• May 19, 2023
• 6 min read

The EU mAkE Programme is an exciting EU-funded initiative that supports young entrepreneurial makers and makerspaces from Africa and Europe in developing prototypes of their digital innovation solutions to societal challenges. Through a combination of training and mentorship, the EU mAkE Programme empowers young people to create positive change in their communities and beyond by promoting environmentally friendly solutions that address issues such as climate change, waste reduction, and sustainable agriculture. 

What’s more: firmly believing that innovation thrives through cooperation, EU mAkE is on a mission to create an extensive African-European Maker Innovation Ecosystem to connect the makerspaces from both continents and maximize their potential as spaces for global cooperation, skill building, digital innovation, and job creation.  

To support us in achieving the Programme’s objectives, we have the backing of the EU mAkE high-level stakeholder Jury, composed of five dedicated social entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and ideators. This esteemed group is aiding us in identifying the most promising and impactful projects, ensuring that we support the most innovative and sustainable solutions. 

Stay tuned to learn more about our stakeholder Jury and their contributions to the EU mAkE Programme!

Meet the Jury

Julia Kleeberger (Dr.)

Foto credits: Andi Weiland

Julia Kleeberger (Dr.) is the managing director of the social enterprises Form21 GmbH and mycelia gGmbH as well as being Co-Founder and shareholder of the non-profit company Junge Tüftler*innen with the learning platform TüftelAkademie and the Edu-Makerspace GoodLab Berlin.

With a background as Design Strategist for Business Innovation at a Dax corporation, her work focuses on learning through comprehension (playful learning) and the acquisition of important competencies (future skills) for participation in a digital society.

As a social entrepreneur and expert for new and participatory learning formats, she dedicates her work and energy to rebuild the education system with an entrepreneurial mindset and advocates for a fundamental transformation of the education system with courage and commitment.

Julia joined the Jury Board of the EU mAkE Programme to leverage her insights and expertise to assess the potential of each project to create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and society, and to ensure that the projects we support align with our vision.

Follow Julia on social media to learn more about her work:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julea/?originalSubdomain=de

Christine Ayitso Kutwa

Christine is a creative designer and technical trainer based in Nairobi, Kenya. She is passionate about human centered design and design thinking concepts and utilizes them in creating solutions to the local community’s challenges. Her interests have focused on STEM education.

Christine believes in empowering local communities by creating opportunities and inspiring young learners to discover their potential in making and exploring ways of earning a livelihood. She spends most of her time training students on how to convert their ideas or products into digital works and transform them into innovative products. This is through ideation, prototyping, and manufacturing using digital fabrication technology and tools (such as CNC milling machines, laser cutters, and 3D printers), and also through DIY art and crafts techniques.

Christine joined the Jury Board of the EU mAkE Programme to leverage her insights and expertise to assess the potential of each project to create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and society, and to ensure that the projects we support align with our vision.

Follow Christine on social media to learn more about her work:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-kutwa-66045274

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KutwaChristine

Omar Elsafty

Omar Elsafty is a social entrepreneur. He joined Fab Lab Egypt in 2011 and has held various roles, including Community Manager and General Manager. Omar co-directed the first-ever Fab Conference in the MENA region and led 8 versions of Maker Faire Cairo. He is now the Managing Director for San3a Tech, the parent company for all their initiatives and products, including Fab Lab Egypt.

Omar’s unwavering commitment to innovation has helped him become a recognized figure in Egypt’s innovation ecosystem. Omar also takes roles in different local and global initiatives as a member, consultant, or part of the board such as Global Innovation Gathering, Global Shapers, Maker Faire Advisory Council, and MC2 Egypt Think Tank.

Omar joined the Jury Board of the EU mAkE Programme to leverage his insights and expertise to assess the potential of each project to create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and society, and to ensure that the projects we support align with our vision.

Follow Omar on social media to learn more about his work:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/essaftyomar/?originalSubdomain=eg

Isaac Sesi

Isaac Sesi is an entrepreneur, engineer and innovator from Ghana passionate about leveraging technology to solve some of Africa’s most pressing problems. He is the Founder and CEO of Sesi Technologies, and innovative Agritech startup based in Ghana.

Sesi Technologies is on a mission to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa by empowering African farmers and agribusinesses by developing affordable technology solutions that help them reduce losses, increase productivity and maximize their income. Their award-winning GrainMate Moisture Meter is used by thousands of farmers and agribusinesses to help reduce post-harvest losses in grains by making it easy for farmers to measure the moisture content in their grains.

Isaac’s contributions to agritech in Africa have been globally recognized by distinguished institutions such as the MIT Technology Review, Siemens Foundation, The Royal Academy of Engineering, and Generation Africa, among others.

Isaac joined the Jury Board of the EU mAkE Programme to leverage his insights and expertise to assess the potential of each project to create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and society, and to ensure that the projects we support align with our vision.

Follow Isaac on social media to learn more about his work:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/isaacsesi

Twitter: @isaacsesi

Susan Long

Susan Long works in the intersection of tech, people and positive social change, driven by a desire to see the systems that govern our world work better for all. A manufacturing engineer by training, she worked in trade and development in South East Asia and East Africa with the UN and UK Government, followed by half a decade building makerspaces in the Middle East, particularly in areas affected by conflict and insecurity.

Susan currently leads a consortium partner in the UK Government’s Frontier Tech Hub programme, a challenge fund for use of frontier, or emerging technologies. Throughout this time shae has maintained a particular interest in the role of makerspaces (or FabLabs) in creating new systems of production which counter negative effects of globalisation, creating local employment and feeding into circular economies, most recently exploring this further as part of the Hub team undertaking a ‘Deep Dive’ on Distributed Manufacturing.

Susan joined the Jury Board of the EU mAkE Programme to leverage her insights and expertise to assess the potential of each project to create a positive and lasting impact on the environment and society, and to ensure that the projects we support align with our vision.

Follow Susan on social media to learn more about her work:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sulong