Cybercirujas Bridges Digital Divide
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by Mariela Laksman

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--From a young age, I took an active interest
in recycling and repairing abandoned technology. With passion, I
transformed basic electronic parts into complex machinery components.
In my first job maintaining factory technology, I discovered how
large corporations routinely discarded functional parts and products
instead of repairing them. In response, I collected discarded parts,
repaired them, and repurposed them into valuable tools for my
community and myself. Eventually, this journey resulted in the
creation of Cybercirujas, a community project.

[The Cybercirujas movement has become a nationwide network in
Argentina, hosting workshops and repair events to promote technology
refurbishment, support free software, and foster a culture of
responsible and accessible tech use.]

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Man bridges the digital gap, delivering repaired electronics to
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underprivileged communities
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I am self-taught, having used Free software to empower myself and my
community. Eventually, I began teaching others and became an
activist, recognizing how technology opens doors while deepening
inequalities. In low-income communities, where life can be
challenging, I witnessed how technology served as both a blessing and
a curse.

The COVID-19 Pandemic only widened the digital divide. I witnessed
countless people, especially students and low-income workers,
excluded from education and work due to a lack of access to
technological resources. In response, Nicolás Wolovick, a friend and
professor at the National University of Córdoba, and I launched a
network to recover and redistribute unused electronic equipment.
Prioritizing reconditioning electronic devices, we began delivering
them to those who needed them most.

Diligently, we repaired electronic devices and extended their
lifespan, reducing environmental impact and challenging the
consumption driven by large technology corporations. We fought
against planned obsolescence, which forces relentless consumption and
produces millions of tons of electronic waste. With every piece of
recovered equipment, we claimed a small victory over the throwaway
system, providing digital inclusion to those excluded.

Successfully, we restored and distributed equipment for free,
empowering people with the tools to advance in the digital world.
Consequently, our project narrowed the digital gap in low-income
communities. As we continue fighting for social justice, I worked
toward a sustainable future for my community.

[Side:

Soldán, one of the founders of the Cybercirujas movement, has also
been an elementary school teacher. During his years of teaching,
Soldán was committed to an alternative approach to education,
promoting the conscious and critical use of technology. His role as a
teacher played a key part in shaping his approach to alternative
education, linking his work with the principles of accessibility,
repair, and reuse of technology. Currently, Cybercirujas has expanded
into a federal network across various cities in Argentina, hosting
collective repair events, donation campaigns, and workshops to raise
awareness about the impact of technological consumption. This
community not only refurbishes equipment but has also become a space
for education and discussion on technology and sustainability.
Through free software, the project promotes a culture of learning and
technological self-management, encouraging users to understand and
manage their tools independently.

Background Information:

Free software and the recycling of technological equipment are
essential for creating more accessible and sustainable technology.
Free software, being open-source, allows low-income communities to
access quality tools without the burden of license costs. Recycling
equipment reduces electronic waste pollution and enables materials to
be reused, promoting a circular and sustainable technology model.

In underserved communities, lack of access to technology perpetuates
economic and social inequalities. Encouraging the adoption of
open-source software and the recycling of devices helps reduce these
disparities while mitigating the environmental impact of electronic
waste.
]

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Cybercirujas unites Argentina, empowering communities with tech and
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sustainability
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After the Pandemic, the project evolved into a thriving community.
People across the country united around the idea, forming a federal
network. Surprisingly, Cybercirujas rooted itself in provinces like
Córdoba, Santa Fe, Misiones, and Buenos Aires, sparking incredible
growth.

As we progressed, the Cybercirujas movement transformed into a hub
where people learned about technology, free software, and
environmental care through reuse. Expanding my role as an educator
beyond the classroom, I shared technical knowledge about computers,
advocating for responsible technology use.

Soon after, we organized workshops and events to address various
concerns, which evolved into collaborative, community-driven
initiatives. We organized Reparatones--open workshops where
participants repaired their broken or damaged electronic devices
alongside experts and volunteers. We also launched the Hardware
People's Pot, inspired by solidarity-based community meals. At the
event, we shared tools and knowledge to repair technological
equipment, fostering self-sufficiency and promoting recycling.

Additionally, we conducted workshops on Free Software, advocating for
accessible, sustainable, and privacy-friendly technological tools.
These sessions introduced alternatives to proprietary programs, often
demanding costly licenses or restricting user data control. Extending
the life of equipment, we empowered communities and individuals with
limited resources through essential knowledge.

Cybercirujas events transform into creative hubs for learning
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technological innovation
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Over time, the Cybercirujas movement transformed events into vibrant
discussion, connection, and learning. Each event transformed into a
space for learning and technological empowerment. Enthusiasm and
creativity buzzed through the events, creating a vibrant, communal
atmosphere. Music from a recycled Commodore 64 [an 8-bit home
computer introduced in January 1982] filled the air, while graffiti
artists used their talent to emphasize the importance of the cause.

Activists, curious individuals with no prior experience, students,
families, teachers, and single heads of households traveled long
distances to obtain refurbished computers. Undoubtedly, their
presence highlighted our work's impact and the transformative power
of purposeful technology.

[Turning discarded electronics into tools of empowerment,
Cybercirujas bridges the digital divide and fosters community-driven
tech solutions.]

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Remarkably, my coworkers' unique and experimental creative spirit
stunned me. At one event, I watched Marcelo build a video game
controller using a deodorant ball, while Gonzalo and Nahuel hacked
payment terminals to turn them into game controllers. These
alternative devices, almost like museum pieces of the future,
expressed a bold and free challenge to how we interact with machines.
Their creativity and technical skills demonstrated that technology is
a form of art.

The communal experience and the opportunity to make a tangible
difference in people's lives felt incredible. I stood amazed as
combining action with learning sparked critical thinking. Empowering
others turned into an act of resistance. I felt immensely satisfied
seeing technology become accessible and useful for everyone, rather
than an exclusive consumer good.

Sergio turns his struggles into service, helping families through
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technology
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One day, the disassembled equipment in the hack lab overwhelmed our
hands. Then, Sergio appeared--a man with a tired look and slumped
shoulders, carrying a story that hinted at a complicated past. Drawn
by a newspaper article, he arrived from the southern suburbs of
Buenos Aires as he needed a simple computer for work and study. As he
spoke, his eyes revealed a mixture of hope and resignation, a look
familiar to anyone who faced many rejections.