 So, we are running a little bit late, so we are going to go straight to the most exciting part of this session. And I am incredibly happy to be able to welcome and introduce Matthew Lubari, who is an amazing volunteer and activist in Uganda, co-founder of Community Creativity for Development, an organization operating in the Rhino Camp refugee camp in northern Uganda, where they are inventing the future of repair in frugal and creative and incredibly inspiring ways. And it's really a honor to have Matthew with us, particularly considering that until less than a month ago, it was not yet holding a passport. And it is literally a miracle that we are here with him today, and so I'd love you to give him a warm welcome. We've known Matthew for the past year in a bit, and he reached out to us, and we kind of could tell straight away that he had a lot to say, and we've learned already so much from communicating and engaging with him and his group, and I'm sure we'll learn a lot more today and throughout the weekend. So without any further ado, I'll give the floor to Matthew, and we'll just switch to his presentation, and here we go. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Hello, fixers. Hey, you guys not happy? Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here. I'm called Matthew, the Barry, and I come from South Sudan, originally, but I live in Uganda as a refugee. I came to Uganda since 2016 when the war, which is recall the manmade problems that happened back home and forced us to come to Uganda, where we came in separate directions. Mother came in a different way. The kids, everyone came in a very different direction, and so happy that today I'm here and to share my story with you guys. Renokam refugee settlement is located in the northwest of Uganda, and it hosts about 120,000 refugees from South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Deara Congo, and Central Apricot Republic. But majorly, many of the refugees are from South Sudan, where I come from. And I happen to be co-founder and at the same time the director for community creativity for development, which is located in the Renokam refugee settlement in a small village called Eden. And community creativity for development, it was formed when we realized that there was a gap in repair and reuse of electronics within the settlement. And we are a group of three co-founders, two gentlemen and one female. So it's a little bit balanced, but not fully, when we talk about gender inclusion, right? So though it's not yet balanced, but I think we are going to do the balancing. And we had been on ground since 2021, but originally the idea came up in 2019. So a year, like three years, then we became so operational, like visible on ground. The other years we were trying to put things in place so that we establish ourselves well. And the aim is to connect communities while protecting the environment from global warming. So that is the major aim of community creativity for development. We have a vision of a transform the community that is fully in control of the available, I mean, the socioeconomic well-being using the available resources, so that to protect the environment from global warming, promote openness, reduce poverty, and build peace among the community. Those are the figures and this is the aerial photography taken in 2021 of a small village in Rhino Camp, and it's called Ocea. And Rhino Camp has up to 30,000 households and up to seven zones. Of course, the biggest zone has 12,051 households and all those people, you know, have devices in their hands and those includes items for lightning and energy, communication and information, mechanical, electrical items and textiles, items, of course, the closets, the mobile phones, bicycles, and solar lanterns, which were distributed to the refugees during arrival in 2016. And we have quite a number of activities that we do. First thing is the repair of electronics that we carry on at least on a daily basis. And we quite do it in a different way that I'm going to tell you about. And we do also trainings on the repair and providing ICT mentorship, including digital competence training, where we train the refugees themselves on how they can use the smartphone to access information, how they can use a laptop to browse or play music. And this is aimed at relieving the stress that has been caused by the war so that someone can live in a stressless environment. And we do also awareness raising on a repair and reuse, including e-waste management. And we also do upcycling of some of the items, though not all, back to the story, how things started. And it started in 2017 to 2018, when I was in the Rhino-Kam refugee settlement, I managed to fluke with a zip of tools right away, you can see a screwdriver, a cutter, a toothbrush, and a scissor, which had helped me to push things on, much as power issues were there, no tools, no table, good table where you can put something, the electronic device when it, but we had to continue and at least provide services to the community. I was joined with a lady who is now a gender activist in promoting women inclusion in a repair café or in a repair culture, and she's called Edina Dower. Right here she appears in different pictures. And coming to October 2018 to 2020, we had our first repair café event, which was introduced by an organization called Rogue Agents. It's a Berlin-based organization that supports refugees in Uganda, in South Sudan, and also it supports people in post-conflict areas in Cameroon, and they were the first organization that introduced repair café in the settlement and sparked up things. But before that, I want to tell you some three things that inspired me to do repair. One is my dad. My dad is a medical personnel, but he likes fixing things. I used to watch him when I was a little kid, 12 to 14 years. He could watch him fixing his watch and his radio. He loved listening to news. Currently we don't stay together. He's back in the country, but sometimes we communicate on phone. So five years I haven't set my eyes on him. But he's doing good. Second thing was when I had my first smartphone. I placed it on a table and one of my cousins tried to play around with it and locked my phone. So I was locked out. I couldn't access anything in my phone because the security was done in a different thing. So when I took it to the technician, I asked him, can you fix for me my phone? He said, yeah, I can fix for you. It was a guy from India and while repairing, he told me to go and wait outside because he never wanted me to see how he fixed things. But I tend to stood somewhere where I can peep and see what he was doing. And I was watching closely what he was doing. How he was moving his hands while trying to fix my phone. So he asked for money and that was a lot of money for me because I didn't have a job. And that was in 2013. I was still a student. So painfully I paid the money. But it has challenged me and I went back home with that phone. I got online, did some bit of research on how to fix the same problem. I locked the phone and unlocked it. And I was happy when I unlocked it. I got challenged. I was like, no, I need to teach people how to repair. I want to make repair open. Third thing was also in 2013 in Kampala. I used my laptop in the evening, coming to the morning, tried to open it. Could not power on. Took to a technician. He tried to fix it. He failed. Instead of giving me my laptop in a good shape, he removed some parts, so sad. My hard drive disk got changed. The network adapter was taken and I was like, damn, is it how things are done? So he told me, we can't work on your computer, it's dead. So I took it to a certain place, it's called PC world. When I reached there, the first looked at the screws. And they told me, your computer someone tampered with and they opened. So we can't help work it for you because it's already opened by someone. I got angry. I stood by, I was like, just help me open it once. And he checked, so your network card got taken and your hard disk has changed. When I reached back to the very person who first opened my laptop, he almost fought me. But I never had power because I was young. So I had to let it go and my laptop just ended. So those three scenarios, you know, made me to check repair app and teach people openly how to fix things. So back to this story, well in 2018 when the first repair cafe happened and this organization rogue agents gave me one of the toolbox that kid, the black kid is called Asquatec. And Asquatec means access to skills, knowledge and network is a tool kit that comprises of mechanical tools for, I mean tools also for fixing mobile phones and other things for mending because it has needles inside where you can mend your clothes. So it's kind of having a lot of things inside. And I was given the empty tool kit with only a solar iron, multimeter and a manual, a repair manual which also comprises of how someone can build a solar charger and build solar panels. So I took this tool kit and tried to fill it up. But while trying to fill it up, it was very hard for me because I'm in a refugee camp and there's no money. So every time I wanted to repair, we go borrow the other full tool kit which was given to another hub. So we had to borrow and try to use for fixing. And also got involved in responding to research questions from different researchers, but mostly from the European countries. Being involved in these interviews, you know, it opened up my mind a lot where I was able to contribute largely. Some researchers I could tell them, you know, I don't have internet, maybe if you could provide me internet, then I can be able to be online and share with you how we do things. And of course, some respondents. An example, one of the researchers called Filippi, I don't know, might be here, but he did respond it and sent me some airtime. And some individuals as well did trust us and were able to support us when I tried to initiate establishment of the organization. I'm very proud and happy today to meet him. Mr. Ota Donanson, please, I'm so happy to see you. He has been so instrumental and he risked to support though we never met. It was just on text, but he trusted and supported a lot. Coming to the restart project, it was last year when I came to meet online with the restarters. So I was going through searching the word repairs and boom, I landed on the restart project's Facebook page, made a comment of what I'm up to, and I got a response through the Facebook page to send a concept note and a budget. When I sent, we went into these customs with Ugo, had a virtual call that was in October. And yeah, the feedback was nice. And in December, we got nominated to receive some grants to support the initiative. It was worth 5,000 US dollars and which has led to the establishment of CC4D, where you see that house. It was so great. And after that, we were able to join the restarters group. Imagine by then I was doing the repair because I got challenged in one way or the other. Some people made me to do it and to teach, but I never knew I was contributing for the planet, like preventing the planet from global warming. But when I joined the team of the restarters and with other colleagues, I was able to learn new things about how repair contributes to the planet. So incredible, whereby I was able to meet other researchers and be able to meet repair café Malmo, and I fixed it team through the repair café Malmo who were able to receive I fixed it tools, a business tool pack all the way. I think I still don't remember the location which was sent, but up to Rhinocombe refugee settlement in the village. That's why we say repair is everywhere. And I used to say repair has no boundaries, can be done by anybody at any time. So what we have so far done as an organization, we had done trainings where we trained 35 refugees, 20 males and 15 females, and we were advocating for women inclusion in repair culture because women in our side, they fear touching electronics. So we wanted to tell them that please don't fear to touch electronics, it doesn't kill. Do fix it, and we are encouraging the women technicians, and which has packed a lot and more women are interested in joining the repair or to become technicians. We also hold up to six repair café events where up to 350 items were fixed, and those includes the mobile phones, the radios, solar lights, or the solar lanterns, solar inverters, computers, bicycles, clothes and footwear. So it's sort of not a specialized one, but it's a remix, mixed of things because we never wanted to leave one part out, but at least hope in a broader way. That's why we are doing that. And we do it in our small space and sometimes we go out to other areas, though it's quite challenging to reach some of the parts due to long distance from one village to another. And we also do provide access to tools for the community. When someone wants to fix something, they come to the center and fix their thing or take the tool and return it back. We also do the collection and upcycling of electronics waste. So over there, it's quite an innovation that we tried out on making wooden electrical extension cables, which is aimed at replacing the electrical extension cables made out of plastic waste. So we are kind of shifting, like trying to eliminate the plastic waste or reduce the plastic waste. I know it's quite not easy to do that, but we try to put it up a little bit. And we collect some of the waste items from the community, though it's quite challenging for someone to give their dead electronics. The culture is different. Everyone keeps, even if it's dead, but they want just to keep it and keep seeing it there. And sometimes when upcycling those things, especially the solar lights, we rebuild them and make it work again by removing some of the components and try to put in a different board or solder them and make it work. We also had the awareness on US management to the community where we have reached over 500 community members with messages on step disposal of electronics waste whereby we encourage them to bring to our small center for safe keeping. And we also tell them the good news on repair and reuse of items. Why we need to repair the items, we give them that information and it has changed the mindset of the community. And above all, while doing this, we also create employment to the youths because those youths that we trained, we always involve them in our repair sessions and they quickly respond and when they respond, whenever we get something small for coffee or transport, we give them and everyone goes back happy at the end of the day and we are able to buy airtime and access information. But along the way we had been challenged with challenges and the biggest problem is the lack of spare parts and the high prices of the spare parts. And that is something even yesterday it's being talked about. The other thing is the quality of the products. You find the market is being flopped by poor quality products which does not last for long. You buy it, it doesn't take a year, it's broken and can't be fixed. So sad. And the limited tools that we have and sometimes the software locks, some of the community members we are not able to help them to unlock those software locks because we couldn't have the tools or the manuals, how to unlock them. And the mobility issues which has also hindered us and above all, the lack of funds has really, really put us not to expand to other areas, despite the long, the bigger population that is in Rhinocom. And the power issue as well is also one of our biggest problem in the settlement, access to reliable power, it's not there and we don't have a very good conducive storage to store lots of the items for the community. So in the last one line, that's the poor quality products and the community behaviors towards repair has been changed because of the awareness that we have done to the community. But much as we have done the awareness, there's still a huge number of electronic items that are not working and needed to be fixed. And they are still in the hands of the community members. And the repair cafe, it promotes peaceful coexistence among us, the refugees and the host communities within the refugee settlement. Because when we came, you know, there are different tribes. And there are specific tribes back home that's like there's that hatred among some of our tribes because say you caused the war or you caused this. So still when it came to the camp, they still that hatred in the minds of the refugees. But with the community repair cafes, we are able to bring all those communities together during the repairs and they were able to converse normally, yeah, without any friction. And at the end of the day, you walk together, chat and peace has been promoted. So repair cafe event, it promotes peace in conflict related areas. I'm not going to read all this because of time, but I think it might be shared online and can be, you know, someone can easily read most of the things. We have some few recommendations and it's in the sub online of supporting the repair cafe centers since it's a very good platform for the community. And we also look forward to creating more awareness raising on the repair culture. And we're also thinking of if repair could be introduced in schools. Early enough so that people grow up with the culture of the repair. Because you find there it's different that it's normally introduced at institutions, higher institutions or universities as short courses, but has the basics has not been, you know, put right away from the foundation. So we believe that when it's introduced at the early stage, it can change people's behaviors. And people can really take it up and reduce a bigger number of waste. And we have a bigger picture that we had put. We look forward to put more repair cafe events. Establish also at least a repair cafe event in a zone. But that doesn't happen if we don't join our hands together. Because one person cannot be able to lift a very huge stone. But together we believe that we can push it hard and we can achieve our goal. And these are the people or the partners that we had been working together that has been supporting us. Most of you know all this that I've been talking. And this is the smaller team that is behind CC4D. It's a young, talented team and which has various skills in fixing mobile phones, electrical items and laptops, bicycles. And we have also, they act also as photographers. The pictures that you see are also taken by the big team that you see in front. And these are our contacts in case you want to reach us, feel free to reach us and welcome support from anyone, from anywhere. Repair has no boundary and repair is everywhere. I'm so happy to be here and to share my story though has been long, but I'm happy and I welcome if there are questions. This is a team of women that we trained on repair and we call them our women technicians. So they are good at fixing now and whenever we go for repair cafes, we always call them to participate. And they are also inspiring more women to join the repair culture. Thank you so much and I welcome questions or comments. Thank you so, so much, Matthew. I will open the floor to questions with the caveat that we are obviously running already behind. So we, in for respect to all the sessions next, we postpone everything by 20 minutes. So your program mentally adapt everything by 20 minutes and shorten slightly the lunch. Okay, in a very dictatorial way, I just decided this. And so there's a few minutes for questions for Matthew or comments. You want to translate that? No, questions. Any question? My name is Carla Fransam from the municipality of Appledorn. A very interesting presentation, a completely different world for me, but very interesting to hear. And I was wondering, you also were talking about recycling, reusing e-waste. Where does it come from, the e-waste? Sorry? Where does it come from, the e-waste? Does it come from out of the camp? Yeah, from within the camp. Yeah, not from out of the camp. Yeah, not from out because we are currently operating within the camp settings. Thank you. Really great presentation. What outside of the camp, what is the repair situation in Uganda in general? Is it, is there a right to repair, community-based repair going on more broadly in Uganda? Or is this really mostly just in the camp? Thank you. The repair situation in Uganda is that mostly it's in the cities that you find the commercial repairs. But I've never seen a community repair cafe center being operated or running in Uganda. But we are the first who are doing community repair cafes which are not paid for. Hi again. My name is Louise. I work with the French Red Cross and congratulations for the project. It's very, very impressive and I have tons of questions but I'll just keep one for now. With the upcycling that you're doing and the new models that you're creating like the wooden charging stations, do you have a way or a kind of Wikipedia where you're sharing the models that you're testing outside of CC4D? Thank you. Yeah, sure. We do. And we always also publish our information online, especially how someone can make that. And we are currently doing its documentary, documenting it online on Wikifactory. So hopefully we are going to share it globally so that people can access. Hi, Matthew. This is Pudna and it's a great presentation and thanks for presenting it and exploring and sharing your information. I would like to know that have you been able to connect with the other local repair people persons in your community because Africa and Uganda is known for its innovations. And have you been able to connect with them in any way? I mean, I don't know where exactly you stay, how it's reachable or not reachable, but the knowledge is immense. I mean, we are not able to connect with many of them, but there are few of them that we are able to connect. Yeah. But most of them, you know, those are commercial fixers. And it's quite hard for them, you know, to narrow themselves back to the community and to provide repairs at a free cost. Any more questions? Just a quick one. And what's the situation on power? Do you have, presumably in the refugee camp, you have no grid power? Is it all solar, solar cells and inverters? Do you have, you know, AC power to power all of these devices or is it all DC? Power is still a problem in the refugee camp because there is no particular organization or humanitarian organization that has taken up to provide power in the settlement. So it's not reliable. So during our operations, we had our small little generator that we carry or never want to do the repairs. And we're not, we're not neat. Power repairs usually take eight hours or six hours a day, but our center remains open Monday to Friday where people bring, you know, their gadgets for fixing. But power is a very great challenge. Thank you so, so much. And feel free obviously to chat and learn more from Matthew throughout the weekend. Thanks again. And now to the next round of sessions. Thanks. Thank you.