Jibri Thomas knows the value of a hard day’s work.

The 17-year-old has volunteered with the City of Hamilton for almost a year as an intern in the public works departments.

The CedarBridge Academy student said that he spent his holidays working with the city, including a full day’s work during his recent half-term break.

Jibri added: “I just like to be kept busy, quite honestly.

“I don’t mind a break because my body needs rest and everything, but if I were to have stayed home this week, I’d have probably enjoyed Monday and Tuesday off, but by Wednesday, I would’ve been walking around the house trying to find something to fix.”

Jibri, from Warwick, said that he signed up for the internship programme last July so that he could “work with his hands” over the summer.

He added that he spent his two months working in the engineering department where he got to experience what it was like to work with masons and construction workers.

Jibri explained: “It’s unique because there’s a lot of different things that happen around the city that we have to take care of.

Jibri added: “For example, right outside City Hall, the sidewalk had a chip in it and the lady fell.

“It was a rush job, but we had to dig it up with the jackhammer, pour concrete, let it dry and then put our finishing touch on it.”

Jibri said that his experience taught him the value of clear and open communication when working in a team.

He explained: “In the construction trade, you’re dealing with heavy machinery and things like that, so your safety comes first.

“So if the operator’s coming in with the forklift, you have to go out in front of the traffic and stop traffic.”

Jibri added: “I thought that I communicated fine, but it’s nice to be out and experience something that makes you communicate better and effectively.

“You have to make sure that you’re clear and what you say is what you want to come across, so people don’t have to interpret what you say.”

Jibri said that he spent his last holidays working with the sanitation department, but hoped to become more involved in electrical engineering.

He added that he hoped to work his way through the engineering department and eventually take on a leadership role as a superintendent.

Jibri said: “I always said that I didn’t want to just be an electrical technician. I want to go the extra mile and become an electrical engineer.”