A local ministry is hoping to show youth that they have purpose and value by teaching them how to work with their hands.

Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA) has been sitting on a project, and land, for the past two years. They are now preparing to take up the hammer.

"Our heart is about development," ICYA Executive Director and Founder Kent Dueck says. "This plan to start up Level Up Construction has is kind of been percolating for two years so we felt this was the time and so we are expected to get this thing launched."

ICYA has a lot on Magnus Avenue that was gifted to them, set to be a duplex constructed by ICYA crews. Before ground is broken, training for a small group of youth will need to begin.

"So many youths in our community do not see themselves as having a gift to give to the world around them. It is critical for youth to see that God has created them with something to give to the world around them."

ICYA is looking to show them they play an important role in their community by doing skills development.

"For youth to be able to say I was a part of renovating that house, or I was a part of fixing that building in the neighbourhood just adds value to their life. It gives them a sense of worth and a sense of purpose."

The group has set its sights on a property on Salter Avenue to convert the warehouse into a training facility where youth can learn the skills they need to build the duplex and work on other home projects from experts.

"Tom Cameron is somebody that grew up in the neighbourhood and he is going to be heading that program up. And so basically, he has a ton of experience in this field, lots of construction, and all different types of trades."

The day will start at the 101 Salter Avenue warehouse, which the ministry needs $475,000 to purchase, with classroom and life skills training. In the afternoon, the group will move to the Magnus lot to begin work.

Dueck is hoping to partner with local businesses to add plumbing to the list of skills youth can learn. He says while the duplex is their first construction project, ICYA is open to requests for other projects people may have.

When the pandemic hit, the local ministry focused on relief efforts with food hampers. While these efforts are ongoing, ICYA is hoping to start training in the fall. They will need to raise a total of $1.17 million to do this.

"We have a lot of money to raise around this project, and so we encourage people if you are interested in this kind of development process, that they can make a donation to Inner City Youth Alive to get this program launched."