Transforming Community Spaces To A Network Of Regional Tools, Resources, Opportunities And Expertise
Communities often lack adequate resources or tools to expand their creativity and subsequently struggle to adapt to the real world challenges and fall behind in adapting the 21st century skills. Now, how do we address these issues and how do we create a social impact to move forward for a better future?
Community spaces can be found in most public locations. This is the space where members of communities or the locals gather and have their daily meetings, to raise concerns among the community, conduct daily activities, social support and many more purposes. However, addressing any issues or solving any challenges may be limited to an extent of the available resources and opportunities.
Let’s start off with Balai Raya Taman Rasa Sayang located in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. Balai Raya Taman Rasa Sayang, now known as Ruang Reka @ Komuniti. It is a community space where the locals gather to solve their daily problems or to conduct any group activities. With the help of Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) and SME Corp Malaysia, the community space has transformed into a space fully equipped with a network of regional tools, resources, opportunities and expertise!
For the upcoming days, weeks and months, communities are now given the opportunity to expand their creativity and be more innovative.
Introducing Ruang Reka
Ruang Reka makerspace was initiated upon the collaboration from Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM), SME Corp Malaysia, Biji-biji Initiative and Me.reka with the mission to provide opportunities for skilled and unskilled youths to express prototypes to diffuse to the community through hands-on, experiential learning, sense of ownership and citizenship. Additionally, STIE awareness through bootcamps, brainstorming, mentoring and motivation made of the quadruple helix framework. Ruang Reka will be developed to 2 other locations throughout Malaysia so be on a lookout for what is next!
A Space Made For Makers To Create And Innovate
Ruang Reka, a space designed for makers to gather and create. Ruang Reka is a makerspace built to connect changemakers within communities and give creators access to a network of regional tools, resources, opportunities, and expertise. Therefore, providing the ease of access to such needs and tools will help foster a culture of innovation and education, especially within the underprivileged communities. Ruang Reka is equipped with products in the HIP 6 ecosystem to address issues in the community.
Following up the NGO@Makerthon Programme, hosted in collaboration with Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia, SME Corp Malaysia, Biji-biji Initiative and Me.reka, Ruang Reka is built for makers to create and innovate. Ruang Reka aims to bridge the gap between the changemakers, communities and resources.
In Ruang Reka, makers or communities are encouraged to create their own solutions and innovations by utilizing the space. By bringing them together to use the experts, innovators and Ruang Reka to create more meaningful solutions and subsequently build a network to help each other. Additionally, the space includes a directory that enables people to find NGOs and the PPR Communities.
Furthermore, Ruang Reka makerspace is a space complete with STIE-based products to address issues in the community. Such as 3D printing, Virtual Reality (VR), Robotics & Electronics Set.
Conclusion
Ruang Reka aims to connect communities to jobs, networks and governments’ guidance. The space acts as a platform for organisations or communities by enabling them to craft innovative solutions that will alleviate community-centric challenges with digital technologies and 21st century skills.
The challenges our communities face will always evolve. We must understand that we cannot solve the problems of the future with methods of the past.
KEYWORDS
21st Century Skills
Changemaker
Community Development
Collaboration
Creativity
Design Thinking
Innovation
Maker
Makerspace Consultancy
Rapid Prototyping
Social Enterprise