Hammers and buzz saws aren’t just for men anymore. Women are wielding these and other tools with Habitat For Humanity International’s Women Build project.

Female crews have built more than 350 houses in the United States since 1991. Women Build’s mission is to work with affiliates to nurture, recruit and train women to build and maintain simple, decent, healthy and affordable houses.

In May 2001, the department launched “Women Build a Legacy.” It is the first time a multi-house build will be crewed by women. During the 18-month program, female crews will build at least 100 houses across the U.S., addressing the problem of substandard housing and its effects on the health and well-being of children.

The organization invites volunteers to help build safe housing for children. By participating in the event, women can impact the future of America’s children positively by enabling them to have decent housing.

Members of the DeKalb Area Women’s Center picked up their hammers on July 29 to help build a legacy for a family in DeKalb.

“I see similarities between the goals here at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center and the goals of Women Build,” said Anna Marie Coveny, gallery coordinator for the center. “The main one is the empowerment of women.”

The organization has built four homes in the area and is working on the fifth. Single mother Jamie Marshall and her daughter Kyra are waiting to receive their house. As part of the program, the homeowner works alongside the volunteers to contribute “sweat equity.” The family then purchases the home through a no-profit, no-interest loan and the payments then get recycled into the fund for future houses. The homeowners receive training during the build and become better equipped to maintain their home.

“The homeowners work on their own houses but also help build someone else’s home,” Coveny said. “That approach allows them both points of view – that of the recipient and the contributor.”

Through Women Build, females learn skills to do construction work. The comfortable environment helps women discover their personal abilities and helps them achieve what was thought to be impossible.

The volunteers don’t need to be skilled in construction – they only need to follow directions.

“The process of many women working together to gain knowledge and acquire new skills is common to both the DeKalb Area Women’s Center and Women Build,” Coveny said. “Women advocating for each other and supporting each other is important to both.”

Royal Neighbors of America is the major corporate sponsor for the Women Build project. Royal Neighbors is a fraternal life insurance society whose mission is to make financial security and independence a reality for women.

For more information or to volunteer, call the Kishwaukee Valley Habitat For Humanity at 758-5055 or visit 2300 Sycamore Road, No. 44.