In 2015 when we (Purna Sarkar and Antara Mukherji) started with first Repair Cafe in September, we were unsure of how it will take shape as time passes?
We had faith that there will be many people who would agree and support this cause. We just worked to make the workshops happen (months after months ) where people from diverse backgrounds cutting the social and generational divide came together for a cause of repair.
Corona shutdown posed a big challenge but Purna managed to keep the workshop going through online engagements and sessions and making sure that our tribes increases even from other cities besides Bangalore!
I feel pleased and relived to witness that people have given this global cause their support and we conducted our second workshop this year in APU campus this week.
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| Laptop station |
We were welcomed by a team of student volunteers and faculty into their physics lab.
There has been a good amount of registrations, mostly gadgets for repair, clothes to be stitched, bags to be mended and laptops to be maintained, but we did not see the same number of people actually come in for the workshop.
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| Swanky Physic lab! |
There were few surprised individuals who came and exclaimed - “Oh, I could have gotten my shoes for repair”!
Can you tell me how can I fix it myself?
One couple came in with home equipment and a laptop. They were attended by Mr. J, who has been our wealth in terms of knowledge and patience. We handed over a set of tools to the family and soon they were busy taking things apart and figuring out what went wrong with their device.
A young student needed her dress fit her size. Since the fabric was a complex layers of lace and polyester our mending volunteer quickly realised that it wouldn't work on the machine. A quick hand stitching made the dress fit her perfectly.
A young professor who came for a quick fix to his sandals helped himself with a large needle and thread. He was able to temporarily fix the flap which had opened up.
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| Sewing my own... |
You create memories when you mend your stuff. There is no substitute for showing care for things that you buy, owe and use.
