The Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) is providing support to the Tolocar project by facilitating collaboration between eight makers in Ukraine and thirteen makers from the GIG network and beyond. Together, they are working on the co-design of essential open-hardware products, workshops, and service kits aimed at addressing local needs. Guided by the principle of "Make Things That Matter," maker teams from various countries including Bangladesh, Scotland, Uganda, Philippines, Brazil, USA, and Kenya are joining forces with Ukrainian teams. Teams were selected and formed based on shared innovative concepts.
Globally Distributed Design and Manufacturing Projects[edit | edit source]
These diverse teams are actively engaged in knowledge sharing and skill exchange as they collaborate on the development of various machines and products. The collaborative process encompasses ideation, design, prototyping, and rigorous testing to validate and realize their concepts.
The outcome of these projects will be made accessible to the public through the widely recognized Appropedia platform. This platform will allow individuals to access and replicate the documented projects, as well as utilize the training kits within Ukraine and around the globe. Appropedia is more than just a wiki for appropriate technology; it serves as a comprehensive living resource and covers a wide array of topics related to sustainability, international development and humanitarian aid. Serving as an open hub, Appropedia brings together stakeholders to discover, create, and enhance scalable and adaptable solutions.
The projects being facilitated by Tolocar and GIG are:
- Business Model Toolkit Project 01 is all about rebuilding businesses on the ground through providing support networks, mentoring and training and catalyzing reconstruction efforts through providing new tools to restart makerspace businesses during and post-war. Team: Anna Sera Lowe (Scotland) and Yuri Vlasyuk (Ukraine)
- Maslow CNC Project 02 is working to refine the design of an affordable CNC router which can cut full sheets of plywood. The goal is for this to become a viable tool for the maker community in Ukraine and around the world. Team: Bar Smith (USA) and Roman Fomov (Ukraine)
- Rebirth Brick Housing Project 03 aims to enable the reuse of construction debris for reconstruction in populated areas, and to promote the development and growth of reuse and recycling culture. Team: Yan Kormilitsyn (Ukraine) and Vuga William (Uganda)
- 3D Print Needed Objects Project 04 aims to create a working prototype of a printer that can print weatherproof objects (chairs, tables and other outdoor furniture). The first batch of weather proof objects will be provided to social and cultural centers and shelters in Kyiv through in-kind donation. Team: Skoblia Bohdan (Ukraine) and Roman Sakh (Ukraine)
- Compact Bio-Digester Project 05 is an online set of video instructions with the purpose of teaching participants around the world how to build a compact bio-digester and cooker, a gadget to help people to cook when natural gas service is not available or too expensive. Team: Maria Augusta (Brazil), Samaa Faraj and Nawres Arif (Iraq)
- Restart Admin Model Project 06 aims to restore open access to makerspaces by ensuring stable work and management through capacity building and strategic personnel onboarding for people involved in administration and management of makerspaces. Team: Oleksandra Tretiakova (Ukraine) and Mariana Baran (Ukraine)
- Internet of Things Training Kit Project 07 is an open-source workshop on IoT based on smart houses. It includes development boards, sensors, and a complete functional house model to enable any maker to create necessary connected objects to keep lights on, create security measures and communicate with neighbors when the internet fails. Team: Martin Oloo (Kenya) and Rabina Tinto (Kenya)
- Creative E-Waste Products Project 08 is a workshop to discuss the growing ubiquity of e-waste, diving right in to demystify the internal contents of a laptop together and exploring creative ways to salvage, repurpose or reuse some of its parts. Lead: Saad Chinoy (Singapore)
- Possibility Design for Children Project 09 is an online set of classes and workshops introducing children to the co-creation process. The information shared provides participants with the tools and information needed to build ideas into tangible products in Tolocars and associated makerspaces in Ukraine using available materials. Lead: Rosanna Lopez (Philippines)
- Tetra Solar: Standardizing the Production Process of Solar Powered Water Filters for Open Source Makers Project 10 will develop a standardized process of localizing, sourcing, and manufacturing of solar powered water filters with a manufacturing manual and a product guideline for open source makers in Ukraine to support survivors in need of drinking water in the conflict zones. Team: Melnyk Artem (Ukraine), Faria Alam Ria and Kuldeep Bandhu Aryal (Bangladesh)
- Tricycle Mini Mobile Repair Lab Project 11 develops a tricycle as a mobile makerspace to provide resources for fixing and enhancing everyday (electronic) items to forcibly displaced persons. Through bringing together communities and connecting to the larger scale Tolocars in Ukraine, resilience can be built also in Uganda. Lead: Matthew Lubari (Uganda)
