The Ara Education Charitable Trust (AECT) was originally started as a successful and innovative partnership between industry, government agencies and five school principals to create employment and training opportunities for South Auckland school leavers. ​

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It was set up as a practical means of helping rangatahi into jobs by supporting them with the transition from school into work.

 

South Auckland High School Trades Academy students attend practical work experience at our house renovation site once a week where we offer the following:

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• Renovating and restoring run-down houses, and returning them as warm, dry housing back into the community, while also providing work experience

• Reducing landfill by relocating houses that were earmarked for demolition and renovating them, which is part of our bigger waste minimisation goals. Through this we have built a strong partnership with Auckland Council's Waste Minimisation team and are contributing to various pilot projects with waste sorting, deconstruction and general waste minimisation.