An education program is teaching home-building skills with tiny homes.

About eight students spent 10 weeks learning carpentry, framing, and how to use tools while building a tiny home.

Jessica Ward, the operations manager with the non-profit Atlantic Home Building and Renovation Sector Council, said it makes her proud.

“It’s really a humbling experience to get to watch them learn, but also to see them like explore what they might do next,” said Ward.

Ward said they have a diverse group of students, including people with addictions, criminal records or homeless people.

They have built two tiny homes so far and are now looking for a place to put them.

They also partnered with the Annapolis Reginal Centre for Education to do co-ops with high school students. Cape Breton University is part of the program, and as an academic institution, it gives graduates the necessary credentials to enter the workforce, said Ward.