About
Buinho Education is a project created and managed by the Buinho Association. We were established in 2015 with the aim of bringing digital fabrication and the maker movement to Alentejo. Our challenge is to help to reduce the technological and digital knowledge gap between urban and rural areas, thus fostering the development of local communities.
Our Story
In 2015 Buinho Association was founded as the first private rural fablab in Portugal, in the town of Messejana, in southern Alentejo region. It was a very disruptive approach, started by a multidisciplinary team of designers, artists and PhD researchers focused on the digital and creative fields. Since our early days, we have been challenged to participate in international educational projects and this helped us to implement new pedagogical practises at local public schools on a regional scope. Throughout the year, Buinho has a continuous residency programme running for professionals active in the creative fields and this also keeps the livelihood of our activities as well as the cultural landscape of Messejana.
Our growth of educational activities made us create an educational branch that is therefore responsible for all the training and research activities in the field of school education. In 2021 we have been accredited in the field of School Education under the Erasmus+ Program, as coordinators of a regional schools’ consortium (EIRA – Interventive education in the Alentejo Region). The Consortium is focused on teacher training in the field of maker education.
What we do
Empower Educators
From Zero to Hero! No matter the level of knowledge or experience we want to empower every teacher and educator to make their own machines, activities and curriculum.
Make and take home!
Buinho Educativo’s practical contents are made and tested in our fablab. Since we have a fablab (digital fabrication laboratory) in our premises, we are used to making our own stuff and we bring this DIY (Do it Yourself) attitude to our teacher training activities. Taking our courses will give you the unique experience of working in a maker environment. Here everything you build you can take home for free.
Responsible and serious fun
We love fun but we take our education serious! We are a team of educators and makers that work in Buinho. An experienced group of designers, engineers, and teachers, since 2016 we provide courses to local schools and other institutions.
Makerspaces
Someone said that makerspaces are the classrooms of the future. We disagree. They are the classrooms of today. We have been creating makerspaces and fablabs, even before Buinho was established, and we will show you how the future is now!
Meet the team
We are a team of designers, researchers and project managers passionate about creativity and innovative education.
Carlos Alcobia
General manager and Educator
Sara Albino
Researcher and Educator
Alexia Nair
Makerspace designer and Educator
Fiona Hawes
Ivan Vuksanov
Design and Strategy Consultant
Mónica Reis
What Our Students Have to Say
