• June 01, 2024
• 5 min read

What does a makerspace residency mean between African and European makers and makerspaces? The Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) and GreenTec Capital Africa Foundation welcomed four African makers to Berlin in June 2024. The makers are embarking on the first Makers in Residency (MIR) program as part of the EU funded mAkE Africa EU (mAke) project. The GIG network was founded at the renowned re:publica conference in 2013 and was registered as a nonprofit association in Berlin, Germany in 2017, making it a fitting platform to host the makers as part of the 2024 event series and the kick-off of the MIR program. 

_{Figure 1  Makers from Rwanda, Tanzania and Egypt hosted a meetup at the re:publica Conference in Berlin, June 2024}

MiR participants meeting at re:publica

During re:publica, the makers attended hands-on workshops at the event makerspace as well as hosting the MIR meetup for the attendees. The global meet up provided a platform for collaboration and networking between makers working on the reality of residencies across the world. The conversation delved deeper into the future of maker exchanges and questioned supporting policies, government and donor involvement. The group discussed the project topics across six practical residencies kicking-off across Europe in June with the four African makers and opened the floor to the participants to discuss, share and explore across continental boundaries. Interestingly, to acquire electronic components in order to build smart products in Tanzania and Cameroon it can take over six weeks to receive the supplies, excluding the other hurdles such as import and customs as well as scrutiny for electronics unknown to the local authorities due to their novelty. The MIR hosting in Europe aims to, among others, expedite the supply chain as one of the many benefits of this first exchange.

The MiR program: who is it supporting?

The MIR program is supporting makers from Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt and Cameroon building hardware innovations and sharing their impact stories as they journey to the European makerspaces with the further aim of carving out supporting mechanisms for the future of the maker movement and exchanges. Four makers have started their journeys in the Ecocentre in Varenne-sur-Allies and La Bricothèque Fablab Pernes-les-Fontaines in France, Fablab Barcelona in Spain and Hackerspace Liege in Belgium. The remaining two makers have unfortunately been unsuccessful in gaining visa appointments and visa approvals to take part in the residency despite numerous efforts over the past 7 months. The hosts in Fablab Copenhagen in Denmark and Fab Lab Barcelona in Spain are still standing by to support them although visa appointments continue to elude the program administration and makers themselves. 

_{Figure 2  MIRs Witness Shangali from Twende Social Innovation Center in Tanzania and Martine Basaninyage from Westerwelle Haus Fab Lab in Rwanda attended hands-on workshops on robotics, e-textiles and IOT at the GIG makerspace as part of the re:publica Conference in Berlin, June 2024}

Witness Shangali’s perspective during re:publica

One of the official MIR program makers, Ms. Witness Shangali from Arusha in Tanzania, is being hosted by the Ecocentre Fablab in France. Ms. Shangali reflected on the event stating that:

‘I wrapped up three incredible days at re:publica24 in Berlin. I immersed myself in a variety of workshops in the Makerspace exploring the future of creativity and innovation. Two standout moments were the ecosystem innovation workshop, where I learned about lighting an LED and switch connection on a circuit, and another fascinating workshop on how sewing is integrated in coding – truly inspiring! Beyond the workshops, I had a blast getting hands-on with soldering and even building an electronic car! I also enjoyed meeting diverse people and sharing different knowledge at the Maker in Residence meetup. I’m thrilled to announce that I have been selected for the #MakerInResidenceProgram at #EcoCentreFablab as a maker from Twende Innovates Tanzania.’

Commenting on the MIR program, her makerspace in Tanzania said, ‘We believe your new skills and knowledge will be a testament to the success of your innovation, and empower others to take a step forward with their innovations.’ – Twende Social Innovation Center, Arusha in Tanzania. Ms. Shangali is hosted by Ecocentre in Varenne-sur-Alliers who shared that they were delighted to host her for the four week residency in France as part of the MIR program in 2024.

_{Figure 3 The Global Innovation Gathering makerspace at re:publica hosted over eighteen hands-on workshops with the global communities attending the events.}

The MIR program will run for the duration of June in Europe after which the four makers will return to Africa with working and improved prototypes alongside an unforgettable and immersive maker exchange experience. Follow the mAkE project and the inspiring impact stories as the journey continues.

To find out more about building communities, watch the GIG Knowledge pill here: Global Innovation Gathering – Knowledge Pills – YouTube

Check out the LinkedIn post by Witness Shangali on the MiR program.