Wood recycling project

Hi, my name is HessamJalali, and I am a first-year student in Creative Sustainability (CS). I have been a woodworker entrepreneur for the past 4 years specializing in recycling old skateboards into furniture, accessories, and decorative pieces. Alongside creative projects, I have also worked as a youth instructor at Helsinki City’s Kontula Youth Center, where I instructed various woodworking techniques.

As a new CS student, I’ve found the initiatives led by Sustainability Action Booster (SAB) particularly inspiring, especially in how they empower student-led sustainability activities across the university and beyond. Some of my favourites initiatives are Aalto Food sharing led by Ronja Tammempää and Test Site Summer Cafe by Duc Chu. For a long time, I’ve dreamed of organizing an inclusive workshop that uses recycled wood to teach participants both woodworking techniques and sustainable practices.

After learning more about the facilities available at Aalto and the support offered by SAB, I realized that this idea could truly become a reality. With SAB’s support, I am excited to launch this project in early 2026 and create a space where students can learn hands-on skills in woodworking while engaging with sustainability through reclaimed materials.