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. |
1.1. 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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |