Empowering Women Through Innovation: EtD-FaM Online Training of Trainers Concludes with Impact
The Ethiopian Djibouti Females at Makerspace (EtD-FaM) project successfully concluded its Online Training of Trainers (ToT) series held from October 13–17, 2025. Hosted under Work Package 3 by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (UNIBZ), the week-long virtual program brought together experts, educators, and innovators from across Europe and East Africa to build capacity and promote gender-inclusive innovation in Makerspaces and FabLabs.
The ToT kicked off with inspiring talks from Nicole Dierolf (Hochschule Heilbronn), Hannelore Schwabl (BITZ unibz FabLab), and Sonja Tetter (NOI Techpark), who shared experiences from Europe’s leading female-focused maker initiatives. Discussions emphasized the importance of designing inclusive spaces where women can innovate, learn, and lead.
The following days featured technical deep-dives led by experts like Gouled Abdi Miganeh (FabLab Djibouti), Marius Laux (Fachhochschule Kärnten, Austria), and Walter Weissensteiner (NOI Techpark), covering tools, materials, safety, and project management strategies essential for efficient Makerspace operations.
A highlight of Day 3 was Dr. Marwa Ben Ali’s session on Agile and Scrum methodologies, equipping participants with essential frameworks to manage innovation-driven projects. On Day 4, participants explored the world of 3D printing, gaining hands-on knowledge in digital fabrication, modeling, and prototyping.
The training wrapped up with a forward-looking session on AI tools for academic writing and content creation, again led by Dr. Marwa Ben Ali, showcasing how digital tools can amplify communication and storytelling in the tech ecosystem.
With participants from Ethiopia and Djibouti’s leading universities and Fab-Labs, the EtD-FaM Online ToT has laid a strong foundation for a vibrant, inclusive maker movement in the region. The journey continues with in-person sessions in November, advancing the mission of empowering women through digital innovation and collaboration.
