Paranduskelder is an NGO based in Tartu, Estonia. Our mission is to create a global network of individuals and organisations that have already adapted behaviours, and implemented systems of a circularity based world. We serve this goal on three levels:
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US
HANDS-ON
Paranduskelder (meaning Repair Basement) is a community maker/repair space located in The Widget Factory. We are focused on repair, upcycling and do-it-yourself activities. We aim to encourage change within people’s habits and mindset towards repairing.
LOCAL LEVEL
Paranduskohvik event series (Repair cafe events) provides an opportunity for the local community to gain and develop their DIY and repairing skills. In this manner we demonstrate very practically, that most of the everyday objects, regardless of their design, are in fact repairable.
GLOBAL LEVEL
OUR HISTORY.
Our goal is to popularize repairing and upcycling as one of the necessary components of circular economy. One of the most influential ways to serve this purpose is to organize Repair Cafés which we have been doing since 2017 in various places around Estonia. In this way, we extend the lifespan of everyday objects (whilst saving valuable resources and the environment) and people acquire repair skills. In November 2019 we opened up our own workshop in the basement of an old factory complex and called it Paranduskelder. Since then we have organized various workshops, events and lectures connected to sustainable lifestyle and have been working towards building a resilient community. The community includes professionally skilled craftsman, engineers, architects, creatives, educators and artists. Our NGO is funded yearly by the municipality of Tartu.
STUFF WE DO
Paranduskelder wants a world that is wholesome and free from the trash. To approach this, we created a place where everyone can acquire the skills and willingness to take the act of repairing the world into their own hands. Come and participate in creating a repair culture in Tartu and learn something new.
MAKERSPACE
If you like to make things, enjoy working with machines, or just talk about tools and fixing things, this is your place. Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned pro we’ll welcome you! Our repair/maker space is open to registered members who can use the rooms free of charge during Open Workshop times. Obey your conscience, disobey the throw-away economy. Join us and just fix it!
ROOM RENTAL
Paranduskelder offers a cozy environment for organizing various events, trainings and workshops. Rooms are decorated using secondhand furniture and reused or upcycled objects. The capacity depends on the type of event, going up to 30 people. We use the rental income to fund the popularization of repair culture and we appreciate if the event's organized here are environmentally friendly.
WORKSHOPS
From time to time we organize special courses, lectures and events about repairing, maintenance and upgrading things - all with the purpose to give people skills to be more sustainable, community-oriented and resilient in their lives. It is possible to book a workshop only for your group. We are open for collaborations with all enthusiasts and work towards developing more workshops in the future.
REPAIR CAFÉ
One way we serve our mission to popularize the circularity culture is by organizing Repair Café events. Repair Café's format means repairing beloved broken items together with a volunteer Repair Hero, who can easily be your neighbour. The goal of the Repair Café is to show that things CAN be repaired and doing it together makes it also fun!
REPAIR BUS
During the last two years, we have received several invitations to organize Repair café events all around Estonia (and beyond). For this, we started a crowdfunding campaign that aims to gather enough money to get a bus - a mobile repair workshop. In December 2020 we reached the goal and hopefully next spring we will be on the road. Stay tuned!
PRODUCTS
We create new products from things destined for landfill and repair things that are forgotten in our Makerspace. Mostly we try to make the repair and mends as visible as possible. The goal is to highlight these imperfections in a creative, eye-catching way. We believe a fixed thing is a beautiful thing. Let's mend the world, not trash it. Take a look!
ALL THE GOOD STUFF
This is an intro to Paranda YouTube channel!
Subscribe for weekly videos about circularity, urban sustainability, and DIY global problems solving!
Subscribe to our channel1
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Car Toy Shattered to Pieces. Can I Fix It? I Jirka's HC Repairs ep. 5
Why I Still Had Kids Despite the Climate Apocalypse
DIY Home Surveillance - Laptop Webcam + Mildly creepy soviet doll
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GET IN TOUCH
We are always open to new ideas and proposals from like-minded enthusiasts. You want to become a volunteer, host an event, or start your own workshop series? Don’t hesitate to contact us!
- JIŘÍ KREJČÍCollaborative Projects / Communication / Youtube
jirka@paranda.ee
+372 5381 8701Co-founder, BA student of Religious Studies and Theology, Tartu University. Jiri had a key-role in initiating the community activities named above and is a leading position for the Paranda YouTube channel.
- LAURI MEIRepairbus / Finance / Sales
lauri@paranda.ee
+372 5323 5013Co-founder, professional wood technologists, Lauri has been previously in charge of running a community maker space and has a wide range of DIY skills.
- JAANA AHLBERGRepair Cafes / Project Writing / Erasmus+
jaana@paranda.eeMsc. Landscape Architecture, University of Life Sciences. Jaana is the initiator and main organizer of Repair Cafe events and currently operates as a support to the main team.
- KÄTLIN JOHANSONSocial Media / Webpage / Rooms
katlin@paranda.eeBSc. Environmental protection, Estonian University of Life Sciences. Kätlin is responsible for running the Repair Cafe events and the aesthetics and functioning of the community maker space.
- DIANA LÕHMUSManagement / Repair Heroes / Educational Programs
diana@paranda.eeTeam leader, Msc. of Arts and Pedagogy, Tartu University. Diana has been involved in several previous community projects and has 8 years of experience as art and DIY teacher.
HELP US TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD.
Become a Repair Hero, get in touch with the team, and let’s start working together. We’re always happy to meet new people and realities. Drop us an email with your ideas and we’ll come back to you as soon as possible.
HOW TO FIND US.
MTÜ Paranduskelder
The Widget Factory, Entrance nr 2, Kastani 42, Tartu, Estonia
+372 5381 8701
Tuesday to Thursday - 5 PM to 8 PM
