Repair cafes are great for getting appliances fixed. But I think they could improve from volunteers just doing the work to a more instructional format. It’s great that you can watch them work and ask questions. It’s almost a teachng experience in that regard, but teaching is merely incidental. The repairer probes around with the DMM¹ quickly because they want to get answers quickly. Understandably so, as there is usually a line of people waiting to get stuff repaired. They don’t generally have time to explain everything.
But what if instruction were part of the goal? I would like to hang out in the workshop and watch other repair jobs and ask questions. But I get the feeling I would be in their way and slow them down. It feels like it would be unwelcome.
In principle, they could have one repairer who welcomes an audience where he describes his every move. He works slower, but ~5 or so people could learn from it. It could even be recorded and posted on peertube (not Youtube!).
Repair cafes do not accept large appliances because they are working out of classrooms and community centers on weekends, which don’t accommodate bulky things. So I have a broken refrigerator and washing machine that will not get repaired. In principle, a repairer could have a planned session and meet “students” outside to demonstrate and teach large appliance repair.
¹ digital multimeter
Have a look at
https://therestartproject.org/parties/
Keep in mind that some people are not actually interested in fixing their own things, they may not be able to because of disabilities too.
Informally I'm the guy in my hood who fixes shit, neighbors bring things to me all the time. Been doing it for years, only one person has shown any real interest in learning about it though. I always try to say "If it happens again, you can do this" if I think it's safe for them to do so.
Some will take the initiative, some won't. I also don't want someone unqualified to just start poking around on Mains voltage or with powerful motors.