Sustainability ‘Repair café’ breathes new life into old things
First you sign in and show them what needs fixing.
Then you get a number for the appropriate repair station.
A hairdryer gets the once-over.
Teamwork is a must, also when fixing a ceramic mug.
The helpers are unpaid volunteers who freely share their expertise.
It's a new look for a doll getting her eyes replaced.
Michael Beckmann is the president of the Repair Café’s Bern branch.
Restringing a necklace takes beady eyes and steady hands.
There are plenty of homemade snacks to enjoy while awaiting your turn.
Some lucky doll is getting a new dress.
An old VCR is coaxed back to life.
It’s bustling in the so-called Turnhalle, Bern’s old gymnasium.
Smartphones get a new lease on life with freshly repaired cases, displays and innards.
A DJ helps everybody get into the groove.
With a new strap and buckle, this bicycle helmet will be ready to hit the road again.
Could an old set of handlebars be reincarnated?
Successful upcycling: Thanks to the talented pensioner, the lady has a cool new coat rack.
Whether it’s a one-eyed teddy bear, a jammed zipper or a broken toaster, you can have it fixed – for free – at one of Switzerland’s ‘Repair Cafés’.
On regularly scheduled dates all over the country, volunteers of all ages donate their time, tools and expertise to repairing electronics, clothing, toys, and other household items. Many are retired and appreciate the chance to share their skills in a lively and sociable atmosphere.
Indeed, the demand for their services is quite high. It’s first-come, first-served, so it pays to arrive early. And while there’s no charge for the money-saving repair service, tips are certainly appreciated. Sometimes it’s even possible to “upcycle” old objects – creating something new and unique out of what might have gone to waste.
Sponsored by Konsumentenschutzexternal link, a Swiss consumer protection foundation, the Repair Café workers make a note of commonly occurring defects and report them to the manufacturers. swissinfo.ch visited a Repair Café in Bern – where all sorts of defective goods were being rejuvenated.
(Photos by Ester Unterfinger, text by Susan Misicka)