WordCamp News

Bhopal Hosts WP Build Tour 2025: Empowering 1700+ Students Across Central India

Posted by on October 24, 2025 with No replies yet

WordPress Bhopal has been at the forefront when it comes to igniting young minds, empowering them with knowledge, generating new ways to achieve optimal and maximum value, and sparking a positive social impact— kind of feels like a motto. 

We love doing all of it!

And as we proudly complete our 10th year of formation (Oct. 2nd), this year in particular, we’ve been targeting ways to amplify our impact. A special highlight was EmpowerWP Bhopal (Women’s Day event), where we hosted women in different stages & walks of their lives and demonstrated how WordPress & the community can support them in achieving/expanding their potential. The response was heartwarming.

Read more about EmpowerWP Bhopal 2025

Post this event’s success, and that of last year’s do_action, where we empowered NGOs by building their websites, it felt only natural that the next chapter in our mission of empowering the social community should focus on the students. 

And honestly, why we feel more drawn towards the student community can be traced back to the fact that the genesis of the WP Bhopal community itself was by a second-year college student back in 2015. Ever since, we’ve been taking workshops in colleges of our city, but this year, it was more about formalising it and making it more impactful & grander than ever.

Being the only active chapter in the State of Madhya Pradesh—a state with 55 districts and over 400 cities—there was always a little nudge to take our initiative beyond our home, Bhopal.

I still vividly remember while pitching sponsors for WordCamp Bhopal 2023, the idea kept resurfacing: the student community must benefit from this. The lack of exposure and the gap between theory & practical skills is profusely felt. Aditya often mentions that when he started with WordPress, it was purely out of his own interest, not something taught or exposed to him in his institute. For him, building websites was uncommon among his batchmates. And the truth is, the situation hasn’t changed, and we still need revitalisation to help the youth realise their potential. This became the agenda of this initiative.

Too much foundation-building… now’s the time to reveal what I’ve so heartily been tucking in…

WE ARE SO PROUD & DELIGHTED to share that possibly the largest event of its kind, so far—the WP Build Tour 2025—has been successfully organised, impacting and empowering more than 1700 students across Madhya Pradesh in one go!

What’s in the Name? And Why This Matters.

The name came after much thought. We wanted it to reflect the core idea: Tour to capture the essence of a tour bus going around the State, empowering students (especially first-timers) to Build their very first WordPress websites, apart from expanding their technical confidence.

The mission was rooted in our identity as the only active WP chapter in Madhya Pradesh:

  • Expanding our reach to more students across the State.
  • Spreading WordPress awareness to inspire new local chapters
  • Giving students confidence to bring their ideas online

This plan was a win-win for us personally, for the community, and for the social cause we stand for.

The Planning Phase: How Did We Pull This Off?

The initial plan was to cover colleges in major cities. Ties with GDG (Google Developer Groups) communities and college clubs helped spread the word and support with arrangements that differed from college to college.

Interests were called in from colleges. Once we had a number, like the location, student profiles, number of students, etc, we initiated the process. We designated volunteers from each college to be a bridge, because, of course, they know the best way in there. Each college had around 120-600 students in one sitting.

Thanks to their support, we were able to pull this off smoothly. Special shout-outs to: SIRT Student Body (Bhopal), Advance Studies Club- Medicaps Indore, GDG Indore & E-Cell, SATI Vidisha.

Sessions were designed for all levels, no matter the technical background. We were conscious of common hurdles & from day zero of planning, we decided to remove those barriers at first instance. In this regard, at preliminary registration itself, students were guided to apply for the GitHub Education Pack, so by the event day, they have access to free domains & developer tools. For hosting, we relied on InfinityFree and FreeHosting.com. Sometimes, a challenge was GitHub taking too long to approve the account(s), so the backup was to manage through subdomains from InfinityFree and additional free hosting setups.

The setup also included swags and refreshments to keep up with the momentum. Thought was put into keeping those as relevant as possible. Participants were provided with mini cleaning kits to take home. For refreshments, we relied on the quick & easy- Pizzas & Burgers along with beverages.

Building Website in a Day: The Possibility

Now that’s a given, building your own website (properly) takes time— planning, ideation, resources, so what’s the catch? No catch, really. Here, with a 4–5 hour workshop, we wanted students to experience the spark of: “I can actually do this.” The pressure wasn’t to build the whole of it in one day but to cover all the basics then & there. So the next time they open it, it’s only to further mould it as per their requirements.

From purchasing a domain, to pointing DNS records, to watching DNS propagation happen live—and finally installing WordPress—it was a crash course in turning abstract concepts into real, working websites.

And the output? A portfolio, a blog, a project showcase, even startup ideas. The pride was real. Social media lit up with links saying, “We built this.”

Honestly, we were a little sceptical at times—like when there weren’t many doubts, or when lunch was announced and students walked out. We wondered, “Will they even come back?” Because this wasn’t meant to be just another attendance exercise; we wanted it to be voluntary, something they chose to be part of.

But there was consensus in the team that even if just one kid shows up, we’ll keep going. And guess what? Not only did they come back, but they jumped in with full energy. Doubts, queries, ideas, thoughts—their enthusiasm blew us away. It’s hard to put into words how fascinating it was to see the effort actually paying off.

By the end, every participant had not just knowledge but something concrete: a live website, their website! Photos, reels, and hashtags like #WPBuildTourBPL amplified the energy far beyond the classrooms.

Beyond the Website

Though the primary goal was to help students build their own websites from scratch, the sessions were also designed to introduce them to the WordPress community. They covered career opportunities, ways to get involved, and the benefits the community offers. Students were given an overview of how to contribute, how chapters operate, and how they can become a part of the ecosystem. The aim was to make the experience not just hands-on but also empowering—equipping them to pave their own path, with community connection as a strong starting point. This also supports our broader goal of fostering new chapters across the state.

The Route We Took

We’re very thankful to the college administrations of each institute we took the Tour to for their trust and support throughout. This post would be failing in its agenda without giving them due credit for opening their doors and believing in the vision of the WP Build Tour.

Here’s where the Tour travelled:

  • Sagar Institute of Research & Technology, Bhopal
  • Oriental Institute of Science & Technology, Bhopal
  • Samrat Ashok Technological Institute, Vidisha
  • Acropolis Institute of Technology & Research, Indore
  • Medicaps University, Indore
  • Oriental College of Technology, Bhopal


Each stop added its own flavour and warmth. If we could’ve squeezed in more, we surely would have, but even with the stretch, it was worth it.

The social media was our backbone—announcements, posts, designs, keeping the buzz alive. Big thanks to Mansi (also our go-to content person), along with Md. Farid, Amit & Riddhima. And yep, that cool Build Tour logo you see up there? Amit designed it.

On the ground, Shashank, Kapil, and Shivam held things together—guiding students through technicalities, taking charge of arrangements, managing logistics, and even stepping in as resource persons when needed. Shashank went the extra mile, balancing all this while also supporting social media.

Aditya, Guneet, and Kripesh led as resource persons, bringing not only their WordPress expertise but also their effortless way of connecting with students. (Classic engineers with their own fanbase, haha!)

Mayur, Anshika, Pooja, Malay, Ninay, Roshini, and Prabal each contributed in various roles, adding strength to the endeavour.

The Sponsors who made this Possible

This tour wouldn’t have been possible the way it happened without our incredible sponsors. Gold Sponsors Jetpack, Bluehost, Woo, Hosting.com, Kinsta, StellarWP, and our Bronze Sponsor, ForthFocus.

Their support helped us take the Tour across campuses in the best way possible, provide refreshments and swags, and equip students with the right resources.

And of course, a big thanks to the global WordPress community for having our back throughout!

Giveaway winner
Swags

Moments beyond: In our Hearts

Some moments will stay with us forever:

  • The warmth of teamwork, swag, and refreshments turns workshops into mini-celebrations
  • The collective gasp when a site went live
  • Proud social media posts
  • Smiles of giveaway winners walking away with specially curated kits.

Because at its heart, the WP Build Tour 2025 was never just about code or content. It was about confidence. About potential realised. About futures being built—one student, one website, one breakthrough at a time.

We were featured in local newspapers

Organising events is one thing, and adding purpose to them takes it to another level. For us in Bhopal, organising events has never been just about the “event.” It’s about going a step further and sparking change, no matter how small. Thankfully, the WordPress community has always been open and kind enough to welcome such ideas and encourage us to push boundaries. And for that, we’re so grateful!

The WP Build Tour 2025 wasn’t the end but rather the beginning of a movement. And as we now look forward to WordCamp Bhopal 2025 this December, we carry with us 1,700 sparks of possibility, ready to light up the future of WordPress and beyond.

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Nurturing New Contributors: WordPress Kolhapur Community’s Online Contribution Series

Posted by on August 19, 2025 with Comments are off for this post

Following the incredible success of WordCamp Kolhapur 2025 (January 11–12), our passionate local WordPress community launched a dedicated nine‑event Online Contribution Series to help new and aspiring contributors explore different ways to contribute to the WordPress project.

As the Lead Organizer of WordCamp Kolhapur 2025, I felt inspired to conceptualize and lead this initiative, supported by my fellow community members. After several thoughtful discussions and planning sessions, the series was finalized and officially kicked off on March 14, 2025. The complete nine‑event series was organized through the WordCamp Kolhapur Meetup group, with Abhay Kulkarni organizing and volunteering for every meetup to ensure smooth coordination. I served as the speaker and mentor for each session, guiding both new and experienced contributors through various areas of the WordPress project.

Why We Started the Contribution Series

I was a mentee in the WordPress Contributor Mentorship: 2024 Q4 Cohort and successfully graduated from the program in November 2024. During this journey, I not only learned how to contribute effectively to WordPress Core, but I was also recognized as an All-Star Mentee and earned a place in the program’s Hall of Fame!

Additionally, I received a Diversity Scholarship to attend WordCamp Asia 2025. These scholarships are designed to support individuals who are passionate about contributing to the WordPress ecosystem but may face financial or logistical challenges.

Inspired by my cohort experience and the opportunities I received, I wanted to give back to the community. What better way than by becoming a mentor myself, guiding and inspiring others to start their own contribution journey?

And that’s the core reason we started the WordPress Contribution Series.

Event Recap

After the planning and preparation, here’s how the contribution series unfolded across different meetup topics:

Kickstart Your WordPress Contribution Journey

Date: March 15, 2025

This opening session focused on getting contributors started with the basics — setting up a WordPress.org profile, joining global Slack channels, and understanding the various Make WordPress teams. The session concluded with a photo contribution activity where participants submitted original images to the WordPress Photo Directory.

  • Total Contributors: 9
  • First-Time Contributors: 3

Core Contributions: Testing & Release Parties

Dates: March 25, April 1, 8, 14, and 15, 2025

These sessions were designed to help participants contribute to WordPress Core by testing the Release Candidate versions of WordPress 6.8. Rather than writing code, the focus was on functional testing, identifying bugs, and joining the community for release celebrations.

  • Total Contributors: 28
  • First-Time Contributors: 23

Pattern Contributions

Date: March 29, 2025

This meetup introduced contributors to the WordPress Pattern Directory. Attendees learned how to design block patterns, follow accessibility guidelines, and submit reusable layout designs to enrich the editor experience for users worldwide.

  • Total Contributors: 12
  • First-Time Contributors: 11

Polyglots / Translation Contributions

Date: April 5, 2025

This session focused on language accessibility. Contributors worked on translating WordPress core, plugins, and themes into regional languages. Guidance was provided on using translation tools and maintaining quality across localized strings.

  • Total Contributors: 8
  • First-Time Contributors: 7

WordPress TV: Talks, Videos & Guest Participation

Date: April 12, 2025

In this session, contributors explored how to contribute to WordPress TV through video uploads, captioning, and translating community talks. We also hosted guest speaker Prathamesh Palave, who shared insights on creating impactful presentation content.

Contributors from the Series

We’re proud to recognise all the individuals who actively participated in the series: Rajesh Rathod, Suraj Sutar, Prashant Patil, Shubham Patil, Pritam Sonone, Vaibhav Singh, Ketan Niruke, Digvijay Zite, Rajendra Ghorpade, Prathamesh Bhagat, Shreyas Desai, Sunita Khattar, Nilesh Shiragave, Amit Bhosale, V Gautam Navada, Snehal Kashid, Rupesh Patil, Akshay Dhere, Aditya Bansode, Suhas Sutar, Vaibhav Nawale, Dheeraj Bhosale, Rajendra Patil, Prathamesh Palave, Soham Joshi, Mrunal Kulkarni, Harshada Patil, Abhay Kulkarni & Makarand Mane

Additional Online Meetup: Contributing to the Test Team

Two months later, we hosted an online meetup dedicated to contributing to the WordPress Test Team.

  • Date: June 15, 2025 (update if needed)
  • Guest Speaker: Mrs. Krupa Nanda

Krupa explained how the Test Team helps ensure the quality of WordPress releases by performing functional and regression testing. She also guided attendees on:

  • Reporting and triaging bugs
  • Using testing tools effectively
  • Participating in release testing initiatives on Make WordPress Test

The session provided a clear roadmap for contributors to get started with testing activities.

Recording: Watch Here

Closing Thoughts

The WordPress Kolhapur Contribution Series proved that WordPress thrives when we lift each other up. New contributors gained confidence, mentors found joy in guiding, and our community grew stronger and more inclusive.

The Kolhapur WordPress community continues to host regular contribution‑focused events and welcomes contributors from around the world to join us.

If you feel inspired to begin your own contributor journey—or to help others start theirs—connect with the Make WordPress Community Team.

Together, we can build a better WordPress for everyone.

Categories Events, Online, Workshops | Tags , , , , | Comments are off for this post

First-Ever WordPress Campus Connect in Southeast Asia Kicks Off

Posted by on August 6, 2025 with 1 reply

Last July 25, 2025, WordPress Campus Connect finally made its mark in Southeast Asia by holding its first-ever event in the region in the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City, Philippines. 

Pictured: The WordPress CDO and Iloilo teams, speakers, and the PHINMA-COC students who attended the event. 

The event was held at PHINMA-Cagayan de Oro College. Over 100 students and school staff warmly welcomed the Philippines WordPress chapters that organized the event.

The WordPress CDO chapter, with help from its sister organizations in WordPress Iloilo and WordPress Iligan, conceptualized this initiative as a bridge between traditional, controlled classroom learning and real-world practices and insights practiced by full-time WordPress practitioners. The event is also in line with the group’s commitment to upholding WordPress’s original mission of being a platform for “everyone”.

Most of the day’s presentations were centered around possible career paths that the student attendees might consider exploring after graduation. 

After the opening address by Mr. RJ Cainglet, SBO Adviser of College of Information Technology, Mr. John Tañedo, a 15-year web designer and brand strategist, started the presentations with a talk that was simply entitled “Careers in WordPress”. His talk was straight-laced in its assessment of the current realities facing job seekers in the real world, particularly in freelancing and working as a part of a small-business operation.

While Mr. Tañedo was effusive in WordPress’s capabilities of giving just about anyone a leg up in starting careers in the digital space, he emphasized the need for students to be aware of the responsibilities that are actually needed for their careers, particularly if they are aiming to be either developers, designers, or marketers.

Mr. Kim Isaiah Valencia, a full-time WordPress developer and a core member of WordPress Iloilo, continued the afternoon by holding a quick workshop on WordPress installation, themes, plugins, and hosting. 

Mr. Valencia and Mr. Hao guiding the student participants in installing WordPress on their laptops.

In a room packed with students starting on their WordPress journeys, Mr. Valencia took the time to track each row’s progress on installing WordPress on the devices they have with them.

Mr. Kyne Hao, a UI/UX designer and advocate, continued the pace with his talk on Design Thinking. He argued for the need for human-centered design, as design itself is observable in everyday things like appliances and furniture, as opposed to being just applied digitally. 

Mr. Hao laid out how students can practice simple design thinking frameworks by focusing on the tenets of Empathizing, Defining, Ideating, Prototyping, and Testing. Even in settings where a QA Tester is present, he emphasized the need for getting into the mind of the “target user”.

The final talk of the afternoon was on Career Growth, Challenges, and Insights. Mr. Glenn Palacio, a creative with a remarkable 13-year career in Photography, tempered the anxieties of everyone in the room who might be thinking of how new technologies like Generative AI might affect their careers in the near future.

Mr. Palacio laid out that even with the disruption and ethical challenges brought about by Gen-AI, the need for one’s creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking should always be at the forefront. He proceeded to illustrate real-world examples of businesses using AI to enhance their processes and business services. 

Ms. Harcy Joy Dela Cruz, WordPress CDO lead organizer, gifting a WordCamp-branded swag to a lucky student. 

Despite the afternoon heat, the event was lively all throughout, with the students’ enthusiasm rubbing off even on the presenters and organizers. 

With the event ending on a high note, the likelihood is very high that other WordPress Campus Connects will spread to other neighboring cities in the region. 

From L-R: Mr. Ian Malhin, PHINMA-CDO Engagement Associate of the Employer Engagement office; Mr. Kim Isaiah Valencia; Mr. Kyne Hao; Mr. John Tañedo; Mr. Glenn Palacio; and Mr. Riel Jun Estologa Cainglet, SBO Adviser.

From L-R: Mr. Ian Malhin, PHINMA-CDO Engagement Associate of the Employer Engagement office; Mr. Kim Isaiah Valencia; Mr. Kyne Hao; Mr. John Tañedo; Mr. Glenn Palacio; and Mr. Riel Jun Estologa Cainglet, SBO Adviser.

For those who want to be a part of our next events in the Philippines, you can follow us at either of the pages below if you’re near these cities: 

The WordPress Campus Connect in CDO would not have been possible without the support of the following sponsors:

Special thanks to Pooja Derashri and Anand Upadhyay, two incredibly passionate individuals who have been instrumental in bringing WordPress Campus Connect to life.

Pooja, your mentorship kept us grounded, and Anand, thank you for continuously pushing and inspiring us to take this initiative forward. Your support means a lot to our growing community in the Philippines.

Categories Events, WordCamp Recap | Tags | 1 reply

Highlights from WordCamp Masaka 2025

Posted by on July 30, 2025 with Comments are off for this post

WordCamp Masaka 2025, held from July 18–19 at Equator University of Science and Technology, wrapped up with a strong sense of community, innovation, and shared purpose. The second edition of this dynamic gathering brought together 291 attendees under the theme “Connecting Communities, Inspiring Ideas.” While we were just 9 shy of our 300-participant target, the energy and engagement made the event a resounding success.

Participants from across Uganda and beyond including speakers from South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana—engaged in the two days of insightful talks, practical workshops, and meaningful conversations about the future of WordPress and open-source collaboration.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing sponsors for their incredible support. This event would not have been possible without your generosity.

A Look at the Event

Among the many impactful moments was the panel discussion titled “From Barriers to Belonging: Building Diverse & Inclusive Tech Communities.” This session encouraged meaningful dialogue around representation and inclusion, prompting participants to reflect on how to build more welcoming and equitable environments in tech.

Panel discussion at WordCamp Masaka 2025 featuring moderator Cerinah N Kasirye and panelists Sumaiya Nalukwago, Samuel Osei, and Scovia Akello Emaru discussing building diverse and inclusive tech communities.
From left: Cerinah N Kasirye (Moderator), Sumaiya Nalukwago, Samuel Osei, and Scovia Akello Emaru — panelists of “From Barriers to Belonging: Building Diverse and Inclusive Tech Communities” at WordCamp Masaka 2025.

The event also featured a vibrant Student Engagement Program, which provided high school, vocational, and university students with an opportunity to explore WordPress. Through hands-on workshops, practical presentations, and networking opportunities with industry professionals, students gained valuable exposure and insights. Notably, several high school representatives expressed strong interest in bringing hands-on WordPress workshops and training sessions to their schools. They also proposed mentorship programs to help students develop real-world projects—highlighting a growing enthusiasm for learning and community involvement.

The swag from Jetpack was warmly appreciated by attendees, adding a thoughtful and useful touch that made the event even more memorable.

Thabotswana, a representative from Jetpack, seated at the Jetpack sponsor table during WordCamp Masaka 2025, with a laptop in front of him and branded Jetpack swag displayed beside him for attendees.
Thabo Tswana from Jetpack at WordCamp Masaka 2025 sponsor table.
Swag items from Jetpack displayed at WordCamp Masaka 2025
Jetpack swag items on display at WordCamp Masaka 2025 sponsor table.

Key themes explored during the event included:

  • Community and Career Growth: Sessions offered guidance on personal and professional development within the WordPress ecosystem.
  • Security Focus: Attendees gained essential knowledge to protect websites and mitigate threats.
  • Design and Development: Practical insights covered modern workflows, full site editing, and block editor techniques.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Sessions highlighted how missing perspectives create an innovation gap that could threaten WordPress’s future, emphasizing the need to build diverse and inclusive communities and empower women in tech.
  • Website Management: Strategies for backup, restoration, and site migration were shared.
  • Marketing and Innovation: Topics included growth strategies like email marketing, AI and VR applications, and WordPress’s role in sustainable development.

Throughout the event, networking breaks and a community photo session provided ample opportunities for attendees to connect, share ideas, and build lasting relationships.

📸 Browse Photo Gallery

Impact and Community Spirit

WordCamp Masaka 2025 was a testament to the thriving WordPress community in Uganda. It served as a powerful platform for knowledge exchange, skill enhancement, and fostering a strong sense of camaraderie. The diverse range of topics, from technical deep-dives to discussions on community building and future technologies, ensured there was something for everyone.

The enthusiasm of the speakers, the active participation of attendees, and the invaluable support from sponsors created an unforgettable experience.

During the event, Arthur Kasirye (Community Program Supporter), Ssebuwufu Moses (WordCamp Masaka 2025 Lead Organizer), and Thabo Tswana (Event Supporter) met with Professor Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, Vice Chancellor of Equator University of Science and Technology, to introduce the WordPress Credits Internship Program—an initiative that integrates university students into the WordPress open source community through hands-on contribution projects. Professor Mpezamihigo expressed strong interest in the program and committed to formally submitting the university’s interest form, signaling a promising collaboration to advance student engagement and practical skills development.

The success of this event reinforces the growing potential of WordPress as a tool for digital empowerment and economic development in the region. The connections made and the knowledge shared will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and innovation within the Ugandan tech landscape.

Looking Ahead

The community looks forward to building on the momentum generated by WordCamp Masaka 2025 by continuing to collaborate, learn, and contribute to the global WordPress project.

Follow Masaka WordPress Meetup on X and LinkedIn for updates, news, and upcoming events.

For more information about WordCamp Masaka 2025, please visit https://masaka.wordcamp.org/2025/.

Categories WordCamp Recap, WordCamps | Comments are off for this post

WordCamp Jinja 2025 Recap: An impactful 2 days of learning, diverse speakers, hands-on workshops, contributions, charity website hackathon, and celebration of WordPress on the Nile

Posted by on June 7, 2025 with Comments are off for this post

From May 24th to 25th, 2025, we had the fourth annual WordCamp Jinja at the largest educational institution in the region Jinja Senior Secondary School. This year’s event was our biggest and most impactful yet both in numbers and key demographics, having over 250 attendees and participants that primarily included students as well as developers, designers, bloggers, educators, and entrepreneurs from across Uganda and East Africa.

With the theme “Create, Impact, and Explore with WordPress!”, the event was a celebration of open-source innovation, practical skills, and community spirit, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Nile.

A WordCamp Designed for Student WordPressers, Developers and Creatives Alike

Students were at the heart of WordCamp Jinja 2025, reflecting their role as a key and growing demographic in both the WordPress Jinja community and the wider Ugandan community. This year’s venue Jinja Senior Secondary School—was purposefully chosen to bring the WordPress experience closer to students, ensuring greater accessibility, relevance, and impact.

We welcomed enthusiastic participation from students of Jinja SS, Makerere University, Macedonian Vocational School, Ezone School of Computing, and others. For most, it was their first exposure to open-source tools, and the excitement was palpable. At Jinja SS, the event left a lasting impression—inspiring students to launch their very own ICT Club to continue learning and collaborating long after the event, thus we left a standing souvenir at the school.

As a community, we are intentional about balancing engagement between our student and creative/developer communities. We do this by alternating venues each year to better suit both these key groups and demographics, whether it’s schools, colleges or innovation hubs. We are excited to continue our outreach programs and student-focused initiatives at both Jinja Senior Secondary School and Macedonian Vocational School among other schools, nurturing future WordPress contributors, creators, and tech leaders as well as having creative and developer oriented meetups and next-gen events.

Diverse Speaker Sessions

Attendees enjoyed powerful sessions across two tracks led by speakers from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, USA, and beyond. Talks covered everything from advanced contributions, development and accessibility to blogging, diversity, SEO, and AI tools for content creators—sparking learning, inspiration, and engagement throughout the event.

Contributor Day sessions and Website Hackathon Track

Teams collaborated in a WordPress Website Hackathon, that we have been holding each year, building websites for NGOs, community initiatives, and personal projects—all powered by WordPress. It was an energetic, purpose-driven space where learning met real-world impact.

Throughout the event during the hackathon track and culminating on May 25th, participants joined the global open-source movement through the Contributor Day and sessions. From learning how to translate and reviewing content to contributing to the WordPress Photos and Polyglots teams, attendees learned how to give back and make an impact in the WordPress ecosystem.

After-Party on the Nile

The event concluded with an unforgettable after-party at the Source of the Nile, where participants networked, shared stories, and reflected on two days of community connection and creative exploration. The boat ride to the source of the Nile closed off such an eventful experience.

Thank You!

We are deeply grateful to:

  • Our over 250+ attendees and participants especially all the students for bringing their energy and enthusiasm for learning
  • Our amazing speakers and workshop facilitators
  • Our sponsors and partners for their generous support
  • Our volunteers who made everything run smoothly

Your commitment and passion made this year’s WordCamp Jinja the biggest and most impactful yet!

What Next

Don’t forget to follow @WordPressJinja for continued updates.

Uganda is one of the places with the highest turnover of WordPress events and a vibrant, supportive, and passionate WordPress community with over 8 WordPress events a year. Including Next Gens and Do Actions. Next inline is the Uganda Websites Projects Competition on 20th June 2025 and WordCamp Masaka on 18th and 19th July 2025 with more to follow in the coming months.

Remember to join our WordPress Jinja Meetup community for timely updates as well. We can’t wait to welcome you to all WordPress Jinja meetups, creative and developer centric next-gen events and WordCamp Jinja 2026 — which shall be even bigger and more impactful, let’s continue to create, impact, and explore together with WordPress!

Categories Events, News, Uncategorized, WordCamp Recap | Tags , , , | Comments are off for this post

EmpowerWP Bhopal 2025: A Journey of Inclusion and Impact!

Posted by on April 29, 2025 with 2 replies

Some moments in life leave an indelible mark on our hearts, and for me, EmpowerWP Bhopal 2025 was one of them. As the lead organizer, I envisioned an event that would bring a positive change to the lives of people around us, in society, and not just in the community. And what an incredible experience it has been!

A Vision Turned Reality

As part of the global WordPress initiative, WP Bhopal organised EmpowerWP on March 9th to commemorate International Women’s Day 2025. What began as an ambitious goal turned into a milestone moment, proving the power of representation, inclusion, and collective support.

I was introduced to the idea of #WomenInWordPress at WordCamp Bhopal 2023. But the purpose became clear only when the low ratio of women attendees in the monthly meetups became a constant. This event was important for several reasons, one of the major reasons globally was to bring in as many women in the radar as possible, to get them involved and change the already deteriorating state of women participation in the community & STEM in general.

Challenging Norms and Expanding Inclusion

For the first time in our chapter’s decade-long journey, we hosted a meetup with a female-majority audience. Going with the idea that empowerment doesn’t happen in isolation, we made this a woman-majority event. The point is that if we want women to upskill themselves, help & empower their own kind, it is also for men to support in whatever capacity they can and make space. It is also about them showing and reflecting that they are there, and therefore, the event attendees were divided into two categories: women and allies. It’s about uplifting society and making it empowered in the truest sense. To give the credit and appreciation wherever due. And we’re so thankful we stuck with that.

Secondly, these events are largely limited to targeting students & professionals. But when we envisioned EmpowerWP Bhopal, we knew it had to be inclusive—not just for the conventional attendees but also for the very women who have shaped our lives. We wanted to utilize this opportunity to actually make a difference, not just for women already involved in WordPress or Tech but for those somewhat left behind from the active workforce due to family responsibilities, societal pressure, or other reasons. Our goal was to (re)introduce them to digital opportunities, help them upskill, and connect them to a supportive network.

So we decided to target homemakers with untapped potential, women on career breaks looking to upskill, small business owners who had yet to digitalise, apart from students & professionals. The idea was to bring the digital revolution home.

Execution: Bridging the Gap

Targeting this group required a different approach. Many of these women needed reassurance and encouragement. We had to instill in them the idea that it’s not difficult; it’s just different. Our team curated learning videos and motivational messages from tech professionals (special thanks to Michelle & Krupa) as part of a dedicated social media campaign. We reached out via WhatsApp and Facebook, where these women were more active.

Even then, we were uncertain if we could achieve our ambitious goals. But the response exceeded our expectations—106 registrations and 70+ attendees on event day. The diversity in the room was incredible: students, entrepreneurs, journalists, homemakers, designers, freelancers, and social activists. Our youngest attendee? A 5th-grade schoolgirl! That’s when we knew a difference had been made.

EmpowerWP in Action

The event was designed as a full day of learning, inspiration, and contribution. We started with a fun ice-breaking activity where all the attendees were asked to define ’empowerment’, and it was nice to gather all perspectives before we began.

We had four technical sessions covering marketing, AI, WordPress, and design, by Nikita Varma, Purva Kushwah, Poonam Namdev, & Saloni Rathore, respectively.

This was followed by a Contributor Hour, where attendees were guided to make contributions to Make WordPress—mostly as first-time contributors to the Photos and Translation teams. As sources tell us, more than 15 first-time contributions were made that day.

We also hosted a panel discussion titled Learners to Leaders, featuring Parul Shrivastava, CEO of a tech-marketing company, Arshi Khan, a startup founder leveraging social media for her business, and Manisha Lakhwani, a freelancer. They shared personal experiences, career journeys, and practical guidance on the howabouts.

Before ending, we did a community talk, because, at the end of the day, awareness is what matters— What they can do for the community & what the community can do for them. The attendees were informed about the current schemes available and how they can benefit from them by becoming an active member of the WP Community.

Additionally, every attendee’s ID card contained a link to a curated resources page, ensuring, at whatever stage of their journey they are at, they could continue learning even after the event.

To ensure accessibility, the event was conducted primarily in Hindi, our local language, along with English.

Challenges and Triumphs

Gathering speakers was no easy task. As one of our panelists, Parul, rightly said, “We need to be comfortable in our own skin. We need to believe that what we do is worth sharing.” Thanks to the WP Bhopal community’s encouragement & outreach, we were able to host an all-women speaker lineup!

It was inspiring to witness women from diverse domains, backgrounds, and experiences come together under one roof with a shared intent—to support, uplift, and empower each other.

Know more about our speakers here.

The event ended on a perfect note—with a networking dinner at Raasta Cafe, as India played the Finals for Champions Trophy 2025. India won, and so did we (in our little way)!

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

None of this would have been possible without the incredible people who believed in us. To our speakers, sponsors, and attendees—thank you for making this event meaningful. Every role mattered, and this success belongs to each one of you.

A huge shoutout to our sponsors—Jetpack, A2 Hosting, WooCommerce, Bluehost, Hostinger, Kinsta, SEOPress, and CreedAlly— for standing with us and making this dream a reality. Bluehost & Jetpack’s swags were a hit among attendees and organizers alike!

Know more about our sponsors

This note would be incomplete without acknowledging my incredible team. Pooja, my indispensable support for all the right reasons; Amit, an all-rounder & primarily the one behind our website; Antra, Anukriti, and Shashank from our social media team; Ishita and Mansi, from our content team; Aditya, who guided us from behind the scenes as our local mentor & Anshika who supported us on the final day of the event.

Having led numerous teams and been part of even more, I know how rare it is to find a team that not only shares your vision but also takes ownership of it. Each one of them was diligent in their roles, but what stood out was how seamlessly they managed everything on the event day, without needing my intervention. This may seem simple, but it’s anything but. People often stick to what they are asked to do, rarely taking initiative on their own. Yet, this team did just that, going above and beyond in ways I hadn’t even anticipated. I’m incredibly grateful to have worked alongside such an amazing bunch of people.

Know more about our team

A special thanks to Pooja Derashri for taking the lead on a global level, Juan for preliminary checks, and Yogesh, our mentor.

To the global community, especially the #WomenInWordPress—you inspire us. You embody the spirit of lifting each other up and making this space better, one step at a time.

Special thanks to our local sister community GDG Cloud Bhopal and a heartfelt token of appreciation to community members Atharva Kulkarni, Kripesh Adwani, and Deepansh Gupta, for extending their support wherever we required a hand. With the support of the WP Bhopal community, we were able to create a space where diversity thrived and new voices found confidence.

To every woman out there contemplating her first step, this is your sign. Tech is for your empowerment, and you don’t need a degree to be a part of it. The digital revolution is yours to embrace. Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating ourselves, it’s about empowering each other in small yet meaningful ways. 

Hopefully, we will witness a different picture at our next meetup.

For now, just grateful!

Categories Events | Tags , , , , , , , , | 2 replies

Uganda’s Website Projects Competition Returns in 2025 — Bigger and Bolder

Posted by on April 28, 2025 with 8 replies

KAMPALA — After a groundbreaking debut in 2024 that earned a proud mention at the prestigious State of the Word address, the Uganda Website Projects Competition is set to return for its second edition on Friday, 20th June 2025, at the National ICT Innovation Hub, UICT Nakawa, Kampala.

Organized under the stirring theme, “Problem Solving with WordPress,” the 2025 competition promises to double its impact—expanding from last year’s 10 student projects to an ambitious 20 innovative website showcases.

“In Uganda, the National ICT Innovation Hub hosted a competition where students from elementary to university level built and pitched WordPress projects…. showing how the platform can solve community needs and equip young people with valuable skills, confidence and experience.,”  – Mary Hubbard, Executive Director – WordPress.org, noted during her State of the Word Speech on Dec 16, 2024.

Highlights of the Uganda Website Projects Competition during the State of the Word 2024. [Video starting from 41:43 minute mark]

What’s New in 2025?

Building on last year’s success, organizers are introducing a third competition category aimed at nurturing even younger digital talent.

  • Junior Category: Primary school students
  • Rising Stars: Secondary school students
  • Explorers: Post-secondary students from vocational schools, technical institutes, universities, and colleges

By widening the competition’s reach to include a dedicated category for primary schools, the organizers aim to plant seeds of digital literacy and problem-solving even earlier in students’ academic journeys.

Pupils from New Jerusalem Mixed Junior School pitching their project, News Shelf, during the Uganda Website Projects Competition 2024

Moreover, the number of project submissions is set to double. Up to 20 teams will be selected to present their WordPress-powered innovations before a panel of expert adjudicators, competing for in-kind and cash prizes.

Watch: 9-minute recap of the Uganda Website Projects Competition 2024

A Full Day of Learning, Networking, and Celebration

The event is designed not just as a competition but as a holistic learning and networking opportunity. The tentative schedule includes:

  • Hands-on Beginners Workshops
  • Expert Panel Discussions and Q&A sessions
  • Project Pitch Presentations across all three categories
  • An Awards Ceremony celebrating innovation and ingenuity
Hands-on Beginners Workshop in Computer Lab at the National ICT Innovation Hub last year.
Tentative Event Schedule
TimeComputer LabAuditorium
08:00-09:30amHands-On Beginners WorkshopDevice Setup and Projection Testing
09:30-10:00amTea Break
10:00-10:30amIntroductions and Keynote Speech
10:30-11:30am Pitch Presentations: Junior category
11:30-12:30pm Pitch Presentations: Rising Stars category
12:30-1:30pm Pitch Presentations: Explorers category
1:30 – 2:30pm Lunch, and Networking
2:30 – 3:30pm Panel Discussion and Q&A session
3:30 – 4:30pm Adjudicator Feedback, Award Ceremony and Closure

Attendees will enjoy a highly subsidized experience, with ticket options as low as $5 (UGX 20,000) — thanks to the generosity of sponsors — and VIP / micro-sponsor tickets available for $26 (UGX 100,000).

Students who submit projects and are selected to present will attend free of charge.

Mr. Abraham Waita from Automattic handing over gift bags to exhibitors during the Uganda Website Projects Competition 2024

Call for Participation and Sponsorship

Institutions are encouraged to register their ICT Club students and teachers before the project submission deadline on June 6th, 2025 via the official event website.

Organizers are also calling on the WordPress community and corporate partners to support the event through sponsorships. Sponsorship packages range from Platinum ($2500), Gold ($1300), Silver ($800), and Bronze ($260), to Community Sponsorship ($130) — each offering various visibility opportunities for businesses looking to support and invest in Africa’s growing digital talent.

For ticket registration, visit events.wordpress.org/uganda/2025/competition/tickets.
For sponsorship opportunities or further inquiries, email ugandacompetition@events.wordpress.org or call +256 708 685 472.

Join us in shaping Africa’s digital future — one brilliant idea at a time!
#WebsiteCompetitionUG #WordPress #EdTechInnovation #ProblemSolvingWithWordPress

Categories Events, General, Home, News, Schedule | Tags , , | 8 replies

Women in Tech – Ajmer: A Celebration of Empowerment and Connection

Posted by on April 11, 2025 with 1 reply

What an incredible Women’s Day celebration this year! Women supporting Women is a true celebration of strength and unity. Seeing pictures of Women’s Day celebrations from across the globe has been nothing short of inspiring. It’s a powerful reminder that incredible things happen when women support each other.

On March 8, 2025, the Ajmer WordPress community hosted a remarkable Women in Tech event at The Fern Residency, Vaishali Nagar, Ajmer. This event was part of a larger global initiative supported by WordPress, aimed at creating a welcoming space for women in tech to connect, learn, and grow.

The Inspiration Behind the Event

This event was part of a global initiative led by the Make WordPress Community Team to celebrate and empower women in tech. The idea was to create a space where women could connect, learn, and grow by organizing events exclusively led by women — from organizers and speakers to volunteers. This initiative aimed to encourage more women to take active roles in WordPress events, fostering inclusivity and representation. You can learn more about this inspiring movement at Hosting WordPress Events for Women on International Women’s Day. As part of this incredible initiative, 25+ Women’s Day celebration events took place in different cities across the globe, showcasing the collective effort to empower and uplift women in WordPress and technology.

The Planning Phase

When I decided to be part of this initiative and organize a women-centric event in our city, I discussed the idea with Priyanshi. Together, we brainstormed the event format — outlining key details such as the required budget, the structure of the event day, and forming a dedicated team of volunteers. We also explored potential speakers and actively reached out to women working in various IT sectors. Our vision included a mix of inspiring sessions, engaging speakers, fun activities, and meaningful interactions. This initial plan laid the foundation for what turned out to be a memorable and impactful event. This picture is from our first planning meeting, where we began shaping the ideas that brought this event to life.

Overcoming Challenges: A Journey of Determination in Ajmer

Organizing the Women in Tech – Ajmer event was an incredible journey, but it wasn’t without its challenges. One major hurdle we faced was reaching our target audience. Bringing together 50-60 women from the tech industry in Ajmer seemed daunting at first, especially considering the limited number of local IT companies and the unfamiliarity of WordPress events in the region.

To overcome this, our team took proactive steps — we personally reached out to IT companies, educational institutions, and other local tech communities. Through consistent social media promotions and word-of-mouth efforts, we gradually built interest and engagement. The result? Over 50 attendees on event day — a remarkable turnout that exceeded our expectations.

What made this even more special was that some attendees traveled from nearby cities like Beawar and Jodhpur, spending over four hours on the journey just to be part of this celebration. Their commitment was truly inspiring and a heartwarming reminder of the growing enthusiasm for WordPress and tech opportunities in our region.

Another unexpected challenge occurred just one day before the event when a citywide curfew was announced, restricting movement until 5 PM on the event day. Despite this uncertainty, our team remained calm, kept communication open with attendees, and ensured everything was ready to proceed smoothly once the curfew was lifted. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the patience of our attendees, the event went ahead successfully.

These challenges only strengthened our resolve, and the end result — seeing women connect, learn, and celebrate together — made every effort worthwhile. This experience reinforced the power of persistence, teamwork, and community support in turning challenges into triumphs.

Memorable Sessions and Activities

We were privileged to host inspiring speakers who graciously dedicated their time to share their expertise and motivate our attendees:

  • Divya Vyas shared her journey and spoke on “Empower and Elevate”, discussing her 16+ years in tech and valuable career insights.
  • Payal Loungani addressed the crucial topic of mental health, emphasizing self-care and balance in professional life.
  • Meenakshi Dholpuriya presented “From Dreamer to Doer: The Power of Taking Risks”, sharing her inspiring story of taking bold steps that led to her success.

We are incredibly grateful to these speakers for making the event impactful and memorable.

Divya Vyas
Payal Loungani
Meenakshi Dholpuriya

The evening began with warm opening remarks from my fellow organizer, Priyanshi, followed by incredible support from our dedicated volunteers: Rashi Gupta, Stuti Goyal, Chitra Chauhan, Divya Khatri, Palak Gandhi, Dolvi Tak, Manvi Singh, and Harshita Mathur. A warm thanks to Mahima Golani, who stepped up at the last minute to handle photography and video reels beautifully.

The event included:

  • High tea and snacks at the start.
  • Inspiring sessions, networking opportunities, and connecting with industry experts.
  • Quizzes, fun games, and a cake-cutting ceremony.
  • Distribution of cool swags and engaging selfie props.
  • The evening concluded with a delightful dinner, encouraging further networking and bonding.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing sponsors for their incredible support. This event would not have been possible without your generosity. Your contributions played a crucial role in creating a memorable experience for all attendees, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to this cause.

Our heartfelt gratitude to:

  • A2 Hosting, Bluehost, Hostinger, Elementor, Jetpack, Woo, and WPVibes as our Community Sponsors.
  • Yoast as our Dinner Sponsor.
  • CB Video Vision for their invaluable in-kind support, helping us set up the LED screen and stage setup.

The Impact

This event created a meaningful and lasting impact on our community. Women felt genuinely welcomed and valued, fostering a strong sense of belonging within the WordPress ecosystem. The initiative empowered them to speak openly, share ideas without hesitation, and feel confident about exploring more opportunities. Their joy, excitement, and connection with like-minded women were truly heartwarming.

Many attendees expressed feeling special and appreciated, which encouraged them to engage in future WordPress events. The supportive and comfortable environment allowed women to share their thoughts without hesitation.

This initiative has not only inspired women to take part in WordPress but also paved the way for greater female representation in tech leadership roles, empowering them to contribute, lead, and thrive in the industry.

Some of the attendees shared their feedback:

Event Highlights

The Women in Tech – Ajmer event was a powerful step toward increasing female representation in WordPress leadership roles, and I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved together. The dedication of the volunteers, the passion of the speakers, and the unwavering support from our sponsors made this initiative a resounding success.

This incredible journey wouldn’t have been possible without the WordPress community’s collaborative spirit. Here’s to breaking barriers and empowering more women to shine in tech! 🚀✨

Categories Events, WordCamp Recap | Tags , , , , | 1 reply