Platform Gifted

What is platform Gift(Ed)?

From unwanted – to desirable!
The team of creative minds brainstormed over this slogan many hours. When you have to create slogan for a complex platform – it’s easy to write something long and overloaded with keywords. But that’s not about us – we want our world to thrive without unwanted materials but with art. So here it is – the main concept and slogan. It really defines what people of Gift(Ed) community do. They make our world better and more beautiful.
If you were wondering what is more extended version? That would be it: “The global community of creative people eager to learn and to share their ideas, knowledge, skills and talents to support greener low-carbon living, by reusing unwanted materials for new product development”. You can see the main idea why people join this platform.

Why you should join Gift(Ed) platform?

To learn, create and participate. On the learning part the professionals from Saules skola and Kolpingo kolegija will share four modules on sustainability in crafts and design and also master classes on how to upcycle something unwanted in to something desirable. On creating part you are able to find educational videos and/or pictures and filter it by material. Anyone can teach and share an upcycling skill or idea. If you are just exploring but would like to participate – here you will find an interactive map, list of community initiatives, some creative challenges. It’s all made so you can yourself redesign or repurpose unwanted materials.
We see the possibilities in everyday life to create something beautiful, functional and of high value from things mostly seen as scraps, rags and leftovers from better things. Art is an universal language, artists are willing to share their techniques so everyone can create something amazing. Art also has no limits – no matter your age, gender, ethnicity or location – with a little bit of ideas and skills YOU can create. You are not alone here – we prepared some lessons, artists from our community are sharing their stories so you can get inspired. There are thousands, if not millions, of ways to transform trash into valuable, unique, high-quality professional gifts. This is a space to share those ideas. Turn your hobby into a business or get inspired to start working with upcycling as a part of or as the mainstay of your business.

Why is Gift(Ed) platform needed?

Today fast fashion, fast food, non-durable furniture, plastic and paper waste is around us daily. And it piles up. And that’s just if you look around your living place. If you think globally about factories and industrial centres – they have even more waste. Scraps of metal, pieces of cables, old tyres, machinery belts, and oil contaminated wood pieces – you name it. Tonnes of waste every day goes to waste facilities. Many are not sorted and just left to rot. Even more are delivered to poor countries and pollute their land and water. That’s the modern way of living fast and solving problems without thinking about future generations. That’s a sad picture, if you ask. So out team of passionate members wants to:
Educate about sustainability in crafts and design
Lead by example (show touching real people stories from our community)
Promote the work and upcycled product for our members
We believe that together we can make better future for all of us. Making art from unwanted materials helps to save planet, gives us something beautiful and/or functional, may become a business for some.

What’s the difference between upcycling and recycling? Why upcycling is better?

People sometimes mix up recycling and upcycling terms. Let’s make it clear. Recycling is great for short term usage products that otherwise become waste: packaging paper and box fillers, thin wooden food utensils used in party places (and dirty with oil and sauces), aluminium cans and so on. But there are tons of unwanted materials that are way more complex. They can’t be used in its normal way anymore, but can be upcycled in to something beautiful. For example used jeans, that normally has wear marks on inner thighs, can be cut out and used to make jacket or bag. By upcycling you do not waste precious resources for recycling, such as water and electricity – just imagination, manpower and sometimes a little energy for your tools.
We believe – upcycling is a way to a better future. If you agree – join us!

What is the main aim of the platform?

The main aim of the Gift(Ed) platform is:

• to promote and educate people about upcycling, reusing, and repurposing old stuff that is not fit for purpose anymore.

• by connecting and building a community of professional artists, crafters, and repairers.

We want people to use our platform to educate and inspire others through their own example. There are thousands, if not millions, of ways to transform trash into valuable, unique, high-quality professional gifts. This is a space to share those ideas. Turn your hobby into a business or get inspired to start working with upcycling as a part of or as the mainstay of your business.

Who should join Gift(ed)?

As a members and/or teachers:

• Professional artists, crafters, and small businesses that work with upcycling, reuse old things.

• Online module students. Anyone who want to learn about upcycling.

Users

• Individuals or groups searching for upcycling ideas or inspirations

• Businesses that are searching for ideas how to reduce their surplus or waste. They could make a contact with platform members and have collaborations, art projects together.

• Individuals that are searching for exclusive piece of arts, gifts made from upcycled material.

Who created the platform?

Meet the brilliant partners of the Gift(Ed) project.
VšĮ “Darnaus vystymo projektai” is a non-governmental organization established in 2007. DVP recognizes in its activities that the content of the principle of sustainable development is determined not only by a healthy natural environment, but also by the stable economic development of the country, the development of people’s abilities and civil society. Guided by all these aspects of the principle of sustainable development, DVP implements various national and international projects, promotes voluntary activities among residents of various age groups, organizes trainings, seminars focused on the development of social entrepreneurship, sustainability, promotion of regional initiatives and the transfer of good practices in the regions, as well as promoting learning between different generations and cultures. One of the organization’s main target groups is young people.

“Ciclofficina Popolare Knos” (CPK) is inspired by the principles of volunteering and self-financing. It’s a space of learning and sharing for the whole community, a place to increase and develop skills in the employment and entrepreneurial field by learning technical skills in maintenance, fixing bikes and using innovative way to recycle unused materials for handicraft.

Daugavpils Design and Art Secondary School “Saules skola” – is a modern and prestigious internationally recognized vocational training institution, one of the centres of art and design education and innovation in Latvia. School graduators receive a qualification of a design specialist that enables them to perform individual business activity, work in public and private companies, as well as to continue studies in Latvian or foreign institutions of higher education.

Kolping University of Applied Sciences is a private higher education institution. It was established in 2001. One of the highlights of the KUAS is the promotion of eco-thinking. Therefore, one of the strategic goals of the KUAS is to educate the public in the field of eco-thinking and to develop people’s entrepreneurial skills that solve environmental issues. The project is aiming to create a unique and innovative learning course.

This project is funded by the European Union as a part of the Erasmus+ project.