Wood you build it?

It all began rather simply with Abdullah, one of our senior high schoolers, a handful of planks, and a small idea that children could make real things with their own hands. Abdullah has always been a tinkerer; fixing cars, taking apart computers, and figuring out how things work just for the fun of it. Carpentry was one more thing that caught his curiosity, and soon he found himself spending hours experimenting with wood, tools, and design and loving every bit of the process.

At some point, he thought why not let the younger children try this too? Why shouldn’t they have the joy of sawing, sanding, measuring, and building something real? He also saw it as a chance to explore something that fascinated him was how children learn. So he jumped right in, eager not just to share carpentry, but to learn alongside them and to see how they collaborated, solved problems, and made sense of things as they built.

That’s how our woodworking sessions began with Abdullah as a young facilitator and a bunch of curious Elementary children who couldn’t wait to get their hands on the tools. At first, there was more enthusiasm than equipment and definitely more questions than answers, but that never stopped them.

Soon, these sessions became the most loved part of the week. Every week, the children looked forward to the sound of sawing and hammering echoing through the school. The smell of wood, the scattered sawdust, the chatter, and the thrill of something taking shape, all became part of Sunnyside’s rhythm.

And in between the measuring, cutting, and sanding, they learnt something deeper; the art of patience and working together. One had to hold the plank while the other cut it. Sometimes, there weren’t enough clamps or tools to go around, so everyone had to wait their turn. They learnt to take care of each other, to share tools, to slow down, and to help someone else finish before starting their own.

Teamwork grew naturally not from instructions, but from necessity and care. The sessions were full of laughter, quiet concentration, and that spark of pride that comes from doing something real. Over time, they built all sorts of things from chowkis, trolleys on wheels, racing tracks, desk bookshelves, trinket boxes, keychain holders, plant stands and a whole lot of confidence. Each piece came with its own story be it slightly uneven edges, sandpaper blisters, proud smiles, and the joy of holding something they had made themselves.

As for Abdullah, he didn’t just grow as a builder, he grew as a facilitator. He learnt how to plan a session, how to guide without directing, how to bring a group together, and how to help children see a project through from idea to completion.

After graduating from Sunnyside, he didn’t pack away his tools. Instead, he turned this spark into Wood You Build It? ,  a weekend carpentry space for children aged 8 to 14.

Now, every Saturday, that same spirit continues. A little noisy, a little chaotic, full of sawdust, laughter, and learning and always ending with something solid, handmade, and proudly built by small hands.

Because when children build with wood, they’re not just learning carpentry. They’re learning patience, teamwork, care, and the quiet belief that with enough measuring, sanding, and persistence, they can make anything.