A new chapter in the regional sustainability movement has begun. Association Makerspace Garage Mostar has officially launched the first Repair Café in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Western Balkan region.
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Science (FMON) and the Repair Café International Foundation, the initiative kicked off with a marathon of workshops, proving that the “culture of repair” is the most effective tool against the trap of modern consumerism.
Bridging Tradition and Innovation
The launch event that took place in December, 2025, attracted over 45 participants, including primary and secondary school students, as well as university students. Under the mentorship of local experts, they tackled five specialized repair modules:
- Restoration of wooden items
- Bicycle servicing and tuning
- Diagnostics and repair of small household appliances
- Textile repair and upcycling
- 3D scanning and printing for replacing broken plastic parts
One of the workshops held during the launch of the Repair Cafe with primary school students
A Movement, Not Just a Workshop
“Our goal is to put Bosnia and Herzegovina on the global map of sustainability, alongside cities like Amsterdam and Berlin. A Repair Café is not just a service; it’s a social hub where we restore the value of objects and share vital life skills over a cup of coffee.” says Anida Čmanjčanin, project manager of Makerspace Garage
Restoration of a wooden item with the help of a local craftsman
Nerman Turkić, co-founder of Makerspace Garage, emphasizes the long-term impact: “We aren’t just teaching people how to fix broken objects. We are building a community that values resources over waste and empowering a new generation of makers to lead the transition toward a circular economy.”
Systemic Change in Action
By providing access to tools and expert knowledge, the Mostar Repair Café aims to remove the barriers of fear and lack of resources that often lead people to discard repairable items.
As part of the project “Circular Economy in Action,” this initiative marks a systemic shift in how the youth in the region approach resource management. Following this successful launch, Repair Café Mostar will continue to operate as a permanent community hub, offering free, regular sessions to the public. More information available at www.repaircafe.ba.
