I am a Repair Rebel! 
For the past 10 years, I have repaired electronic devices—often with limited tools and resources. So when I get the chance to discuss how technology can become more sustainable, repairable, and circular, I take it personally.
As we celebrate 10 years of International Repair Day, I am also celebrating 10 years of fixing electronics. My birthday is so unique and special as it falls between International E-waste Day (October 15) and International Repair Day (October 17) — a fitting reminder of the work I care about.
Last week in Nairobi, I joined ECOS’s workshop on Building Greener ICT Value Chains, bringing together participants from Africa and Europe to exchange ideas on:
- Greener, more circular ICT value chainsICT product lifecycles and e-waste management
- Standards and policies for green digitalization
- Collaboration between African and European stakeholders
I was proud to share Community Creativity for Development (CC4D) grassroots experience in repairing, reusing, refurbishing, and maintaining ICT products.
I also mentioned about International Repair Day and shared about Fixfest. Participants are requesting that the Next Fixfest should happen in Africa.
A sustainable digital future cannot be built by producing and connecting more devices alone. We must also ask:
- Can this device be repaired or maintained?
- Can it be reused?
- Can its useful life be extended?
- What happens when it can no longer be used?
These questions matter especially in Africa, where repair and reuse are already part of everyday life but remain underrecognized in formal ICT value chains and policies.
Thank you to ECOS for inviting me as a speaker and creating space for this important conversation.
Repair is more than fixing a device. It keeps resources in use, creates local skills and livelihoods, reduces waste, and supports a more sustainable and inclusive digital future.
10 years of fixing. 10 years of learning. 10 years of advocating for repairability.
And I am still repairing.
As I celebrate this milestone, I would also love to turn my birthday into an opportunity to support the repair community. If you would like to contribute to my birthday by making a donation or sponsoring a community Repair Café event, please get in touch:
Thank you for supporting the journey and the work.
#RepairRebel #10YearsOfRepair #InternationalRepairDay #RightToRepair repair #CircularEconomy #GreenICT #Ewaste #SustainableTechnology #Africa #Digitalisation
Anne Neumann James Pickstone Ugo Vallauri Both ENDS ECOS Justin Wilkes Mathieu Rama Willian Santos 
Leanne Wiseman Samantha Jarman Andrew Brown Ricardo Ruiz Freire Sandra Mamitzsch Fadia Elgharib