EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICE

Basic information / introduction:

 

Topic of Good practice: (choose one of the following):

Cooperative and co-working                                                                                                   

Crowd funding, open source, government service                                                             

Alternative energy production, rural economy                                                                     

Cooperative transport service (bike, travelling...), fair trade, education                            X

 

Good practice name / title

Organisation of Repair Cafés

 

Location (Region or City, country)

Paris

 

Organization / community / cooperation implementing this Good practice, partners

We founded a special structure to create the Repair Café association. In its structure, several persons are involved, from different backgrounds.

 

When was organization / community established?

The first Repair Café was held the 1st of April 2013. Of course, several meeting were needed before and the creation of the association dedicated to the organization of the Repair Café.

 

Activities of the organization / community, specific aspects

A Repair Café is a place which offers a second life to objects. When a thing is broken or out of order, people bring it to the Repair Café where some handymen taught, for free, them to fix it in a friendly atmosphere. It is a typical exchange of good practices organized and animated by volunteers.

 

 

 

 

  1. Description:

1.1.  Status of the Good practice (choose one of the following):

 

1)     Just started               2) Implemented X            3) Finished

 

1.2.  What are the main issues / problems this Good practice was developed to solve.

The main issue was to find some motivated volunteers who are ready to commit themselves for a long time (one Repair Café per month). Another problem was to find some places, big enough and free, to held the Repair Café.

 

1.3.  What are the expected results / effects / impacts?

The main objective is to fight planned obsolescence and to raise awareness regarding this topic. It occurs at a reaction against extensive consumption.

 

1.4.  How is this Good practice organized? What actions are planned / were accomplished?

This action is the result of several persons’ will. Each month, we gather in different places in Paris. Between 70 and 80 persons are coming to fix around 30 objects each session.

 

 

 

 

2.    Innovation criteria:

2.1.  Is this practice innovative for the region / community? If so, describe.

In Paris, it was the first Repair Café. It wasn’t the first in France that is why the organisation is called Repair Café Paris.

 

2.2.  Is this practice innovative for the sector? If so, describe.

Not really, Paris is dynamic regarding sustainable activities. Different events are organised in the area of the Social Solidarity economy.

 

 

  1. Significance criteria:

3.1.  How did the community benefit from this Good practice? Compare with the intended benefits.

One of the main objectives is to educate people and to make them aware that planned obsolescence is not destiny.

 

3.2.  Describe short and long term environmental impact:

Of course, it is better to learn how to fix a thing than to throw it away! On this point of view, the environmental impact is quite obvious.

 

3.3.  Describe short and long term social impact:

First, this kind of action permits to raise awareness of the citizen regarding these issues. Then, most of the time handymen are older than the persons who are coming to the Repair Café so it is a booster of intergenerational relationships. Finally, it permits to people to value their skills.

 

3.4.  Describe short and long term economical impact:

This initiative is integrated in a general movement of criticizes against the consumer society. The Repair Café helps people to consume in a different way, and to push collaborative initiatives.

 

3.5.  What are the best aspects of this Good practice?

-       Exchange of skills

-       Intergenerational links

-       Raise awareness of the society

-       Fight planned obsolescence

-       Consume differently

 

 

3.6.  What should be altered / improved?

One of the problems is that the organisation doesn’t earn any money; all handymen are volunteers and people don’t pay. Sometimes, they can give something (participation is encouraged) but it is, most of the time, not enough to buy all the material needed to repair.

 

 

  1. Transferability criteria:

4.1. Can this Good practice be transferred to other communities / regions / countries? If so, describe.

We are planning to create a special guide to inform people about the way to use to create a Repair Café. This guide will be available at each Repair Café. It is on process.

 

 

4.2. Can this Good practice be transferred to other sectors? If so, describe.

The principle is easily transferrable: Do not waste was could be fixed.

However, a Repair Café is not focused on a special thing. For instance; people can bring electronic things (informatics) but also some clothes to sew.

 

 

  1. Additional information – web links, links to photos, pdf’s etc.

 

Find us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Repair-caf%C3%A9-Paris/340638079389211?fref=ts

 

Webpage: http://repaircafeparis.fr/

 

Mail: repaircafeparis@gmail.com

 

More information on : http://www.e-seniors.asso.fr