Journey Through My 2024 Open Source Adventures

This year, I decided to start documenting my open-source contribution journey, focusing on community building, management, Public Speaking and technical contributions.

The goal is to write a blog or article at the end of each year, highlighting my open-source contributions, conferences I’ve attended, talks I’ve given, events I’ve organized, and the insights I’ve gained along the way.

2024 marks the beginning of this journey, and I’m excited to share contributions from this year. So La Famille grab some Popcorn or wine and good music as you start reading.

PyLadies Ghana Initiatives

As the Programmes and Events Lead for PyLadies Ghana, the year began with the planning of PyLadies Ghana Nights. This is a unique platform where we host informal and intimate virtual fireside chats on our Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) channels. The primary goal is to educate and provide increased opportunities for women in the Python community by inviting notable speakers to share their experiences on various topics, creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

Some highlights from our PyLadies Ghana Nights series include:

• PyLadies Ghana International Women’s Day Event: “Inspire Inclusion.”
• Life as a Data Scientist: Expectation vs Reality.
• Navigating a Midlife Career Crisis as a Python Developer.
• Share Your Python Journey: An open mic session for PyLadies members to share their journeys using Python.

We concluded the series in November with another open mic session. If you missed these sessions, recordings are available on the PyLadies Ghana X space.

We also organized a cybersecurity workshop, which included weekly Saturday meetings with the team and facilitators to plan the curriculum. The program featured two in-person sessions, three online sessions, onboarding and installation workshops, and a closing ceremony with panel discussions and awards for the best participants. Full details can be found in the PyLadies Ghana blog series on Hashnode via https://blog.pythonghana.org/pyladies-ghana-offensive-security-workshop-hackherway24

One of our goals this year was to revive the PyLadies Ghana Ho chapter. In July, our team traveled to Ho to organize the PyLadies Ho Meetup Reloaded, which successfully re-energized the community via https://blog.pythonghana.org/pyladies-ghana-ho-meetup-2024-a-chapter-revival

Black Python Devs Ghana Meetup

I co-organized the Black Python Devs Ghana Connect Meetup, the first of its kind in Ghana. This thought-provoking gathering of Python developers took place at the Accra Mall and sparked meaningful discussions about Python development in the country. You can find the full detail here https://medium.com/@seyramtheresa/black-python-devs-ghana-connect-meetup-recap-32602771480f

PyCon Africa 2024

This year, I volunteered as the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Programmes Team Lead for PyCon Africa 2024. We held weekly meetings on Thursdays to share updates and plan for the event under the leadership of Dorothy Ewuah and Joseph Sowah. I also led the planning and organizing team for the PyCon Africa 2024 DjangoGirls workshop, a staple event of PyCon Africa.

PyCon Africa allowed me to deepen my experience in program management and coordination. It was challenging but rewarding, as I got to meet and collaborate with amazing individuals. Check the full blog on PyCon Africa 2024 here https://medium.com/@seyramtheresa/pycon-africa-2024-a-programs-leads-journey-through-an-unforgettable-conference-experience-2206f2812864

Public Speaking Journey

• All In Open Source Africa Cohort 2 by GitHub: This three-month journey involved exploration, learning, and relearning how to contribute effectively to GitHub projects. The training started in April and ended with a graduation ceremony in July.
• Women in WACREN 2024 Workshop: Representing PyLadies Ghana, I spoke about our initiatives and delivered a talk on “Python for Weather and Climate Data Analysis,” aligning with the conference theme.

Paahibu TechsiStars Internship Boot Camp: I mentored a participant over several months, guiding her to achieve her goals of becoming a writer, graphic designer, and poet. Weekly meetings helped her develop her skills, and I’m proud of her progress.

Paaahibu Talk Series: I delivered a virtual talk titled “The Gig is Here: How to Hack Your Way into Tech to Create Your Own Employment Pathways.”

PyClub AAMUSTED Insight Series: I presented on “How to Navigate the Tech Landscape as a Woman,” Here are the strategies I shared with the ladies to help them navigate the tech industry:

1. Building Skills and Knowledge: Continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends, and the importance of both technical and soft skills.

2. Networking and Mentorship: The value of finding mentors and role models in the tech industry, building a strong professional network, seeking mentors, and becoming a mentor for others.

3. Leveraging Communities: Joining or creating supportive communities, such as women-in-tech groups or coding meetups.

4. Self-Care and Managing Responsibilities: Balancing personal and professional life effectively.

5. Encouraging Young Girls: Inspiring and motivating young girls to pursue careers in tech.

Wikie Interact Series: I joined and spoke on the Wikie Project’s Wikie Interacts Series virtually. It was an engaging and interactive session where attendees asked me about how I started my tech journey and other related topics.

Here are some of the key takeaways I shared with them:

1. Identify your niche.
2. Be disciplined and always ready to learn.
3. Understand the relevance and benefits of being part of a community.
4. Consistency and persistence are crucial in pursuing a tech career.

Daytona Developers Club Meetup: I spoke on “Ethical Considerations in Open Source,” highlighting inclusivity and diversity in contributions.

Ghana Domain System Forum 2024: I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the 2024 Ghana DNS Forum organized by the Ghana Domain Name Registry (GDNR). Where my panel discussed “Building Capacity through Collaboration: Government, Private Sector and Academia for a Secure Digital Future”

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical part of the internet’s infrastructure. DNS is essential for web browsing, email services, and other online activities. However, its open nature also makes it vulnerable to cyberattacks like DNS spoofing or cache poisoning, where attackers manipulate DNS records to redirect users to malicious sites.

PyHo 2024: PyHo 2024: I was part of the history made in Ho with PyHo! Wondering what PyHo is? It’s a Python regional conference held in Ghana’s Volta Region. I was honored to be a speaker at PyHo, where I presented on the topic “Before You Scale, Let’s Talk SOLID: The Significance of SOLID Principles as a Prerequisite for Scaling Software Systems.”

During my talk, I discussed:

• The reasons why scaling software systems is essential.
• The challenges associated with scaling software.
• What SOLID principles are and why they are critical for scalability.
• How to apply SOLID principles effectively.

Key Takeaways:

1. SOLID principles provide the foundation for scalable, maintainable software systems.
2. These principles reduce complexity, enhance flexibility, and facilitate growth.
3. Applying SOLID early helps avoid technical debt, enabling systems to scale smoothly.

In addition to my talk, I participated in a panel discussion on “Diversity and Inclusion Within Tech Communities.” During this session, we explored diversity and inclusion from both local perspectives. We emphasized that diversity goes beyond simply bridging the gender gap; it also involves creating access, opportunities, and advocacy for all underrepresented groups.

I also joined another panel session during a PyLadies Session on the topic “Experiences and Roles Within Tech Communities.” We delved into our individual experiences and the diverse roles we play within the PyLadies Ghana community, sharing valuable insights and inspiration with the audience.

• DigitalOcean AI Meetup in Ghana (: I moderated a panel session titled “From Concept to Cloud: Developing Your First AI Application.” It was a practical discussion aimed at beginners, covering the steps and resources needed to get started in AI development.

PyLadiesCon 2024: I spoke on “Empowering Change: Building and Amplifying the PyLadies Community as Black Women in Tech,” covering mentorship, community-driven change, and overcoming impostor syndrome.

It has also been a significant year for me in public speaking — I’ve had more opportunities than ever before and am so grateful for the growth. I hope 2025 brings even more opportunities to attend and contribute to conferences.

Here’s to more growth, contributions, and opportunities in the years ahead and let’s continue to do more for the open-source community.

Thank you for your support, Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Prosperous Happy New Year.