A Second Life for Old School Desks: A Woodworking Class in Rural Miaoli

An old school desk sees one class after another grow up. What can it become once it is retired?

On 11 November 2026 we brought our "Muyu" woodworking class to Sanwan Elementary School in Miaoli, as part of the "Write the Future" project for giving rural school desks a second life, led by Qinmu Co., Ltd. and the Taiwan Public Welfare League.

Step one: take it apart

First, the old desks and chairs were taken apart piece by piece. Every usable board became material for the class.

Step two: teach

At the school, the class started with a question instead of tools: where does wood come from? Then every child got a small wooden box to sand smooth by hand.

Step three: close it and shake it

A handful of pebbles went into each box. Lids on, shake, and every box made a different sound. The room filled with kids asking each other: "What does yours sound like?"

Last step: drill a smiley face

Finally, at the drill press, each child drilled holes into the box to give it a smiley face. Where should the eyes go? "You decide," the teacher said.

Keep the love going

Old wood, education and sustainability. What came apart was a desk; what came together was a class the children made with their own hands.

Thank you to Principal Chen Mei-chun, the teachers and students of Sanwan Elementary, Qinmu Co., Ltd. and the Taiwan Public Welfare League. If your company, school or association would like to do the next one with us, have a look at our partnership plans.