A group of Grand Valley anthropology students learned about sweat equity, assumptions, and on-the-spot training while working on Habitat for Humanity projects in the Baxter and Madison neighborhoods of Grand Rapids. That was in addition to their intended purpose.
Students in Deana Weibel's six-week Ethnographic Field School conducted interviews and engaged in participant-observation to better understand the organization and culture of Kent County's Habitat for Humanity affiliate. The students were divided into three groups to study different projects aspects: volunteers, Habitat organization and neighbors near the homes being built.
Weibel, assistant professor of anthropology, and her students spent 12 hours each week actively participating at the Habitat warehouse or home projects. The remaining time was spent on interviews and group projects.
Weibel said she was pleased with the group and how they handled the overwhelming amount of tasks and research data. Interviews and other findings were analyzed and shared with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County.
