WE ALL HAVE stuff hanging around that we plan to fix at some stage…or rather learn how to fix at some stage but it never quite happens.
Repair Cafes have been popping up all over the place – including Ireland- since they started in Amsterdam in 2009.
It brings together local volunteers who have the skills to repair broken household objects.
People bring along their broken lamps, bikes, chairs, jewellery, stereos, etc and can even watch and learn from the volunteers as they repair them during the pop up event.
Claire Downey from Repair Cafe Ireland told TheJournal.ie, “The most common thing we get is stereos and amps, followed by lamps, PCs and headphones.
However, we cover all areas from toasters and hair dryers to bikes, clothing, handbags, hats, sunglasses, garden furniture, couches and chairs, jewellery, blenders, TVs… the list goes on.
“Some of the more unusual things we’ve had come in include a wine fridge, a jigsaw, an electric mower with a cut cord and a broken plate.”
The next pop up shop is on in Dublin today. The initiative is supported by Dublin City Council as part of its drive to reduce, reuse and recycle. Sandra Smith is an Environmental Officer with the council, she said:
We all have something at home which needs fixing. Perhaps it’s something we treasure or just an everyday object but many of us lack the skills to fix it ourselves. Repair Cafes are the ideal place to bring these and maybe even learn some repair skills yourself.
Pop up Repair Cafes have been organised in Dublin for:
Other upcoming events are in Athlone November 22 and Tralee November 29.
If you’re a qualified electrician, seamstress, carpenter or a general handy person you can volunteer to show others your divine knowledge.
So if you’re interested in fixing or getting stuff fixed you can e-mail repaircafeireland@gmail.com or click here for more information.
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