Re.Day 2026: the Repair Cafés meeting not to be missed!
On April 4th, Repair Together invites the repair community to meet at Usquare for a large gathering of Repair Café volunteers and supporters!
A festive afternoon of participatory workshops, dynamic talks, network updates, and discussions, all centered around a common theme: Repair Cafés against planned obsolescence!
All workshops and conferences will be conducted in French.
Registration
Registration for the day or part of it is required. Please click on the link to the online form.
Participation is free. Coffee and tea will be available free of charge throughout the event. The evening happy hour bar will be pay-what-you-want. No full meals will be provided.
Program
From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Participatory workshops for learning together
Workshop 1: Multi-item electronics repair training
Most of the items brought to the Repair Café are small electronics. During this training, you will discover a basic methodology for repairing these items.
– Theoretical introduction: how to disassemble a device, troubleshooting, common problems, etc.
– Practical exercises: first, we will review the items to be repaired, making hypotheses about the problem. Then, in small groups of 2 or 3, you will attempt to repair these items.
Workshop 2: Obsolescence à la barre
For 3 hours, become a defense attorney, judge, or expert witness in the trial of “Pineapple,” accused of planned obsolescence. This interactive workshop will introduce you to the workings of the legal system and help you hone your arguments. A workshop that’s not as fictional as it sounds, addressing the legal complexities of the fight against planned obsolescence, co-designed and facilitated by the non-profit organization Citizenship & Participation (CPCP).
Workshop 3: Fab Labs – A Solution to Obsolescence?
What if Fab Labs could help combat the premature obsolescence of everyday objects by strengthening repair capabilities and opening new avenues for sustainable product design? What are their potential and limitations? During this session, Justine Lebrun, a mechanical engineer, will present her work on the eco-design of everyday electronic objects using Fab Lab tools to facilitate future repairs. The presentation will be complemented by a tour of the ULB Fab Lab and its tools, an introduction to 3D printing, and an interactive and participatory discussion.
Workshop 4: Discovering Repair Together’s Educational Tools
A workshop to explore and get hands-on with the many educational tools developed and run by Repair Together to raise awareness about repair for all ages. Escape boxes, a world tour of smartphones, troubleshooting kits: these are just some of the fun activities that allow participants to explore the challenges of repair through practical experience. Discover them and share them with others!
Workshop 5: Introduction to Textile Repair and Bicycle Mechanics
Textiles: Introduction to hand-sewing textile repair techniques: felting, embroidery, the basics of sewing for complete beginners (starting and finishing a seam by hand, using a sewing machine, how to close a hole, attaching a button), etc. Bicycles: How to check a bicycle, basic maintenance and lubrication points, drivetrain adjustments, tire size and pressure.
Both workshops will be organized in small, alternating groups to encourage interaction, with content that can be adapted to the participants’ interests.
[To be confirmed] Workshop 6: Encoding Repair Statistics: Why and How
Using the Restarters platform and all its features can sometimes be complex. From getting started to extracting statistics from your Repair Café, this practical workshop is for volunteers (future) who will be using the platform and want to refine their skills. Content and program to be confirmed.
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Gathering
We will all meet for a dynamic presentation on the challenges of the right to repair by a member of the Right to Repair Europe steering group, and network updates!
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Informal drinks and snacks
Starting at 5:00 PM, join us for an informal drinks and snacks. Please indicate your attendance on the form so we can plan accordingly. A full meal is not planned. A suggested donation will be accepted for drinks.
Access
All activities will take place at the Usquare site in Ixelles (Avenue de la Couronne). Workshops will be held in buildings F and G, while presentations and a social gathering will take place in the lobby of building A.
Etterbeek train station, as well as the stops for trams 7 and 25 and bus 95, are just steps away.
For those arriving by car, parking is not available on site. We recommend parking on Avenue de la Cavalerie in Etterbeek, a 10-minute walk from the venue.
Bicycle parking is located between buildings G and F.
