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Free Software Foundation Europe

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Share “Ada & Zangemann” with your friends: spread this animated movie and gift the book!

lundi 17 mars 2025 à 00:00

Share “Ada & Zangemann” with your friends: spread this animated movie and gift the book!

Thanks to our supporters and volunteers, the inspiring story of Ada & Zangemann has been translated into several languages! While we work, and gather funds, to publish the book and the animated movie in even more languages, we need your help: share the movie with your friends and post it around! The book is also a perfect gift for local libraries and schools.

Have you ever struggled to explain why software freedom is important or why we should care about Free Software? Our story “Ada & Zangemann – A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream” has proven to be a powerful tool for promoting the importance of controlling our technology, repairing our devices, and tinkering with the hardware and software we use every day. You can now share this animated movie with your friends, embed the video in your website or blog, or spread it in your social media networks.

This illustrated story explains, in a simple yet entertaining way, why it’s crucial for us, as users, to take control of our technology and stop leaving it entirely in the hands of others. While it was originally designed for children, its message resonates just as strongly with adults, making it an effective resource for sparking conversations about digital autonomy and empowerment.

Released as an Open Educational Resource, under a Creative Commons By Share-Alike Licence, Ada & Zangemann: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream describes the interaction of the famous inventor Zangemann and Ada, an inquisitive girl who loves to tinker. As Ada experiments with hardware and software, she realizes how crucial it is for everyone to have control over technology. Since its release, this story has inspired readings in schools, conferences, and events across Europe. And now, with its adaptation into an animated film, screenings are being organized, even in cinemas!

Power of our community, despite not having Hollywood marketing budgets

Help us to make others aware of this story, a useful educational resource for explaining the importance of the right to tinker and the right to repair, as well as self-determination, collaboration, and freedom of speech. Share the movie, currently available in English, French, German, and now also in Spanish! To access the film and download links, visit ada.fsfe.org/movie.

So please don’t wait: send it to friends, e-mail it to your co-workers, and share it online! Every person watching the movie might be an active member of the movement for software freedom in the future.

Want to do more? Organize readings and screenings

Would you like to spark children’s interest in STEM in general and coding in particular? Would you like to talk with them about the importance of software freedom? Then you can host a reading at your local library, screen the film at your child's school, or organize a workshop at a cultural center. For example, a school in Marbella read the story in class, and students wrote letters to Zangemann; in another event, children sketched their own invention ideas; and at several gatherings, kids enjoyed home-made ice cream. Even more: you can gift the book to your local library, so everyone can borrow and read this tale! Let’s help even more people discover Ada’s story!

Visit ada.fsfe.org for all the resources you need to organize a reading, including posters, postcards, and stickers, which we will send you for free! You will also find a presentation to guide your reading and much more.

Ready to take action? Start planning your event today. Don’t forget to share your experience with us! We’d love to see how Ada’s story comes to life in your community!

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Have you heard about YH4F? 2024 participant shares her journey and tips for success!

jeudi 13 mars 2025 à 00:00

Have you heard about YH4F? 2024 participant shares her journey and tips for success!

The 2025 edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom (YH4F) is officially underway. While this edition’s participants work on their own Free Software projects, we sat down with Aya, a YH4F 2024 contestant. She shared her inspiring journey from her first programming experience to creating a project for YH4F. Learn more about her story, and remember: you can still take part in this year’s competition!

Youth Hacking 4 Freedom (YH4F),organized by the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), is a unique programming competition that encourages young people to develop innovative technical projects under one key principle: the project must be Free Software. But YH4F is more than just a contest: it’s a platform for young talent to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact on their communities.

2025 YH4F are already busy working on their projects and networking with other participants, and meanwhile we like to catch up with past participants to find out what inspired them to take part in this young programming competition and to learn more their projects. This time we spoke to Aya, who told us how she learnt programming and ended up creating a tool to help people with disabilities. Her project aims to improve the daily lives of visually impaired people e and demonstrates the power of technology to create positive change.

FSFE: Hi Aya! First of all, congratulations on your participation in last year’s edition of YH4F! Can you present yourself briefly?

Aya: Hi, my name is Aya. I’m 19 years old and currently living in Barcelona, Spain. Some of my hobbies are karate and chess.

FSFE: What was your first experience with programming, and how did you start learning to write code? Was it with Free Software?

Aya: My first experience with programming was back in high school when I worked, with a team on a personal project . It was an exciting challenge. That experience sparked my interest in programming, and I began to enjoy the subject more and more. We couldn’t have completed the project without the Free Software tools available at the time, which played a crucial role in our success.

FSFE: Can you remember when you first used Free Software? Were you, at that time, aware of the freedoms that Free Software offers?

Aya: Initially, I didn’t have much experience with Free Software or fully understand its significance. It wasn’t until I started working on my own projects that I realised how powerful and essential Free Software is for programmers of all skill levels. It gives us the freedom to explore, learn, and create without barriers.

FSFE: How and why did you decide to join YH4F? What did you like the most about the contest?

Aya: A friend’s mother told me about YH4F, knowing that I enjoy challenges and contests like this. I joined without hesitation, and it was an incredible experience. My favourite part was how much my skills improved in such a short time, thanks to the deadlines that pushed me to stay focused. I also really enjoyed meeting new people during the monthly calls.

FSFE: How did you come up with your project idea? What motivated you to work on it?

Aya: I wanted to demonstrate that today’s technological advancements can significantly improve the lives of people with disabilities, such as blindness. This motivation drove me to create something practical and impactful.

FSFE: What were the main problems or challenges that you encountered during the programming period?

Aya: One of the biggest challenges was finding suitable free libraries for implementing both text-to-speech and optical character recognition (OCR) functionalities. Many of the options I found were either limited in features, required paid subscriptions, or were incompatible with my tools. To overcome this, I spent a lot of time researching Free Software solutions and testing different options until I found the right fit.

FSFE:Did you work on it alone?

Aya: Yes, I worked on the project entirely on my own.

FSFE: This project involves both software and mechanical components. What were the key challenges in making sure the software and hardware worked together?

Aya: One of the key challenges was ensuring that the audio and camera drivers were functioning correctly. It took a lot of trial and error, along with watching many YouTube tutorials, to figure out how to get them to work seamlessly.

FSFE: Do you think you will continue working on your project? What would be some next steps you would like to carry out?

Aya: Yes, I plan to continue working on it. My next goal is to make the project more portable. To achieve this, I’m considering running it on a microprocessor like a Raspberry Pi or a similar hardware.

FSFE: Are you planning to improve the documentation so more people can reuse your project

Aya: For now, I’m not focused on the documentation, but it’s something I might prioritise in the future.

FSFE: How has participating in YH4F and working on these projects affected you personally? What have you learned about yourself through this experience?

Aya: Participating in YH4F has been a transformative experience for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me discover that I’m capable of overcoming challenges with creativity and determination. It also reinforced my passion for using technology to solve real-world problems and inspired me to continue improving my skills to make a meaningful impact.

FSFE: And last but not least, is there any kind of advice that you would like to give to new participants?

Aya: Don’t leave anything for the last minute! Proper planning and time management are crucial to making the most of this experience. And most importantly, enjoy the process!

Join YH4F This Year!

The 2025 edition of Youth Hacking 4 Freedom started on 1 January, with the programming phase now in fullswing.

Late registration is still possible, and we recommend registering as soon as possible to connect with other participants and make the most of this incredible opportunity. Visit the YH4F website for more details or reach out to the organizers via email.

Support FSFE

FSFE symposium: Public Money? Public Code! in practice

lundi 10 mars 2025 à 00:00

FSFE symposium: Public Money? Public Code! in practice

Free Software is indispensable for public authorities to overcome dependencies and achieve technological sovereignty. Therefore, the need of the hour is "Public Money? Public Code!" The Free Software Foundation Europe's symposium in Essen on 08 April 2025 will open up practical perspectives on how administrations can move forward in this direction.

Together with representatives from politics, public administration, business, academia and civil society, we want to discuss the benefits of Free Software for public institutions at local, state and federal level, and the challenges that arise along the way. The focus will be on the use of Free Software in municipalities: Where do best practices already exist and what can we learn from them? What can municipal Free Software governance look like? What opportunities does Free Software offer for collaboration? What needs to be considered during procurement?

The symposium "Public Money? Public Code! in practice" is organised by the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). It is primarily aimed at decision-makers, procurers and multipliers from public administrations in Germany as well as people who are involved in the digitisation of public administration in their day-to-day work.

The event will be held in German. Participation is free of charge, but online registration is required (registration deadline 23 March 2025). The number of participants is limited, a confirmation of participation will be sent on 25 March 2025. The FSFE Code of Conduct applies.

We look forward to your registration!

Event dates and registration

Date: 08 April 2025 Admission and registration: 10:00 am Symposium: 11:00 - 16:00 Location: Unperfekthaus, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 18-20, 45127 Essen, Germany Registration: https://registration.fsfe.org/publiccode-fachtag

Programme

10:00 – Check-in and Meet & Greet

11:00 – Opening Johannes Näder / Alexander Sander (FSFE)

11:10 – Digital sovereignty as a state responsibility Jutta Horstmann (Zentrum Digitale Souveränität, ZenDiS)

11:40 – A city shapes change: “Public Money? Public Code!” in practice Christian Nähle (Do-FOSS)

12:00 – Free Software governance in municipalities Marc Groß (KGSt)

12:20 – Good Free Software procurement through clear criteria Bianca Kastl (Stadt Frankfurt am Main)

12:40 – Procure Free Software successfully: How to avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities Panel: Johanna Gramlich (FITKO), Jutta Horstmann, Bianca Kastl, Moderation: Alexander Sander (FSFE)

13:15 – Lunch break

14:15 – Free Software in administration: What is needed for success? N.N.

14:35 – openCode – the infrastructure for digital sovereignty Leonhard Kugler (ZenDiS)

14:55 – Administration, civil society, community: Collaboration as a model for success Simon Strohmenger (CONSUL)

15:15 – Public code needs public money: Securing tech sovereignty in the long term Panel: N.N., Lea Beiermann (ZenDiS), Christian Nähle, Simon Strohmenger, Moderation: Johannes Näder (FSFE)

16:00 – Coffee and networking

17:00 – End of the event

Free Software and "Public Money? Public Code!"

Free Software gives everyone the right to use, study, share, and improve applications for any purpose. These four freedoms ensure that similar applications do not have to be programmed from scratch every time and, thanks to transparent processes, others do not have to reinvent the wheel. In large projects, expertise and costs can be shared and applications are available to all. This promotes innovation and saves taxpayers money in the future. Dependencies on vendors are minimised and security issues can be fixed more easily. The Free Software Foundation Europe, together with over 200 organisations and administrations, is therefore calling for “Public Money? Public Code!” - If it is public money, it should be public code as well! More information on the initiative is available on the "Public Money? Public Code!" website.

Support FSFE

FSFE symposium: Public Money? Public Code! in practice

lundi 10 mars 2025 à 00:00

FSFE symposium: Public Money? Public Code! in practice

Free Software is indispensable for public authorities to overcome dependencies and achieve technological sovereignty. Therefore, the need of the hour is "Public Money? Public Code!" The Free Software Foundation Europe's symposium in Essen on 08 April 2025 will open up practical perspectives on how administrations can move forward in this direction.

Together with representatives from politics, public administration, business, academia and civil society, we want to discuss the benefits of Free Software for public institutions at local, state and federal level, and the challenges that arise along the way. The focus will be on the use of Free Software in municipalities: Where do best practices already exist and what can we learn from them? What can municipal Free Software governance look like? What opportunities does Free Software offer for collaboration? What needs to be considered during procurement?

The symposium "Public Money? Public Code! in practice" is organised by the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE). It is primarily aimed at decision-makers, procurers and multipliers from public administrations in Germany as well as people who are involved in the digitisation of public administration in their day-to-day work.

The event will be held in German. Participation is free of charge, but online registration is required (registration deadline 23 March 2025). The number of participants is limited, a confirmation of participation will be sent on 25 March 2025. The FSFE Code of Conduct applies.

We look forward to your registration!

Event dates and registration

Date: 08 April 2025 Admission and registration: 10:00 am Symposium: 11:00 - 16:00 Location: Unperfekthaus, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 18-20, 45127 Essen, Germany Registration: https://registration.fsfe.org/publiccode-fachtag

Programme

10:00 – Check-in and Meet & Greet

11:00 – Opening Johannes Näder / Alexander Sander (FSFE)

11:10 – Digital sovereignty through Free Software Jutta Horstmann (Zentrum Digitale Souveränität, ZenDiS)

11:40 – A city shapes change: “Public Money? Public Code!” in practice Christian Nähle (Do-FOSS)

12:00 – Free Software governance in municipalities Marc Groß (KGSt)

12:20 – Good Free Software procurement through clear criteria Bianca Kastl (Stadt Frankfurt am Main)

12:40 – Procure Free Software successfully: How to avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities Panel: Johanna Gramlich (FITKO), Jutta Horstmann, Bianca Kastl, Moderation: Alexander Sander (FSFE)

13:15 – Lunch break

14:15 – Free Software in administration: What is needed for success? N.N.

14:35 – openCode – the infrastructure for digital sovereignty Leonhard Kugler (ZenDiS)

14:55 – Administration, civil society, community: Collaboration as a model for success Simon Strohmenger (CONSUL)

15:15 – Public code needs public money: Securing tech sovereignty in the long term Panel: N.N., Lea Beiermann (ZenDiS), Christian Nähle, Simon Strohmenger, Moderation: Johannes Näder (FSFE)

16:00 – Coffee and networking

17:00 – End of the event

Free Software and "Public Money? Public Code!"

Free Software gives everyone the right to use, study, share, and improve applications for any purpose. These four freedoms ensure that similar applications do not have to be programmed from scratch every time and, thanks to transparent processes, others do not have to reinvent the wheel. In large projects, expertise and costs can be shared and applications are available to all. This promotes innovation and saves taxpayers money in the future. Dependencies on vendors are minimised and security issues can be fixed more easily. The Free Software Foundation Europe, together with over 200 organisations and administrations, is therefore calling for “Public Money? Public Code!” - If it is public money, it should be public code as well! More information on the initiative is available on the "Public Money? Public Code!" website.

Support FSFE

DMA & Free Software: what Free Software organisations need to know

jeudi 6 mars 2025 à 00:00

DMA & Free Software: what Free Software organisations need to know

On 24 March the FSFE will conduct an online Q&A session about the Digital Markets Act and its importance for representatives of Free Software organisations. The DMA was designed to limit the power of the "gatekeepers" and boost fairer digital markets. But what does its enforcement mean for Free Software? Join us for this strategic discussion.

Understanding the DMA’s impact on Free Software

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is the European Union’s regulation to promote fair competition in the digital markets. The law applies to large tech companies exercising “gatekeeper control” in the EU. The DMA imposes on such companies several obligations, like allowing the right to install and uninstall software in devices, prohibition of non-removable pre-installed software, enabling third-party app stores, and access rights via interoperability with software and hardware functions.

This event is specifically designed for members and representatives of Free Software organizations to discuss the opportunities the DMA creates for Free Software, such as enabling alternative app stores, side-loading of applications, and improved interoperability policies.

Additionally, the event will serve as a platform for discussing FSFE’s legal efforts, specifically regarding its litigation against Apple at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with FSFE experts, ask questions, and explore how their organizations can support and benefit from the DMA’s implementation.

Speakers:

Details:

To attend this online event, registration is required. Please fill this form out to register.

Device Neutrality

Although digital devices are ubiquitous today, the number of devices on which users cannot run Free Software is exponentially increasing. The consequence is a growing loss of control over users' technology. Device Neutrality aims to enable end-users to bypass gatekeepers to have a non-discriminatory use of Free Software on their devices.

In 2022, several components, part of the Device Neutrality concept, were included in the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Union's largest initiative to regulate gatekeepers in digital markets. Although the law contains the principles for making Device Neutrality a reality, its regulations concern only very large platforms. The DMA establishes obligations for gatekeepers - “dos” and “don'ts” they must comply with - and prescribes fines and penalties for infringements. The DMA encompasses several rules concerning Device Neutrality, including safeguarding the right to uninstall pre-installed software and several measures for preventing lock-in, as well as fostering interoperability and end-user control over personal data.

Support FSFE

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