Projects:

Partners:
CABAN – FOBAGRA – ARC – MAKS vzw – Belgium (Brussels),
Financed by the European Union

This project is still in the start-up phase, but it is very good news for both Maks and CABAN – the network of Brussels actors working on digital inclusion (www.caban.be). Maks has been a member of this network including several OCR/EPN (Public Computer Rooms – Espaces Publiques Numériques) since its creation. For over 10 years, we have been fighting for recognition and structural funding for these organisations working around digital inclusion, to help citizens develop their digital skills. Because if you are digitally “with it”, you can also improve your own social position and better stand up for your rights. That is why we named the project “Digilift”, as a lift for social inclusion.

Together with CABAN, ARC Cultures and Fobagra (both members of the network like Maks), we are now receiving support for 6 years (!) with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF-FEDER).

Until now, CABAN did not have its own staff and everything was done as voluntary work by members. Now there is money to hire a coordinator to strengthen and expand the network in the coming years. Odilia Diam Tsentso started in this position in early January 2025.

There is also funding for three others to work full-time on this project: at ARC, Fobagra ánd at Maks. Together, we will develop and share tools for digital Inclusion in the CABAN network. Methods for group learning, but also the concept of “informaticiens publics” (public digital writers) that will allow all animators and staff of the OCR to strengthen their role as digital helpers. The training of the OCR/EPN’s animators and volunteers is thus the most important aspect of this project, where we will also organise many moments where they can share their experiences, knowledge and skills among themselves.

The Digilift project also gives us the opportunity to make CABAN and the Brussels EPN/OCR better known to the general public, with events and “outreach” activities (in public spaces), so that we can reach many more Brussels residents.