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Help Fund My Sustainable Architecture Masters at CAT

  • Life in the UK <3

      21 April 2025
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    I AM HERE. LIVING AND STUDYING IN THE UK- THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

    I landed mid-July and immediately threw myself into any earth building project I could find; from assisting my friend on a Sculptural Mud workshop at Clayfest, then building a 6m tall earthen sculpture at MedicineFest together, helping lay an earth floor as part of a restoration project for a 16th century barn, sculpting a memorial clay dragonfly to honour a founding member of the restoration project, and speaking and giving demonstrations at an Earthen architectural symposium… all before starting my first day of school September 22nd!

    CAT is amazing.

    I’m trying to really sink my teeth into my time here and volunteered myself to be one of the student reps. Our lecturers take place inside the 7.2m tall rammed earth theatre where guest speakers have talked about a range of topics from community collaborative design, passivhaus and natural materials. Other learning is done across the campus including blower door tests on cabins built in the 80s, walking through the woodlands identifying timber species or building in the workshop space.

    Being in the UK feels expansive and exciting. It still hasn’t fully sunk in that it’s actually possible, and not only possible, actually happening. This is my life right now and I’m living it. You have all, so genuinely and so tangibly, changed my life. I am immensely grateful so thank you all from the bottom of my still-shocked-brain but absolutely-beaming heart <3

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    • 21/04/2025 by Sarah

      Great to meet you last year, and thank-you so much for all your amazing help with the earth floor, and especially the memorial dragon fly on our cob and clay lump wall. She continues to fly and is much admired. I greatly enjoyed reading your update and trust that your time in the UK continues to be amazing.

  • I have landed in London!!

      13 July 2024
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    Where to begin this update!!? When I committed myself to going to CAT, I did not anticipate what an enormous journey it would be!

    Since posting the fundraiser 2.5 months ago, I decided to leave a DREAMY (but unpaid) architecture internship. I travelled south to host 3 workshops in Ōtautahi, finished my adored earth-building apprenticeship with Solid Earth in Tākaka, hosted a pizza oven workshop in Ōtaki, continued my online Small Business Course with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and kept applying for scholarships. Then in my last week in Aotearoa, I co-hosted another sculptural oven workshop in Whakamarama.

    It’s been a lot of work but it has also been a lot of fun!

    Givealittle has a strict word count so visit my FB for the full update on the additional unexpected costs and earnings that have come up but we have collectively raised about 27.5k (NZD) from workshops, donations and I've been awarded a bursary! It’s UNREAL. There is another 19k to raise but this experience has taught me to do what I can while trusting the process.

    If you could share this fundraiser, it would mean a lot. It has been remarkable where the support and donations have come from. I see you all! I feel deeply moved, shaken and cradled. Thank you all for helping me not feel alone in this.

    I’m now in the UK! In a few days, I go to an Earth Building conference where I hope to meet like-minded friends & employers and hopefully earn GBP for a few months before I start full-time study in September.

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  • Gratitude Gratitude Gratitude

      12 May 2024

    A month ago, I was offered a place at CAT in Wales. It filled me with uncontainable excitement and financial dread. A week later I made a fundraising page and several posts asking for support. A week after that over FOURTY people donated a total of 11,000 nzd!! A week after that, three people in Ōtautahi offered their venues to host fundraising workshops. And last week, they happened! Life is moving so fast that it's hard to process it all. It’s unbelievable and wonderful and intimidating and magical. Thank you all.

    I started on Sunday with a day-long beginner's introduction to earth as a being and a building material at Okuti Garden, then hosted an evening kōrero while making clay spheres called dorodango on Wednesday at Windrose House. The next weekend, I hosted two open-days at Ōtākaro Orchard for people to come learn about the magical mudbrick.

    I have been the recipient of an unfathomable amount of financial, emotional, physical and spiritual support over this past month from the kindest of beings. It’s difficult to comprehend. People are SO kind. And so somehow, SOMEHOW, knowing I still need another 23k doesn't feel so daunting anymore.

    So, thank you very very much to everyone who has donated to my fundraiser or supported me in any way during this surreal period. I SEE you. I feel you. I feel a lot at the moment. I’ve cried countless tears of gratitude and disbelief over the past few weeks. I’m filled with so much gratitude everyone for believing and trusting in me.

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  • Humbled and Grateful at Far Exceeded Expectations

      21 April 2024

    I am beyond overwhelmed and overjoyed with the support I’ve received. I’m in awe at the generosity and kindness of people, some of whom I have never (and may never) meet in person. I’ve cried many happy tears of disbelief and gratitude over the past few days. My heart feels like it’s exploding and some part of me doesn’t feel deserving. However, I’m immensely touched by everyone’s belief in me and I know this also is about something far greater than just me.

    I chose the figure $9000 as this was the price increase from CAT’s estimation last year to the actual fees I learnt of last week. I genuinely didn’t expect to reach anywhere near that target, especially not in 4 days! I imagined I’d make up the remainder with grants and honestly, I’d slightly surrendered to believing I’d need to delay or just do part-time study. This experience has shocked and humbled me to the power of community and collective goodwill. It’s hard to express how deeply moved I am.

    I’m updating the target to the total amount I need to cover everything for the two years of studying and living abroad such as tuition, ARB exam (to certify my NZ bachelors is of UK standards), rent, living costs, architecture programs, etc. I am very sorry if anyone donated believing that the total amount I needed was $9000. I did not intend to lie and am open to hearing your discomfort or disappointment.

    But I now have enough to confidently enter my first year so, from the bottom of my expanded heart, thank you everyone ❤️

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