I thought it is about time I shared with the community a little introduction about the MaidSafe Foundation and what we have been up to recently.
Given that the Foundation is integral to MaidSafe’s strategy, we feel now is the right time to focus more attention on moving the Foundation forward. It is also something that @dirvine is extremely passionate about.
The Foundation is heavily focused on aiding, assisting and supporting the advancement of education, creativity and innovation. The MaidSafe Foundation works with the local community (and beyond) to develop innovation and creative learning. We are currently in the early process of setting up a Fabrication Laboratory (fab lab) in Ayrshire.
We are starting small and have invited small groups of children sourced locally through the local council childcare services and schools to participate in mobile fab lab workshops. The kids participated in a day of learning, problem solving and of course fun. The days comprised of the kids creating and designing their own t-shirts, laser cutting and assembling their own animal toy, making bristle bots, laser cutting and building a game (connect four) as well as many other things. These workshops have been great fun and enjoyed by all. All kids were incredibly enthusiastic about the fab lab concept and all the children agreed that they would use a fab lab if one were available locally. As we develop we would like to start encouraging entrepreneurs and businesses from further afield to use the equipment.
We are still very much in the infancy stage of this process, and have a few challenges along the way in order to successfully achieve our goals. However, we are off to a good start and if we continue to grow and nurture our mobile fab lab workshops they will grow in popularity and enable the Foundation to positively impact upon as many lives as possible.
Donations
As you may be aware, the Foundation will become self-sustaining as soon as MaidSafe.net becomes profit making and enables dividends to flow into the charity. Until that time, the Foundation exists and is able to provide its free services based on the goodwill of third parties, and is also applying for public sector funding. It is worth noting that the Foundation
is now accepting bitcoin donations. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at the following address:
1LTuhdKbTxCoSmjutxydP8bAfzn6USPpTC
100% of all donations and funds raised will go directly to our projects.
Feedback
All the kids were incredibly enthusiastic about the Fab Lab. Below are some of their responses:
100% of the children said they would love the Fab Lab to visit them again.
100% of the children said they would use the Fab Lab if one were available in Troon.
What was the best thing about the Fab Lab?
o Designing t-shirts
o Making bristle bots
o Making toy elephants
o Loads to do
o The laser
o Everything
What would be your dream thing to make in the Fab Lab?
o A laser shooter
o Hats
o The Eiffel Tower
o A potion
o A shrink ray
o A onesay
The local council, who have been using the fab lab had this to say:
“An excellent service which engages children in activities which stretch their imagination and their creativity. The children had a fabulous time and went away home with lots of wonderful creations which made them feel proud of their achievements. A sign of children engaged is seeing the backs of their heads and smiles on their faces and that’s what I saw”. – Diane Hodge Childcare Services Officer, South Ayrshire Council.
A big thank you to @Scott, @Shona and Linda Rose for all their help during our workshop sessions.
wish this was something accessible to my children
