Shifting Hong Kong: MakerBay
Shifting Hong Kong is a series of short articles by Hong Kong Shifts. The aim is to shine the spotlight on the city’s NGOs, charities and other organisations focusing on social inclusion initiatives and working to support Hong Kong’s most vulnerable social groups. This week we are sharing our perspectives on MakerBay.
What they do
MakerBay is a hands-on organisation, providing workshops and courses with an aim to foster a maker mindset for positive social and environmental impact. They offer classes on woodwork, textiles, jewellery-making, 3D printing, electronics and steelwork, just to name a few. The space is a unique and much-needed gem for city-dwellers of all ages to make and create.
Vibes
We ventured to Tsuen Wan and were welcomed into a spacious, inviting and airy makerspace. The MakerBay co-working space is spread across two huge floors in an old warehouse - complete with large windows, plenty of natural light and workstations tucked away in the various alcoves.
What we loved
All in the making: With dedicated areas for each skill, the space was filled with machines, tools, materials, fabrics available for any kind of maker work you could imagine. The space was so well-equipped that we almost felt tempted to get our hands dirty ourselves.
Alternative learning: MakerBay offers education re-imagined, providing young people with an encouraging and safe environment to experiment, dream, make and create impact.
Creative and collaborative: With an impressive portfolio of hands-on skills amongst the MakerBay team, no wonder the organisation can offer such diverse classes ranging from laser-cutting to artificial intelligence, always using design thinking as a common tool.
Behind the scenes
We also visited a number of spacious rooms tucked away at the back of the space, which are available to the public for renting. There is a beautiful and airy kitchen pantry area for staff and visitors to enjoy - with big wooden tables, colourful painted walls and lush plants dotted along the windowsills.
How you can help
The organisation is always looking for more volunteers and interns to help out on workshops and events. If you feel like getting hands-on, do get involved here. If you would like to support the organisation’s activities through a contribution, donations can be made here. Lastly, read the inspiring story of Suet, MakerBay’s Program Officer, and share it with your friends and contacts to promote their fantastic work!