The Inclusive Maker Education Event took place online on the May 20th 2021, bringing together educators, youth workers and makers from across Europe. The main topic to discuss was Inclusive Maker Education – how can we create inclusive Makerspaces where children, teenagers and adults can explore and learn together?
Hoested by Timelab, it was a full-day event filled with presentations, talks and discussions. It was an opportunity to share the outputs and results of Makerspace 4 Inclusion projects, as well as learning about the work of others in this field.
Using breakout rooms, two series of workshops were given over the course of the morning. Workshops were first given in a language of either Romanian, Italian, Catalan, Dutch or French. then in the afternoon all workshops were given in English to give participants a chance to explore the different topics. Workshop topics included
- Methodology for educational maker activities (Trànsit Projectes)
- Jumpstarting makerspace-like environments (NOD Makerspace)
- Tools for recognition and validation of learning outcomes acquired in a makerspace-like environment (Digijeunes)
- Open source hardware and software for maker education (Horizon Lab)
In the afternoon, a series of discussions was led by Timelab, which included panelists coming from a range of backgrounds. These were:
➡ Maria-Cristina Ciocci: The founder of Ingegno Maker Space in Ghent, Belgium. She presented the FabZero program, a training course inspired by the Fabacademy concept aiming to bring more women into making.
➡ Paul Conversy: Maker educator and English instructor at a Private school in South Korea. Paul presented an initiative sponsored by the 쓰리디플러스 3D PLUS makerspace in Busan with the objective to sensitize elderly people to the world of making, digital fabrication and makerspace-like environments.
➡ Inès Massa: Volunteer at LES MATHS En SCENE, an NGO based in Toulouse whose objective is to promote scientific culture. She presented the work of her organisation targeting disadvantaged youth who attend an educational institution for individuals challenged by psychological and behavioral difficulties.
➡ Adina Enacha: Youth worker and expert trainer on non-formal education at both national and international level. She has been working in the field since 2006, targeting youth who live in rural and isolated areas.
➡ Rocco Papia: A musician, eco-activist and creative based in Barcelona where he carries out an intense artistic and educational activity combining music, ecology and creativity. Rocco is part of the Orquesta ReuSónica and presented his work on creative workshops around making musical instruments with recycled materials in schools, youth centers and institutions.
➡ Željko Blaće: Lives and works between Zagreb, Berlin, Brussels, Stuttgart, Ghent, Rijeka and Split. He works between the fields of contemporary culture and arts, digital technology and media, community sports and activism by cross-pollinating queer/commoning perspectives and embodied experiences with thinking and doing methods across different networks and contexts.
➡ Chloe Souter: Works at Digijeunes as a Maker Educator, Trainer and Project Manager. She presented the DK Upcycle initiative which aims to set up a Makerspace centred around a plastic recycling workshop in the city of Dunkerque. The project also connects with informal refugee camps located in Grande-Synthe, on the outskirts of the city.
➡ Ion Neculai: A trained architect and co-founder eematico, an organisation that helps children to discover STEAM subjects through play based hands-on, DIY, building activities and experiments.
Chloe Souter 
Paul Conversy 
Maria-Cristina Ciocci 
Rocco Papia 
Željko Blaće 
Inès Massa 
Adina Enacha
A big thank you goes to everyone involved and the attendees. Find out more about the project and view videos of the event at the Makerspaces 4 Inclusion project website: m4Inclusion.com