A Makerspace for Students at Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif Aug 31 2020 Contents 1. Introducing a Makerspace with a focus on employable skill development 2. Examples of Projects for a Makerspace at Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif 3. Examples of Equipment needed 4. Makerspace project Inspira�on photos 1. Introducing a Makerspace with a focus on employable skill development A project of interest is to set up a Makerspace at Skateistan Mazar, including a focus on digital maker projects. In Spring 2020 Skateistan’s Programs Director engaged with an e-course about makerspaces, crea�ve project-based learning spaces where children and youth can engage in self-directed crea�ve projects and skill building using a variety of equipment. The course is hosted by the FutureLearn e-learning pla�orm and was developed in partnership with Raspberry Pi Founda�on, an organiza�on that makes inexpensive basic computers and accompanying curriculum for digital maker projects. A Makerspace would be an excellent complement to career planning for our youth leadership students. Students will have the opportunity to learn livelihood skills and develop ideas for their future careers paths, which will lead to decent work, one of the UN’s sustainable development goals (no.8). Makerspace curriculum will allow students to con�nue to engage with Skateistan’s programs at an age when we o�en see a drop in a�endance due to increased academic demands on students’ �me during high school. Finally this project complements a family-focused ini�a�ve to help redirect children who work in the street into an educa�on path by suppor�ng parents to develop skills to support their families such as sewing and food produc�on. At least 100 students and their families would benefit from use of the Makerspace annually; we always strive for 50% girls par�cipa�on in our learning spaces. 2. Examples of Projects for a Makerspace at Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif 2.1 Raspberry Pi Projects: ● Raspberry Pi has project curriculum guides available in the following areas: Design,Programming, Physical Compu�ng, Manufacture, Community and Sharing. ● CAD projects using Makers Empire 3 D, or open source so�ware is also available ● Project directory. ⇾ Example project - coding a mechanical pinwheel 2.2 Skateboarding projects: ● Designing, pressing and cu�ng wooden skateboard decks ● Pain�ng boards with culturally relevant art ● Marke�ng and product design workshops ⇾ Example intercultural board art project (Kabul 2013) 2.3 Entrepreneurship and employment skills: ● Sewing (designing clothes and tailoring) ● Food produc�on skills (eg. making sauces) ● Digital/computer based job market: Coding, CAD/ Design, Produc�on 3. Examples of Equipment needed The final list of purchases may differ from the list below. A more detailed budget proposal will be made available upon request. Hardware Sewing machines x 3 Raspberry Pi & accessories x 30 Computer Monitors x 10 3D printer x 1 (if available for shipping) Small geared Motors x 50 Wheels, wires and other various cra� equipment Wood and woodshop supplies Hot plate x 1 For entrepreneurial cooking and food produc�on projects. Blenders x 3 For entrepreneurial cooking and food produc�on projects. Dremel (wood working) x 2 Circuitry and robo�cs kits x 5 Laser cu�er x 1 (if available for shipping) USBs x 50 4. Project Inspira�on Photos Young students in Kabul making doll clothes by hand. Children in Kabul show off doll clothes and infant clothes they designed and sewed by hand. Children show off their weather vein crea�ons in Mazar. Children in Mazar create a model of the Skate School using Lego. Youth Leadership students si�ng with newly unpacked sewing machines in Mazar-e=Sharif. The students and staff used these to repair safety equipment and make children’s clothes. Girls learn about components of a skateboard and how to maintain them. A female youth leadership student shows off a crea�on she made from an old skateboard. ----END---