Hi, my name is Esmerelda Meili. I was born and raised in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I am now married, a mother of three and living in Switzerland where I teach English at a secondary school. I care deeply about my students and their future.

In 2025 I took on a new challenge: learning how to use power tools. With the guidance of a Swiss and a South African carpenter and alongside two unemployed young people I built a kitchen, learning by doing, step by step.

From this experience the vision of a community makerspace was born: a place equipped with tools where people can learn practical skills hands-on either through workshops or by joining real projects. Back in my family’s garage in Stellenbosch the idea took shape. With a few tools I purchased and others kindly donated, the seed of Muller’s Skillz Den began to grow. Now to transform this dream into a fully equipped makerspace and to pay local tutors, I need your help. Many local people would love to take part in the workshops but financial hardship holds them back. With your donation you can directly sponsor a workshop for an unemployed or financially constrained individual. We work with local schools and social workers to identify those who would benefit most. 

South Africa, my beloved home, faced an unemployment rate of 33% in the second quarter of 2025 equating to 8.4 million people. Muller’s Skillz Den will not solve unemployment on its own but by casting this first stone we believe the ripple effect of empowerment, skills and opportunity can extend far beyond its humble beginnings.

Website: www.mullersskillzden.com

Instagram: @mullers_skillz_den