Repair Café Teaches Skills, Reduces Waste

Don’t throw out that appliance! Repair it! This was the message at the Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) Repair Café event on May 22. Attendees were invited to bring in their faulty appliances to be fixed by Stanford engineering students. More than 60 items were repaired, from refrigerators to computers to bikes and even clothing.

Not only did the Repair Café promote the importance of fixing items to reduce landfill, it also provided a space for students to practice applying their engineering knowledge in a hands-on environment. ESW partnered with the Repair Café of Palo Alto to borrow tools and supplies, as well as to train additional Stanford students in how to make the repairs for future events.