Construction Internship and Training

Wood agricultural construction: This program involves the 2nd part of the building where the participants poured the foundations.  After the foundation crew leaves, the woodworking crew comes to put up the walls (interior and exterior), put the roofing on, install inside walkways, finishing work, etc.  This takes about 3-4 months depending on the size of the building.  When finished, they move to another job site.  Same housing conditions as the foundation builders.

Fixing foundations: This program primarily involves working with existing foundations in need of repair.  This could involve water-proofing leaking basements and/or crawl spaces, fixing walls which are leaning in, installing piering to lift and stabilize sagging foundation floors and walls, spraying outside walls with a mixture to solidify the wall, lifting sagging concrete, etc.  Many of these jobs take from 3-5 days to complete so they are working at a new job site very often.  Housing is in a furnished apartment (4 participants in a 2 bedroom is normal) although at times they the job site may require leaving and staying in a hotel for a few nights per week (no charge to participant).  Almost always home during weekends.

Millwright & metal building: This host specializes in metal building.  This could be millwright (the conveyer belts and transport systems to grain bins; welding skills are a plus), building grain bins, large farm machinery buildings and large metal warehouse buildings used for storage or for retail/commercial.  Similar housing to the foundation repair host.  Participants may be home each night or may be gone for up to 10-12 days at a time before returning to their apartment.  While gone, housing is provided (similar hotels as above).  Participants must be good at heights up to 30-50 meters high.  Welding experience is preferred.

Millwright: This host strictly builds the grain transport systems used to get grain into steel grain bins.   Welding experience is REQUIRED.  Participants must be good at heights up to 30-50 meters high.  Most jobs are off-site where they leave Monday morning and return Friday afternoon.  Housing is in an apartment and hotels as above.

Grain Bin Building: These hosts build steel grain bins for storage.  Sizes can range from small to very large.  Most placements are seasonal – April to November.  Housing is provided and most often they are home each night, although there may be an occasional off-site job where a hotel room is provided as above.

Basically, it comes down to what do they want to learn to build?  Due to safety concerns, a good understanding of English is required along with a good construction background.  Typical trainee/intern experience/education is required.  Construction, Civil Engineering and other similar degrees seem to work best.  Due to little or NO family interaction and living on their own, the primary ages are 21-28 but this can vary (generally, the older the applicant is, the harder it is to justify their need of training).  Due to the physically demanding and lifting (20-25 kg) and housing, males are only accepted at this time.

Participants are provided with a general orientation session, strong safety instruction and cultural activities.  Participants must be interviewed by myself AND a host representative before acceptance to judge experience level, English and to help decide which host is best suited to what they want to learn.