🇪🇺 Digital Freedom for All: First Hands-on Workshop in Brussels

Digital freedom isn't just for techies — it's for everyone.

Ready to break free from Big Tech? This practical, beginner-friendly workshop empowers you to discover and adopt European-made and open-source alternatives for your everyday digital tools — at your own pace, step by step.

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🎯 What You'll Gain

• 🔍 A clear overview of Europe-made and open-source applications available for email, calendar, chat, browsers, search engines, operating systems, and more
• 🛠️ Step-by-step installation and configuration guidance — you pick the apps you feel most comfortable exploring
• 🤝 A supportive community to help you transition away from surveillance-based platforms toward privacy-friendly alternatives

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📋 Programme

1. 👋 Welcome & Introduction (10 min)
2. 🎬 Short documentary on Digital Sovereignty (10 min)
3. 💻 Hands-on Workshop (90 min)

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🎒 What to Bring

• 💻 Laptop (preferred)
• 📱 Phone or tablet (optional)
• 🗂️ USB stick — 8GB (optional)

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🌱 Inspired by Ghent's Digital Sovereignty Movement

This Brussels edition draws inspiration from the thriving FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) workshop community in Ghent, bringing the same hands-on, empowering format to the capital. Europe's digital future is shaped by the choices we make today — starting with the tools sitting right in our pockets and on our desks.

This initiative is entirely self-funded, built on the conviction that digital literacy and independence should be accessible to all.

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👩‍💻 Meet the Organisers

Carolina Aguilar

An engineer with a career at the crossroads of data and artificial intelligence, Carolina is deeply committed to European Digital Sovereignty. She hosts this independent workshop to equip others with the knowledge to navigate and actively shape Europe's digital landscape.
🔗 LinkedIn

Tom Michels

Co-founder and community builder at Flordi (Ghent) — a vibrant hub for changemakers working toward a more just and ecological society, featuring a café, coworking space, cohousing, market, and events. Since January 2025, Tom has co-hosted around 20 FOSS workshops alongside Ghent's FOSS community. Now he's bringing those learnings to Brussels!
🔗 Mastodon | LinkedIn

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🎟️ Register here: lu.ma/5japyty4