Under the umbrella of MakeCityBonn, technology-based creative spaces - known as MakerSpaces - are set up in Bonn's open youth work facilities. Young visitors between the ages of ten and 16 can learn about digital technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, coding and virtual reality and can experiment with them independently and get creative. Educational specialists are on hand to help them realize their own ideas.
The MakeCityBonn project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF (opens in a new tab)) for an initial period of three years as part of the STEM Cluster funding program. A total of 50 such clusters are being funded throughout Germany.

MakeCityBonn is a cooperation project between the Deutsche Telekom Foundation (opens in a new tab), MakerSpace Bonn e.V. (opens in a new tab), the Roberta Initiative of the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) (opens in a new tab)and the City of Bonn (Office for Children, Youth and Family; Education Department).

During the course of the project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) and the City of Bonn's Media Center will provide further training for educational professionals. The training courses will be supplemented by specialist days, a regular exchange of experts and hackathons.

Participation in MakeCityBonn requires few prerequisites. Basically, an openness towards the topics of the project is expected, as well as the willingness to actively participate and contribute to the visits of the Making Team and the other offers. At least one educational specialist should be responsible for this in each facility. Children, young people and educational professionals do not need any prior knowledge; all the necessary skills are taught as part of the project and the training courses. The project is low-threshold and meets the participants where they are. Up to eight open youth work facilities in Bonn take part each year. The group of participants is gradually being expanded.