17 young furniture makers from 14 countries and regions were invited to participate at the 2018 World Wood Day Event in Siem Reap, Cambodia. With four returning participants as team leaders, the young adults were divided randomly into four teams. With craftsmanship as their common ground, they did what they do best in making a pile of lumber useful by turning them into something incredible. Every one of them completed their project within the given 36 hours creating a piece of furniture that is fairly common but rather important to their daily lives, a symbolic item that represents the lifestyle in their own culture. Their camaraderie and smiles have once again become the mark of the International Young Adult Furniture Making Invitational.
World Wood Day is a cultural event celebrated annually during the week of March 21st to highlight wood as an eco-friendly and renewable biomaterial and to raise awareness on the key role wood plays in a sustainable world. Starting from 2013, WWD celebrations were held in Tanzania, China, Turkey, Nepal, and United States respectively, involving participants from over 100 countries and regions.