LEARNING to assemble a bicycle from scratch is a life skill which seven young people can now accomplish.
The first of three one day Traction bike build workshops was held at the Lendlease Yarrabilba Exchange on Friday, to help the seven students aged between 12 and 15 to engage in team work and create a bicycle which they took home at the end of the day.
Traction is a charitable community organisation founded by Sandy Murdoch who said it was all about promoting practical skills in young people supported by mentors.
“What the schools we worked with expressed to us was that not every student is suited to the traditional classroom,” he said.
“A number of learners feel like they are being successful when they can work with their hands and feel that sense of producing and achieving something from their own effort. It is also a chance to work with others in a different environment.”
The students are taught how to use tools appropriately, develop problem solving skills and how to work constructively with others to achieve a positive outcome.
Logan City councillor Laurie Koranski visited the Yarrabilba Exchange to see first-hand how the students were applying their abilities.
Cr Koranski said she was impressed with the team effort.
“It is great to have this resource in Yarrabilba which is another example of the great innovations coming out of the area,” she said.
“The building of a bike is like a metaphor for actually going on a journey of growth and development.”
Lendlease regional development manager Rob Moore said it was delightful to see young people taking a positive step forward.
“It is wonderful to engage with young people in the community and it just adds to the richness of the community,” he said.
“All of us can ride bikes, but building a bike and learning practical things...a lot of kids just wouldn’t have exposure to some of these techniques.”
The second traction workshop will be held on May 4 and the third will be on June 15.