Meet the trainees: COHORT TWO
Meet our second cohort of earth build trainees! Their focus has been on all things wood, including green woodworking and the timber construction of the kitchen. They have learned on the job, while working on our sustainable natural build construction project to create our first permanent community garden, at the #TriangleSite. This blog features their own voices as they talk about what they learned and who they are and have become. You can meet them and see their incredible work at the Earth Builders Showcase on Tuesday 25 February 4-6pm
ABOUT ZAK
I am 18 years old. I'm a build trainee at Global Generation. I'm new to learning sort of skills with…working with my hands and stuff like that. But, for the last year, sort of a big passion of mine is community engagement and doing community work and…working with young people like myself in creative settings, too. I love music. Music's possibly my biggest passion. I'm enthusiastic at times and then also can be very tired at times. I always give one or the other! I'm a very passionate person.
What was your connection to natural sustainable building before this traineeship?
My connection to natural and sustainable building before this traineeship was really fully just based on, you know, a partial interest. Between being, you know, knowledgeable of the concept of it and what it was, but never really knowing that it could be done on a building site - always sort of imagining it in the woods and things like that. Never imagined it in a sort of licensed building, planning permissions and all that, to go through it with architects and engineers, in that environment. And [it's] kind of my mentality on it that's changed, that it can fit into a sort of regimented building system in the middle of King's Cross.
What have you learned so far?
What I've learned on the traineeship is that there's so many ways of engaging people through building that isn't, you know, the same thing... You know bricklaying and working with concrete and things like that - there are lots of techniques that can kind of [be] accessible; can connect people that way. Community building has been something that I just can't stop thinking about because of that. It engages so many people and shows people it's actually possible to do, even to build a house out of wood. It becomes much more accessible when you can watch people do it. And you know, actually multiple people even carrying up the ring beam (the top bit of the building), I've learned that that is something that with people power, I don't know five people, you can get that done. And that's really cool.
ABOUT IYANU:
I’m a 24 year old, British-Nigerian aspiring architect who’s interested in the designing and process of buildings and how they influence lives. I believe in prioritizing collaboration, craftsmanship, and community in construction. I enjoy tapping into traditional carpentry methods to create designs and models with the aim to learn from the past to help narrate the future as well as traveling around the world whenever I have saved enough money, with the desire to learn from others that we share the world with.
What was your connection to natural sustainable building before this traineeship?
Growing up in a West African household, I saw how powerful community-driven building can be. I remember my mum spending hours on the phone managing the construction of our family home in Nigeria. She sourced materials locally like Uncle Femi’s wood and Auntie Ami’s fabrics involving neighbours in the building process. These moments inspired my love for sustainable and social building, where creating spaces is something shared and meaningful. During my Part 1 Architecture studies, I was drawn to designs that fit naturally into their surroundings and support the people who use them. Using materials that are locally sourced. I believe sustainable building is not just about helping the environment - it’s about creating spaces that bring people together and improve their lives in lasting ways.
What have you learned so far?
This traineeship has taught me that slow building is about being thoughtful and careful. It means focusing on the needs of both people and the land, learning from mistakes, and building meaningful relationships during the process. Taking time to build with intention creates results that are rich and resourceful. As well as the difference between a screw and nail!
ABOUT EM
I have a background in both architecture and ecology and an interest in the built and natural environments and how people interact with them. I love getting involved in the designing and making of community gardens and the transformation of brownfield sites into open access areas.
What was your connection to natural sustainable building before this traineeship?
I have always been interested in making and the built environment but it wasn’t until the RIBA Foundation course and visiting an exhibition at the Design Museum that this interest began to be focused on sustainable/natural building. Before the traineeship I had also started to make objects out of recycled materials, such as a planter out of an old bed frame, but was wanting to scale this up to the size of building. Something I have been able to do through the traineeship.
What have you learned so far?
I’ve learnt so much so far in the traineeship it’s hard to put into words, but I would say I have definitely gained a lot of confidence, both in my carpentry and making skills. I have also enjoyed learning lots about how architectural drawings and designs are translated on the construction sites into actual buildings.
ABOUT LARA
I'm a smiley, sensitive person who's interested in too many things. I love to laugh, walk and hear about people's dreams.
What was your connection to natural sustainable building before this traineeship?
Before GG I didn't have much experience with natural and/or sustainable building, which is what I feel like really drew me to this - I wanted to try something completely different and throw myself into that. I feel like I've only really started noticing the details of the built environment around me in the past year after working outside round the river Lea this summer, but since then I feel very fascinated by urban spaces, their hidden politics and emotions and how they make us feel and breathe different. I feel really lucky to have this opportunity to connect with natural and sustainable building techniques in the middle of the city; I don't think I've ever had this much fun or learnt so much in a workplace before <3
What have you learned so far?
So many things!!! Where to start... how to use different power tools; never to stop asking questions (and don't feel embarrassed about it); tea breaks are really important; cob requires patience and perseverance; that working outside during wintertime is great for your mental health; how lucky I am to be working with such a lovely, joyful team. And I especially love the community build days - It's so fun getting so many hands involved in building something collaboratively.
Notes from the Garden
Meet our second cohort of earth build trainees! Their focus has been on all things wood, including green woodworking and the timber construction of the kitchen. They have learned on the job, while working on our sustainable natural build construction project to create our first permanent community garden, at the #TriangleSite.