© Martin Waalboer
Martine Postma is a sustainable thinker and doer. She conceived the Repair Café, a community meeting place where, with the help of volunteers, people can (learn to) repair their broken items.
Martine Postma is a sustainable thinker and doer. She conceived the Repair Café, a community meeting place where everyone can (learn to) repair their broken items with the help of handy volunteers. This concept has spread worldwide under her leadership since its inception in 2009. Under the motto ‘Throwing away? Not a chance!’ Repair Café gatherings are now organized in over 700 locations across 18 countries, including Germany, the USA, Australia, and Japan. Martine started the Repair Café to encourage people to produce less waste in their daily lives. But it has also been a success socially: neighbors get to know each other in a new way, new contacts and friendships are formed. Repairing together creates connections! Meanwhile, Martine is not only committed to further spreading the Repair Café concept but also advocates for the production of more repairable goods. Due to the enormous interest from the international public in the Repair Café, Martine has experienced a lot in recent years. She can compellingly share stories not only about the origin and success of the Repair Café but also about the adventures of a young organization that is surprised by its own success.