Hey, my name is João Leão and I'm a Maker from Porto, Portugal! I first heard of the Fablab community almost 7 years ago, there wasn’t even one in my country at the time and I knew it was the future! Ever since I've heard about the FabAcademy I've been saving and working towards the day that I would be able to attend it, my path took me to the Oporto Fablab (Opolab) where I was mentored by João Feyo and had my first contact with a Fablab.
My learning curve exploded exponentially ever since! I worked in several projects in different areas which helped me grow not only professionally but also as an individual! After the Fabacademy I'll be able to bring extra value to the team and help them reach the goal we share, to help the local community and its economy through the tools and know-how of the Fablab world community.
Having this learning experience (DIY/Self-taught) throughout the years a project was born, in partnership with Alexandra Baltazar (Viva) and with the support of Pedro Cardoso (The House of Events), Viva Robotics was born, aiming to give the tools and passion of learning by doing to kids through a STEAM platform of Lego robotics and in the future Electronics for kids!
A Fab Lab (or fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale working area for personal digital fabrication, equipped with an array of flexible computer controlled tools and various materials, with the aim to make “almost anything”.It is a technical prototyping platform for education, innovation and invention. To be a Fab Lab means connecting to a global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers, makers and innovators!
Since its founding year, 2010, the OPO-LAB has contributed to the development and realization of projects proposed by countless creative minds that challenge the limits.
This project assumes therefore a key strategic role in the context in which it operates, to establish important partnerships with other social actors such as public authorities, schools and associations, cultural and scientific advancement.
The Viva Project is all about innovating the formal model of development of young people. To increase the quantity and quality of personal abilities but also having an emphasis in team work as an essential tool to accomplish bigger and better results!
The activities on Viva promote creativity, problem solving tools, the importance of failure in learning, entrepreneurship, Learning by doing(DIY- Do it yourself and DIWO- Do it with others) giving value to art, history and culture.
