Woodshop Makes Furniture for Refugees

Increasing numbers of refugees come to San Diego yearly. The situation in Afghanistan has become worse with the Taliban takeover, resulting in the number of refugees increasing exponentially. Meanwhile, John Houston, the woodshop teacher for CHS, was having a hard time finding a meaningful project that would help his Woodshop 4 students increase their skills. Senior Kai Damata and juniors Nolan Johnson, Kona Strong, Travis Billie, and Garrett Thompson are, according to Houston, “very gifted and dedicated to the subject.” While searching for the perfect project, Houston discovered a website for refugees and was astonished by the number of people who were in need. These people needed sturdy furniture because their previous lifestyle had been extremely nomadic. Houston realized that this opportunity would help his talented students expand their woodworking skills, while also learning the importance of serving others. Houston said the current cost of timber needed to build one of these projects runs about two hundred to three hundred dollars, meaning that the whole project costs at least a thousand dollars. Additionally, the materials required careful handling. All the measurements needed to be exact, so that every joint would fit perfectly. Houston said, “If the joints do not fit correctly, the students would need to modify the whole project, meaning more tedious work.” While the project is challenging, Houston hopes to inspire his students to continue to help those in need using the skills they’ve developed in woodshop.