ASK-Solutions

Why we ask for donations

ASK-Solutions is a foundation with a technical heart. We focus on the right to repair, privacy, free and open source software and hardware, and sharing knowledge. We do this through projects such as our community workshop The Owl’s Nest, free software like Nocterra, and the articles and videos we publish.

A large part of our work does not result in a directly billable product. We are deliberately building a place where people can do things at their own pace, can learn and can simply be themselves for a while. That also means making room for people who, after illness or burnout, very carefully want to try doing something again, and for older people who enjoy holding a tool once more, working with materials and bringing back memories.

Want to support our work? One-time or monthly

You can’t capture that kind of time and attention in a quotation or spreadsheet. That is exactly why we ask for donations.

How our commercial activities help

Alongside the foundation we have commercial activities such as ASK-ICT-Solutions and ASK-Media-Solutions. With these services we help private individuals, companies and other organisations with, among other things:

• repair and maintenance of equipment,
• network and systems management,
• web design, hosting, media and communication.

We use the proceeds from this work as much as possible to cover our fixed costs: rent, energy, insurance, tools that need to be replaced, and keeping our infrastructure running.

But commercial assignments are by definition fickle. We also consciously choose not to accept every commercial proposal, for example when it does not match our values around privacy, freedom or sustainability. Donations give us the freedom to keep making those choices.

What your donation helps make possible in practice

With your donation we can, among other things:

• Keeping the workshop open as a safe place to practise

  Some visitors need to get used to “doing something” again after a difficult period. In the workshop they can get started in small steps: a simple project, working a piece of wood, taking something apart and putting it back together, or just looking around for a bit. No pressure, no targets – but there is structure, guidance and someone who watches along when needed.

• Time and attention for growing older

  We also welcome older visitors who enjoy spending a couple of hours in the workshop now and then. Simply tightening a vice again, smelling the scent of wood or oil, making something simple or just watching. For some people with memory problems this is a way to think back to earlier days and to feel like a craftsperson again for a moment. That requires calm guidance, and time.

• Giving the neighbourhood a place to drop by

  People from the neighbourhood and surrounding area can simply drop by for a cup of coffee or tea, to ask questions, get ideas or just have a chat. Not everyone comes to “do something technical” – sometimes there is mainly a need for contact. Those informal encounters help neighbours get to know each other and make the workshop a recognisable and accessible point in the neighbourhood.

• Offering low-threshold access

  Not everyone can afford commercial hourly rates. Donations help to still make trajectories, open sessions and repairs possible when money should not be the central issue, so that people do not have to stay away just because their budget is tight at that moment.

• Developing free software and documentation

  Think of projects such as Nocterra, manuals and step-by-step guides, and articles about privacy, the right to repair and technology. We publish these without trackers, paywalls or advertisements.

• Purchasing materials and parts

  For workshops, test setups, demonstrations and trying out new techniques. Sometimes something breaks, sometimes something fails – that is part of learning. Donations ensure that this can happen without it immediately becoming “an issue”.

• Remaining independent

  Because we do not want to depend on advertisers or selling data, voluntary contributions are important. They allow us to keep doing what we do, in our own way.

Even a small contribution makes a difference

Whether you make a one-off donation of a few euros or support us on a regular basis: every contribution helps. Small amounts add up and together they make the difference between “just getting by” and “having room to do really good things”.

Using the “Donate with PayPal” button you can quickly and easily make a one-off or recurring donation. Prefer a bank transfer or another form of support? You can find our bank details and more information on our Foundation page.

Want to support our work? One-time or monthly