with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to maintain their homes, plus a community of women who are there to support them and cheer them on in the We Can Fix It Facebook group.
The next courses are Mondays, Jan. 8 – Feb. 5 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and Tuesdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 6, 5-7:30 p.m. For more info, visit nwwvt.org/community/we-can-fix-it/.
Photo courtesy of NWWVT
Participants in a recent “We Can Fix It” course are empowered upon completion of the home maintenance lesson.
