Changemaker Spotlight: Libertad Aguilera and Jeri Wager

The Makedo Changemaker program is a global, high-energy collective of education ambassadors dedicated to one mission: revolutionising education through hands-on learning.

From K-12 classrooms and libraries to museums and nonprofits, our diverse members connect from around the world to swap ideas, tackle big questions, and advocate for every child's right to create.

Whether they’re hosting workshops in their home communities, driving innovation through research and publications, or sparking inspiration at international conferences, these educators are the true crown jewel of Makedo Education.

And today, we are turning the spotlight on two of them.

Meet Libertad Aguilera, a resident maker in East London, and Jeri Wager, a STEAM teacher in New York City.
These educators share the same philosophy: Give kids big materials, big tools, big trust, and watch creativity blossom! From a cardboard recreation of London in miniature to a light-up classroom portal, Libertad and Jeri are proof that unforgettable learning experiences are made with your hands.

A Creative Force: Libertad Aguilera

Introducing Libertad Aguilera, the resident maker, set builder, and creative force behind some of the most imaginative cardboard creations East London has ever seen.

Based at Marner Primary School in East London, Libertad brings making to life across all year groups, working with cardboard, paper, textiles, and electronics to create large-scale installations, props, and full sets for school productions. She even built an Eiffel Tower out of cardboard and Makedo as her family's festive Christmas Tree! But her most beloved project to date? A miniature Little London, built entirely from cardboard and Makedo, right in the school library. Complete with famous landmarks and a Roto-Ring-powered London Eye.

For Libertad, Makedo isn't just a building tool; it's a philosophy. She loves that it lets her students think big and tackle installations that no single child could build alone. Each student contributes a piece, and together they construct something truly spectacular. When those creations take the stage in school productions, the children beam with pride, knowing they each had a part in creating them.

Watch her teaching in action, and you'll notice something else that sets Libertad apart: her instinct for knowing when to step in and when to step back. Working with young students who are brand-new to Makedo, she gives them space to discover and intervenes only just before frustration sets in. She’s a master in letting independence lead the way and a Changemaker in every sense of the word.

Meet Quintessential Inventor: STEAM Teacher Jeri Wager

For Jeri Wager’s students in New York, the lesson starts before they even reach their desks. Wager, a 3rd-5th grade STEAM teacher, kicked off the year by building a light-up STEAM portal made up of cardboard, Makedo, and imagination. This archway greets every third grader on their way in or out of her lab, setting the tone for the creative, hands-on learning that happens inside. But it doesn’t stop there! Over the semester, the whole class adds to the portal, transforming it into a community-created cardboard fort where every student contributes to the build.

Jeri is a master of the "What if?" - specialising in 3rd through 5th grade, she uses Makedo to turn her classroom into a hands-on workshop. Her projects, like when students designed acorn protection and collection hats, showcase a brilliant blend of whimsical fun and serious structural design.