Opening the Krisan 3D Innovation Lab

On April 17, 2026, partners and community members gathered in western Ghana to formally inaugurate the Krisan 3D Innovation Lab — a space built so people living in and around the Krisan refugee camp can learn, design, and make tools close to where they are needed.

The ceremony was not only a ribbon-cutting. It was a public statement of purpose: train local makers, keep production practical, and keep the community in the conversation about what the lab is — and what it is not.

Who showed up

The morning opened under the covered gathering area near the lab, with a live printing demonstration running as guests arrived. Speakers and partners recognized in the program included representatives of the Ghana Refugee Board, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, UNHCR, the Amauris Foundation, and Krisan community leaders.

Charles Yorke of the Ghana Refugee Board welcomed attendees and framed the day. Aaron Clark of the Amauris Foundation spoke to the vision for the lab — training, local manufacturing capacity, and long-term opportunity. Trainee representative Johnson shared why the program matters to him and to others learning alongside him. Partner and guest-of-honor remarks followed, including from Church mission leadership and Executive Director Bediako of the Ghana Refugee Board.

Unveiling the lab

After the formal program, guests proceeded to the 3D Innovation Lab for the plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting, then walked through the space while demonstrations continued. The shift from speeches to the shop floor was intentional: the lab is meant to be used, not just announced.

Listening after the ribbon

From noon to 1:00 p.m., organizers held a community information and question session under the trees beside the lab — clarifying how training works, what the lab will produce first, who can participate, how people benefit, and what the limits are right now.

That conversation is part of the launch story. Capacity-building only works when the people closest to the work help set the expectations.

What comes next

The launch marks a beginning. The Krisan lab is a place for instruction, practice, and local problem-solving — with the community, not for them from a distance. Amauris will keep sharing what trainees build, what the printers produce, and how partners keep the doors open.