ASK-Solutions

Why we ask for donations

ASK-Solutions works on knowledge sharing, cooperation, free software, repair, privacy, digital autonomy and practical technical education. The goal is to make technical knowledge more understandable, reusable and available to others, so people and organisations can make more independent choices.

We do this through practical projects, publications, free software such as Nocterra, articles and videos, and through places where people can learn, repair, experiment and work with technology in a careful way, such as The Owl's Nest.

Much of this work cannot be reduced to one invoice, one assignment or one finished product. Time spent explaining, documenting, testing, repairing, writing, guiding, publishing and making knowledge reusable often benefits more people than the person or organisation directly involved at that moment. That is exactly why donations matter.

Want to support our work? One-time or monthly

Why donations are needed

Some practical activities have a direct contribution, fee or agreement attached to them, because real work, materials, infrastructure or technical responsibility are involved. That does not make them separate from the mission. They are one way in which knowledge sharing, free software, repair, privacy, digital autonomy and technical education are put into practice.

At the same time, direct contributions do not cover everything that is needed for the wider public-benefit work. Documentation has to be written. Free software has to be maintained. Test setups and examples have to be built. Articles and videos take time. Tools, materials and machines wear out. People need room to learn at their own pace. Some questions require patience, research and explanation before there is anything that looks like a finished result.

Donations help create that room. They make it possible to keep working on the shared part: the knowledge, software, examples, explanations, workshop access and practical experience that remain useful beyond one individual situation.

What your donation helps make possible

With your donation we can, among other things:

• Develop free software and documentation

  Think of projects such as Nocterra, manuals, examples, step-by-step guides and technical documentation. We publish this work so others can study it, reuse it and build on it.

• Share practical technical knowledge

  We write articles, make videos, document repairs, test setups and explain technical choices around privacy, free software, right to repair, websites, infrastructure, electronics and making.

• Keep The Owl's Nest available as a place to learn and practise

  The workshop gives people a place to work with tools, materials, electronics, repair, software and practical projects. Not everything has to be fast, polished or commercially efficient. There must also be room to try, ask, fail, repair, improve and learn.

• Make low-threshold participation possible

  Not everyone can afford commercial hourly rates or a full paid trajectory. Donations help keep room available for open sessions, small questions, repairs, explanations and learning situations where money should not be the central barrier.

• Provide time and attention

  Some people need time to regain confidence, understand a technical problem, try something again after a difficult period, or simply work quietly with materials and tools. That time and attention are valuable, but they do not fit well into a normal quotation or product model.

• Buy materials, parts and consumables

  Learning and testing require materials. Sometimes something breaks. Sometimes an experiment fails. Sometimes a repair needs a small part, a cable, a sheet of material, filament, paint, fasteners, electronic components or test equipment.

• Maintain independent infrastructure

  We do not want our work to depend on advertising, tracking, selling data or closed platforms where avoidable. Donations help keep independent systems, websites, documentation and communication channels available.

• Turn individual lessons into reusable knowledge

  A problem solved once can often become a guide, example, article, software improvement, workshop setup or better explanation for others. Donations help make time for that extra step.

Even a small contribution makes a difference

Whether you make a one-time donation of a few euros or support us regularly: every contribution helps. Small amounts add up and give us more room to keep knowledge, tools, software and practical learning available to others.

Using the “Donate with PayPal” button you can quickly and easily make a one-time or recurring donation. Prefer a bank transfer or another form of support? You can find our bank details and organisation details here.

Want to support our work? One-time or monthly