Kenya’s Gearbox has launched a Fab Lab platform for Fab Academy with activities such as technological empowerment, peer-to-peer project-based technical training, local problem-solving and small-scale high-tech business incubation.
The Fab Academy which teaches principles and applications of digital fabrication was developed to teach hands-on skills in Fab Labs, which began as an outreach project from MIT’s Centre for Bits and Atoms.
The Academy has since grown into a global network of more than 500 labs spread out across the world.
The Fab Academy programme at Gearbox will run for six months, with students learning how to prototype and document their projects and ideas through hours of hands-on experience with digital fabrication.
Certificates will be awarded on relevant technical topics and a Fab Diploma after completion of all the topics.
During the course, students will learn and mentor each other, gaining knowledge about the machines, materials, design process, and engineering.