Title: Repair Café @ FEUP

On November 20th, FEUP will host a Repair Café, an interactive event designed to extend the life of everyday items and reduce waste through hands-on repairs. Organized in partnership with LIPOR, the Porto region’s waste management entity, this Repair Café will take place in the Coffee Lounge (Building B) at FEUP, from 2:30pm to 4:30pm.

Purpose of the FEUP Repair Café

The FEUP Repair Café aims to reduce unnecessary waste by promoting and teaching repairs rather than replacements. By creating an environment where items can be fixed with the support of skilled volunteers and specialized technicians, we hope to encourage more sustainable consumption practices within our community.

Target Audience and Participation

This initiative seeks to engage two main groups in two different roles:

1. Skilled Volunteers:

1. • A call is made to actively recruiting volunteers of the FEUP academic community with technical skills—particularly in electronics, mechanics, and IT. This opportunity is ideal for engineering students, staff, or anyone with hands-on expertise. The Repair Café provides a practical platform for volunteers to contribute directly to sustainability efforts while applying and sharing their skills. Volunteers will receive guidance and supervision, in coordination with LIPOR’s technical team. This allows them to confidently assist participants in diagnosing and repairing various items. Being FEUP a School of Engineering, we anticipate a significant interest from students eager to participate in this community-driven event and gain practical experience.

2. Academic Community Bringing Items for Repair:

Once skilled volunteers are secured, registration will be open for members of academic community wishing to bring small appliances, electronics, computers, and other everyday items for repair.

Pre-registration by November 18th is encouraged to ensure appropriate support for each item. By registering items in advance, we can organize the workspace more effectively and align volunteers’ expertise with the types of items being brought, leading to a smoother and more efficient repair process..

Results and Reflection:

1. • Successful Repairs: Fixed items will be returned to participants, who will gain valuable tools and knowledge to extend the life of similar items in the future.
   • Unfixable Items: For items that cannot be repaired, volunteers will provide recycling guidance, ensuring materials are disposed of responsibly.

Sustainability Impact

Through this Repair Café, FEUP and LIPOR aim to demonstrate the tangible benefits of repair and reuse. Each successful repair contributes to minimizing landfill waste, reducing the demand for new products, and promoting the circularity of materials. The event fosters an appreciation for sustainable practices, contributing to a waste-free future while building a stronger, more resourceful community.

Contact and More Information

For additional details or inquiries, please contact sustent@fe.up.pt or visit our event page at https://paginas.fe.up.pt/~sustent/en/1st-repair-cafe-2024-25-20th-november/.