The Tolocar project sends mobile makerspaces into Ukraine to help, train and equip local communities.

The word “Toloka” stands for a traditional form of solidarity support in Ukraine. With that in mind, the Tolocar project uses mobile makerspaces equipped with tools, open source hardware machines and consumables to support humanitarian activities in Ukraine. Various partners work together in different projects like reconstruction & renovation, open production, knowledge transfer and innovation to strenghten the eco-system of Ukraine.

News

3D modeling and 3D printing make it possible to see the Carpathians by hand.

TOLOCAR joined the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the International Red Cross

TOLOCAR teaches how to create makerspaces, engages in the system of open knowledge and workshop design.

Assembling a Fabulaser Mini laser cutter to support Konotop Classical Professional College..

Assembling a CNC milling machine at Vinnytsia Technical College.

Supporting school STEM education and return to Kyiv Gymnasium.

Other mobile makerspaces joining the TOLOCAR fleet in the Sumy region..

Making emergency flash lights together with NGO's @godivchata & @internationalmedicalcorps.

Mobile Makerspaces allow us to bring experience and technology to initiatives and people. Watch full video here.

Assembling XYZ cargo electro bikes during a three-day workshop in Chernihiv.

Restoration of a wooden house in Chernihiv together with the TOLOCAR team.

Highlights from interventions in Chernihiv.

We helped girls prepare materials for festive class.

Operator Denis has made a desk together with Lionella.

School kids, veterans, and IDPs together learned digital fabrication for beginners.

Together with 11 participants in the electricity workshop, we made heating mats.

Two TOLOCARS by HIWW joined our fleet and drove on a tour in October '22.

Tolocars held a workshop on new-year decoration in darkness the other day.

3-day workshop for veteran amputees and school students in Truskavets in Lviv region.

Together with 15 volunteers of three animal shelters we created emergency lights.

Klub Dobrodiiv invited TOLOCAR to run two electronic workshops in November 2022.

Watch our video summary!

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What is a Tolocar?

A Tolocar is a converted van that offers the possibilities of a makerspace or fablab on wheels.

This means they bring the capacity of high end manufacturing or diagnosis technologies to the point of need. But crucially they remain plugged into a world wide community of diverse domain experts who can bring their collective intelligence to bear in ways that complement conventional relief or rebuilding efforts.

The aim is to enable communities to replicate some of the capabilities and so to catalyze rebuilding efforts and establish support networks.

Photos: @ Nika Popova.

Our Impact

Be at the point of need

With the mobile makerspaces we can go to the point of need and deliver access to high tech production machines, tools, knowledge and man power.

Solely humanitarian activities

Technology can be used for many things, but with our project we do focus on humanitarian use cases and refuse every involvement in war activities.

Open hardware

We use and distribute as much open source hardware as possible to enable people to build hardware by themselves in an affordable way.

Open knowledge

In our workshops and trainings we use a lot of existing open knowledge. We share this for free and invite everyone to contribute to it.

Empowering people

Throughout our activities we aim to empower people to help themselves.

Connecting communities

One of our main goals is to connect the global maker community with local makers and initivatives in order to support and strengthen them.

Tolocar 01
The Cadus Crafter

Renovation & Handcraft

May - August 2022

Tolocar 03
The MitOst Sprinter II

Making

September 2022 - Open End

Our fleet

Overview of all our past, current and planned Tolocars

Support Vehicle 01
The Cadus Supporter

Staff & Material Transport

June - November 2022

Tolocar 04
The HIWW Van

Making & Open Source HW

September 2022 - Open End

Tolocar 02
The MitOst Sprinter I

Making, Digital Fabrication

June 2022 - Open End

Tolocar 05
The HIWW Truck

Making & Open Source HW

September 2022 - Open End

What we do

With our Tolocars we operate directly in Ukraine.

We perform different maker workshops with various groups like schools, universities, fablabs and others in topics like digital fabrication, coding and more.

In our replication workshops we train fablabs and local businesses to build/replicate certain open source hardware machines like 3D printers, cnc-milling machines and laser cutters.

We support various partners with their project through our expertise, tools and machines. In this projects we renovate, repair, build and invent special solutions.

Building a community & empowering people

We are connected to local actors, makers and initiatives in Ukraine and internationally.

Our goal is to connect these actors and enable them to work together.

Interventions

When we go to a place to support a project, build a makerspace or perform a workshop, we call that an intervention. Every intervention has its unique partners, goals and outcomes, but every intervention aims to strengthen the ecosystem of Ukraine.

Projects

Within the Tolocar Project we support different projects with our equipment, knowledge and capacities. The projects are in areas like insulation, energy supply, connectivity and sewage water.

Latest Interventions

When we go to place to support a project, build a maker space or perform a workshop, we call that an intervention. Every intervention has its unique partners, goals and outcomes, but every intervention helps to strengthen the ecosystem of the Ukraine.