“It’s exciting to be a part of a global network of people, helping each other out by fixing stuff. Rowcroft added that volunteers receive a lot of satisfaction in keeping things out of the landfill, and attendees often really enjoy their interactions with volunteers and learning more about repair. They have expertise in small appliances and electronics, clothing, outdoor gear, jewelry, and small furniture. Volunteers bring their own tools and variety of expertise, and will often troubleshoot difficult-to-repair items together or share tools. Repair Cafés are free and staffed by volunteer fixers. “But the really cool side effect of having repair events is less tangible – it’s about connecting people to their stuff in a way that gets them thinking about how they consume and the purchases they make, which is ultimately where we have more impact.” “For us, Repair Cafés fit into the mission of the Rethink Waste Project by preventing tangible waste through repair instead of replacement,” said Denise Rowcroft, Rethink Waste Program Manager with The Environmental Center. Over the past five years, over 400 items have been repaired through 15 local events with different host partners including The Gear Fix, DIY Cave, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Deschutes Public Library, Central Oregon Community College, and more. Repair Cafés are events that connect people with broken stuff, with people who like to fix stuff. Here in our own backyard, The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project organized the first local event five years ago at Pakit Liquidators, which has since transformed into the shared maker space, DIY Cave. Today there are over 1,600 Repair Cafés in 33 countries on six continents. ![]() ![]() On Thursday, October 18, 2018, it will be exactly nine years since Martine Postma organized the very first Repair Café in Amsterdam.
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