Building confidence one tool at a time: Inside Continuing and Professional Education’s Handy Homeowner Workshop series
A new partnership between Georgia Southern University’s Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) and Division of Facilities is empowering community members to handle small home repairs with confidence.
The Handy Homeowner Workshop series is a community program designed for individuals interested in do-it-yourself style home maintenance projects. Though the course began as an idea for a power tools class, it quickly evolved.
“It grew into a new series designed to help people feel capable and confident tackling projects in their own homes,” said Jamie Burke, business and marketing manager for CPE.
Each session in the series focused on a different home improvement skill, giving participants practical experience with tools and techniques they can use right away. One participant noted they feel more confident in tasks such as changing a shower head.
Drawing on the expertise of University employees, CPE partnered with employees in the Division of Facilities to serve as instructors.
“I enjoyed working with the participants of the class,” said Micah Boesche, a plumber in the Department of Mechanical Maintenance who served as an instructor for one of the series courses. “They were very receptive to what I was teaching and eager to learn something new.”
The most recent workshop took place at the Freedom’s Landing model apartment on the Statesboro Campus and centered on plumbing basics. During the session, participants learned how to use a closet auger, replace a shower head and perform proper water heater maintenance. Several attendees even stepped in to help replace a faucet, turning the session into a true learning-by-doing experience.
“I enjoyed how they were not afraid to get hands-on and jump right in,” Boesche said. “It was a pleasure, and I hope enough information was given so they will understand that plumbing isn’t scary and maybe give them the confidence to tackle small tasks around the house.”
This practical approach is what made the class especially successful. Instructors provided overviews of each task, and guided participants through hands-on practice while answering questions along the way. The environment was supportive and approachable, making it ideal for those with little to no prior experience who want to build confidence using basic tools.
Earlier sessions in the Handy Homeowner series covered how to use different power tools safely and effectively. With strong participation and positive feedback, future installments are already being planned to explore additional home improvement topics.
The Handy Homeowner workshops offer an accessible way to gain essential skills and practical knowledge. Details about future workshop sessions, which will cover topics like flooring installation, electrical work and yard maintenance, will be posted on CPE’s community programs page as they are available.