Kenyan makerspace Gearbox has launched a Fab Lab platform for Fab Academy, with activities such as technological empowerment, peer-to-peer project-based technical training, local problem-solving and small-scale high-tech business incubation.
Fab Academy teaches principles and applications of digital fabrication. It was developed to teach hands-on skills in Fab Labs, which began as an outreach project from MIT’s Centre for Bits and Atoms and has grown into a global network of more than 500 labs.
The Fab Academy programme at Gearbox will run for six months, with students learning how to prototype and document their projects and ideas through hours of hands-on experience with digital fabrication.
Certificates are awarded on relevant technical topics and a Fab Diploma is given when all topics are completed. Students learn and mentor each other, gaining knowledge about the machines, materials, design process, and engineering.
“While building their Fab Academy portfolio of mastery of skills, Gearbox gives students an opportunity to be effectively equipped and efficient by providing the makerspace, supplementary knowledge and technical assistance,” Gearbox said.
