Breakers - make a new world for yourself - is a training programme aimed at vulnerable young people that tries to stimulate both the learning of technical capabilities in design, electronic prototyping and digital manufacturing, as well as other transversal skills such as teamwork, presenting your own ideas, etc.
So, in a collaborative and practical environment, young people will learn to use 2-D design programmes and find out about 3-D scanning, laser cutting and engraving, circuit milling, etc.
Supported as part of the Solidarity FabLab program, Breakers combines three elements: digital innovation, represented by MakeSpace and Fab Lab; implementation of a methodology that makes use of digital manufacturing and fast prototyping to generate learning environments that offer emancipating opportunities to young people; and, lastly, the social component, defined by the interest in bringing this world within the reach of young people who come from a group that has additional difficulties in accessing these types of resources.
Between July and September 2016, a pilot course was rolled out for 40 young people in two spaces - MakeSpace Madrid and TinkerersLab Castelldefels; a training course for trainers was also conducted.
New courses were launched in autumn 2016:
- Barcelona (Tinkerers Lab Castelldefels)
- Bilbao (Open Space Bilbao)
- Madrid (MakeSpace Madrid)
- Seville (Fab Lab Seville)
- Valencia (Fab Lab Valencia)
The term “breakers” comes from adding the idea of “breaking barriers” to the “maker” concept and is also related to the word “circuit breaker”, which for these young people means having the opportunity to explore an attractive environment, such as technology, and also take the initiative to decide and change their future.
In short, Breakers will have an online platform that will serve as a meeting point for young people, Fab managers, educators, technicians, engineers, teachers and people with very diverse profiles who share a common interest. On the platform it will be possible to access numerous resources, get to know the young participants and their projects and keep up to date with new project features, as well as offering other Fab Labs and entities the opportunity to join the programme.
Breakers include César García Sáez, author of the study ‘(Almost) Everything to be done’ and co-founder of MakeSpace Madrid, as coordinator of the Fab Lab project spaces, and Susanna Tesconi, as head of educational design. The project is being developed with the collaboration of FEPA, a federation of associations that works with and addresses minors and young adults to encourage their emancipation, BJ Adaptaciones, a company that specialises in the design, development and implementation of customised technological solutions for people with disabilities from the social aspect, and the Fab Lab spaces in each city.
