2026-06-02 –, Main stage
Today it is impossible to imagine daily life without software. People use software on spartphones and desktops, but it is also found in trains, cars, televisions, fridges, as most devices almost depend on it: software is our society’s central tool. How do we ensure that the next generation is motivated and capable of shaping technology for society’s benefits?
Learn more about how the FSFE sparks children’s and teenagers interest to tinker, experiment, and program so you will see how fulfilling those activities can be for yourself if you get involved: we have interacted with over 6000 of them!
Today it is impossible to imagine daily life without software. The majority of us can’t spend a single day without using it. People use software in the workplace, on laptops, and on mobile phones. Software is also found in less obvious places however: in trains, cars, televisions, washing-machines, fridges, and many other devices. None of these devices could function without software. Without software we couldn’t write e-mails, make phone calls, go shopping, or travel as we are accustomed to. Software is our society’s central tool. How do we ensure that the next generation is motivated and capable of shaping technology for society’s benefits?
The Free Software Foundation Europe’s volunteers and staff have interacted with over 6000 children who afterwards were motivated to start experimenting with hardware and software. In the discussions we saw that they realise how crucial technology will be for them. Furthermore with the FSFE’s coding competition “Youth Hacking 4 Freedom” we gathered experiences working with teenagers who program, tinker, and have fun with software.
Learn more about the experiences how the FSFE sparks children’s and teenagers interest to tinker, experiment, and program so you will see how fulfilling those activities can be for yourself if you get involved.
Matthias Kirschner is President of FSFE. In 1999 he started using GNU/Linux and realised that software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives. Matthias is convinced that this technology has to empower society not restrict it. While studying Political and Administrative Science he joined FSFE in 2004.
He helps other organisations, companies and governments to understand how they can benefit from Free Software -- which gives everybody the rights to use, understand, adapt, and share software -- and how those rights help to support freedom of speech, freedom of press or privacy.
In his spare time, he has written the book "Ada & Zangemann - A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream", which is translated in over 30 languages and meanwhile also available as a movie.