REPAIR CULTURE EUROPE - From Throwaway Culture to Repair Culture

What can young people learn from local repair practitioners about the objects we use and the resources behind them?

Küçükçekmece Municipality is looking for partner organisations for REPAIR CULTURE EUROPE, an Erasmus+ KA152-YOU Youth Exchange proposal connecting ecology, repair culture and intergenerational learning.

The project will bring together 30 young people aged 18–30 from Türkiye and two partner countries for nine activity days in Istanbul, excluding travel, followed by eight weeks of local activities.

“Repair is not only a technical skill. It is a culture.”

Participants will explore how maintenance, repair and reuse can help keep everyday objects in use. They will consider the materials involved, the purpose of a repair and whether an object continues to be used afterwards.

Local practitioners will share their knowledge through interviews, demonstrations and supervised practice. Young people will work in international teams, explain what they have learned to other participants and improve their ideas through peer feedback. After returning home, they will adapt selected activities to their local context and follow up on their use.

Main activities

Repair Culture Mapping: Identify local repair practitioners, workshops and existing repair cafés in the three participating cities.
Master × Young Maker: Connect young people with experienced practitioners to exchange maintenance knowledge and repair experiences.
Repair School: Explore suitable textile, small wooden item and shoe-care tasks through supervised practice and peer learning.
Repair Café Days: Bring residents, practitioners and young people together for selected repair tasks, maintenance advice and shared learning.
Repair Stories: Document practitioners’ experiences and practical knowledge through short videos, audio or written accounts.
Repair Passport: Record each participant’s learning, tasks tried and knowledge shared with peers.
Repair Challenge: Develop and review six international teams’ repair or reuse examples, considering usefulness, material needs and maintenance.
European Repair Week: Hold coordinated local activities in the three participating cities during an agreed follow-up week.
Repair Culture Toolkit: Combine activity plans, mapping templates, stories and case cards in a practical Turkish and English guide.

The exchange will use non-formal education, intercultural teamwork and youth-led activities. Practical work will remain within suitable, supervised tasks. Local follow-up gatherings aim to involve at least 45 additional young people.

Who are we looking for?

We welcome youth organisations, NGOs, municipalities and organisations working with young people in environmental education, community learning, repair, reuse or creative making.

Each partner is expected to involve 10 young people aged 18–30 and one group leader, contribute to preparation and programme design, connect with local practitioners and support follow-up activities.

Specialist repair expertise is welcome, but organisations can also contribute through youth participation, inclusion and non-formal learning.

Interested organisations are invited to share their PIF and a brief description of their relevant experience and possible contribution.

The project is under development for an Erasmus+ application. Implementation is subject to funding approval; exchange dates will be agreed with partners.