Open Source Is People: A Python & Django Year
Source: Dev.to
For years I stood just outside the circle, watching talks, mentoring quietly, and cheering from the edges. In 2025 I finally stepped into the light.
This is my first‑ever blog post. The good people of the Python Ghana community kept nudging me to “start a blog,” and the final push came from the Djangonaut Space program. Here’s the beginning of a habit of showing up, reflecting, and documenting the journey. I also share photos on my photoblog, @maaddae.
My First Step: Django Girls Ho 2017
It started in 2017, in Ho. I showed up as a Django Girls mentor for a workshop organized by Noah Alorwu. One room, a handful of laptops, and the quiet buzz of first lines of code—something clicked. That day opened a door to a welcoming community of people who build, teach, and support each other. For years after that, I stayed involved mostly through mentorship: teaching when I could, encouraging beginners, and contributing quietly.
But in 2025 something shifted. I felt ready to take a bolder step forward.
Starting the Year With Mentorship Once Again
Django Girls Koforidua 2025
Just like in 2017, 2025 began with people. I joined as a mentor, helping participants build their first Django applications. The moment a beginner connects the dots—from views to templates to a working app—never gets old. That spark keeps me returning.
Django Girls Ho 2025
Later I coached at Django Girls Ho. It felt like coming home: nostalgic, grounding, and inspiring. Open source, at its best, is made of patience, kindness, and shared growth.
Building Community Through Speaking and Organizing
PyCon Ghana 2025
I served as a programme co‑organiser for PyCon Ghana: reviewing talks, shaping the agenda, and supporting speakers. I also spoke and joined a panel. Wearing both hats taught me how much care it takes to craft a meaningful conference.
PyHo Conference 2025
I returned to speak at PyHo, one of Ghana’s most vibrant Python gatherings. The warmth and curiosity there always feels like home.
PyCon Africa 2025
I was selected to speak at PyCon Africa, a milestone I celebrated. An airport desk and a paperwork snag turned the celebration into an absence. It stung, but the community’s support turned the moment into fuel rather than a full stop.
Joining the Django Software Foundation
A quiet, meaningful milestone followed: I became an Individual Member of the Django Software Foundation. For someone who has loved Django for years, that recognition felt like a promise—to keep contributing, to engage deeply, and to show up.
Djangonaut Space: A Transformative Chapter
Another turning point: I was accepted into Djangonaut Space and joined Team Neptune. With mentors who have shaped Django, I submitted my first pull request to the framework. It came back with review comments and welcoming notes on how to do better. I am committed to keep going beyond the program.
It wasn’t just technical. It connected me to the heart of the framework I’ve relied on for years, and to the people who keep it alive.
Why This Year Matters to Me
Looking back, 2025 feels like a year of showing up: learning, teaching, sharing, and stepping further in. I started the year mostly mentoring; I end it as a mentor, speaker, organiser, contributor, and a community member actively shaping the spaces that shaped me. Writing this blog is part of that growth, and I hope to keep it up.
The Road Ahead
As I look forward, I hope to continue:
- Contributing to Django core
- Supporting Django Girls workshops
- Speaking at Python and Django events
- Mentoring upcoming developers
- Strengthening local and global communities
Open source has room for everyone. I am grateful that I found my place, and I hope this encourages someone out there to start their own journey too.