In April of 2023, Natalie attended the first ever build event by Neil Squire’s Makers Making Change (new window) program in Newfoundland and Labrador with her older sister. Now a Grade 12 student, she’s since become a dedicated volunteer and a champion of the program in her province.
“I’m very STEM oriented and I love building things,” she shares. “[I] just fell in love with the project, being able to make stuff with my hands and make a difference in my community.”
Natalie founded the Tech for Community club at her school last November, and has been adapting toys and building switches to donate to the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John’s, as well as individual families in Newfoundland. She has also been teaching workshops to local schools, teaching them valuable STEM skills and getting them to build devices.
“Never in a million years did I think that I’d be teaching a 7-year-old how to use a drill and a soldering iron, but here I am,” she laughs.
She estimates that her club has donated 30 toys and 50 switches since last year. She has also adapted over 20 toys on her own. Last year, she was able to personally deliver toys and switches to Janeway, giving her a chance to see the impact firsthand and learn more about the work they do.
She’s learned a lot since she started volunteering.
“My communication skills have definitely grown. I wouldn’t say that I grew up shy, but I definitely didn’t have the same public speaking skills. [. . .] But also, just like my confidence and being able to take charge and just go for stuff,” she says. “And then there’s also smaller skills, like learning how to use a drill, how to use a soldering iron.
“Those are all skills that I’ve had to learn through volunteering with Makers Making Change.”
Natalie intends to study either biomedical or mechanical engineering in post-secondary next year, a decision influenced by her time with Makers Making Change.
“[Before], I didn’t think that I was going to go into engineering, if I’m being totally honest,” she says. “[My] long term goal, I want to go into rehab engineering and I wouldn’t even have known that that was a thing before I started volunteering with Makers Making Change.”
For now, she has a bunch of toys to adapt and parts for switches to build for this year’s Hacking for the Holidays (new window) campaign. She hopes that her Tech for Community club continues after she graduates.
“I think it’s really important, and I’m really grateful that I’ve been a part of it, and that I’ve been able to help other students learn about Makers Making Change.”