COMMUNITY PROJECT #413 - THE "FIX-IT" CAFÉ
Mission Statement:
To restore the "Universal Constructor" capability by hosting monthly community repair events where skilled elders teach locals how to repair appliances, clothes, and furniture.
The Needs Assessment:
The "Babylonian" economy is predicated on a high-entropy "Throwaway Culture." When an appliance breaks, the system encourages us to dump it and buy a new one, creating a "Leaky Bucket" for both our finances and our resources. Simultaneously, the practical "DIY" skills of our elders are being lost as they become socially isolated, while the younger generation is losing the ability to transform their material reality.
Core Objectives:
Host 12 monthly "Fix-It" events in various community halls or marae in the first year.
Divert at least 500kg of household waste from landfills by repairing at least 50 items per event.
Recruit 10 "Master Fixers" (mostly elders) to act as mentors and teachers.
Train 20 "Apprentice Fixers" (youth) in basic mechanical, electrical, and textile repair.
Stakeholder Map:
Skilled Elders: The primary mentors with the "Constructor" knowledge.
Youth Volunteers: Learning the skills and assisting with the events.
Community Centres/Marae: Providing the "Workshop" space.
Local Businesses: Donating consumables like solder, thread, and replacement parts.
The "Impact" Model:
This project is an "Indigenous Negentropy" machine. It takes "Disorder" (broken items) and uses "Information and Energy" (skill and effort) to restore "Order" (functioning items). It is sustained by the savings it provides to whānau and the social "Joy" (+2 Mauri Ora) of collective work. It costs almost nothing to run but generates massive social and economic value.
Engagement Strategy:
We will promote the events as "Ahi Kā" (keeping the fires burning) for practical skills. We will use "Before and After" social media stories to show the satisfaction of a successful repair, framing the "Fixer" as a hero against waste.
Resource Requirements:
A set of high-quality portable tools (electronics, sewing, woodwork).
Consumables (tape, glue, wire, lubricant).
PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) equipment for electrical safety.
A mobile "Fix-It" trailer to transport tools to different locations.
Timeline of Action:
Week 1: Identify and recruit the first 5 "Master Fixers" from the local community.
Week 2: Secure the first venue and set the date for the kickoff event.
Week 3: Launch the social media campaign: "Don't Dump It—Bring It!"
Week 4: Host the first "Fix-It" Café event and document the repairs and stories.
Mauri Assessment
Te Taiao (Environment): +2 — Significantly reduces landfill waste and the "embodied energy" loss of discarded goods.
Te Ahurea (Culture): +1 — Restores the value of stewardship and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Te Tangata (Social): +2 — Combats social isolation for elders and builds community self-reliance.
Te Pūtea (Economic): +2 — Saves whānau money on replacement costs and keeps capital within the local household (Oikonomia).
